My first exposure to serious dog training came almost a quarter-century ago in a class taught by a man who'd trained dogs for the Air Force. His method was direct: The dog was to execute the command or be promptly corrected. His tool for training: the choke collar.

Used properly, he explained, the collar didn't choke the dog. Pull the leash quickly to pop the collar tight against the dog's neck and make the correction, and then let the leash go slack to release the collar.

I had a decent sense of timing and a bright dog, so I did well, took more classes, competed in obedience trials and later taught my own dog-training classes. As a trainer of group classes, I became frustrated with the choke-chain collar. People couldn't help but put it on upside-down, so it wouldn't release easily. And the timing of the snap-and-release action, even if the collar was on right, was too difficult for many people to master.

And there was one more problem. Used incorrectly, the choke-chain collar was more than ineffective: It was cruel.

Which is why in recent years I've been delighted to see the development of alternatives to the choke chain. These products are easier to master and easier on the dog, and they make possible one of the greatest pleasures in keeping a dog: taking a nice long walk with your friend.

Pat Miller, of Hagerstown, Md., an author, dog trainer and past president of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers, is supportive of no-chain training. "I do not advocate their use, even properly, due to the potential for physical injury and damage to the dog-human relationship," she says. "Many dogs train perfectly well on a flat collar, and the new front-clip control harnesses are a wonderful option."

Of the two no-chain methods of gaining control of a dog on-leash, head halters have been around longer. They work on the same principal in use for generations with horses: Control the head, and the body will follow. Canine head halters have two loops: one that fits over the top of the nose, and another that fits high over the back of the neck. Pressure on the leash pulls down on the loops from below.

"When a dog pulls on a leash, pressure on the dog's nose turns him back toward the person holding the leash, making it difficult for the dog to pull," explains Miller. "The halter also seems to have a depressing effect on some dogs, dampening out-of-control energy. The dog learns to walk politely on the leash in order to avoid the unpleasant pressure on his nose when he pulls."

The downside to a head halter, says Miller, is that some dogs don't like them, and they'll rub or claw at a halter even after they've been acclimated to it. Halters can also be difficult for some people to put on and adjust properly, which is why it's best to have the halter fitted by a trainer or a knowledgeable employee of a pet-supply store. Miller says that when she chooses a halter, it's usually for dogs who require a higher level of head control, such as an aggressive animal.

The new front-snap harnesses also work to use the dog's own forward motion to train him not to pull, says Miller.

"The new harnesses have a ring in the front where the leash attaches, so you get the same turning effect as the head halter. The pressure is on the shoulders, not the nose, so dogs find it less objectionable," she says. "I have not had even one dog fight the front-clip harness the way that many fight the head halter."

If you've been struggling to walk your dog, and especially if you've given up trying, it's time to break the chain and have your dog fitted for a head halter or front-clip harness. You'll both enjoy being able to walk together again.

SIDEBAR

Head halters are easy to find in pet-supply stores, catalogs and from online merchants. The Gentle Leader (around $20, depending on size) is perhaps the best-known of the brands, and was invented by a veterinary behaviorist and a dog trainer. For online information, go to www.premier.com. The site shows proper fitting and some training techniques.

Two front-clip harnesses are available, although these newer products haven't made the move to many mainstream pet-supply outlets and are available primarily from trainers, shelters or specialty training Web sites, as well as from their manufacturers.

The SENSE-sation harness (from $20 to $25, depending on size) is available from manufacturer SofTouch Concepts Inc. (www.softouchconcepts.com, 866-305-6145). The company is planning to launch a similar lower-priced product this fall, called the SENSE-ible harness. The K-9 Freedom harness (same price range) is available from Wayne Hightower (www.waynehightower.com, 800-246-6336).

THE SCOOP

Healthy rabbits need hay, green vegetables

While rabbit pellets are the basis of a healthy diet, you should supplement your bunny's rations with fresh greens. Fiber is especially important, too, which is why your rabbits need an endless supply of grass hay to nibble on -- fresh timothy and oat.

Rabbit-friendly foods include dandelion greens and flowers (collected from pesticide-free areas), carrots and carrot tops, kale, collard greens, escarole, romaine lettuce, endive, Swiss chard, parsley, clover, cabbage, green peppers, pea pods, Brussels sprouts, basil, peppermint leaves, raspberry leaves, radicchio, bok choy and spinach. Ask your store's produce department for leaves trimmed from heads of broccoli or cauliflower, and you might even get some bunny food for free.

Variety is the spice of life, so keep things mixed up.

Offer fresh greens loosely chopped, two or more cups per day. If you haven't given your rabbit greens before, start with small amounts to avoid messy diarrhea caused by the sudden increase in liquid (fresh veggies are high in water content).

PETS ON THE WEB

Site offers the basics on popular corn snakes

Corn snakes are among the most popular of reptilian pets, prized for the striking appearance and generally easygoing nature. The Cornsnake Site (www.stormpages.com/dracoslair/Snakes/cornsnakes.html) offers a lot of information about these pets from someone who clearly adores them. Most endearing offering: "The Top 10 Reasons to Own a Cornsnake," including: "They have so many personalities ... just like people. Each snake you get is different. They almost never bite."

The site also mentions that unlike a boa constrictor, a corn snake will never get big enough to consume your baby sister.

The links are among the best features of this site and include a mention of www.kingsnake.com, one of the must-see sites for any reptile fancier. Although not mentioned on The Cornsnake Site, www.anapsid.org is another site that anyone with a reptile should have bookmarked for reference.

SECONDARY PIECE

New pet profiler can provide peace of mind

Not long ago I received an e-mail from a reader who'd been hospitalized for a stroke and had been separated from her dog for several months as a result. Things went pretty well for both the reader and her dog. But looking back, she wished she'd put together a folder of information on her pet -- the food he liked, the commands he knew, even the dog park where his buddies would hang out.

While it's certainly possible to pull together all that information on our own, we may not think about the questions to ask ourselves in compiling it. Or we may not ever get around to it without someone to nudge us.

Enter Leslie Straka, a Seattle-area professional organizer whose Friends Forever system is designed to provide all the information anyone would need to care for your pet if you should become unable to.

"This is for people who treat their pets as a member of the family, not just a dog who's outside," says Straka. "It's a single document that puts it all in one place, and it takes care of your pet when you're not there."

Straka started offering the service by going to people's houses and interviewing them, then entering the information in a computer program designed by her husband, Dan Shapiro, who has worked in software development for Microsoft. She soon realized the need for such a product was universal and decided to expand to a telephone-based service.

The price for the telephone service starts at $89.95, which includes time on the phone, with Straka getting all the information she needs, and a report that's sent to your home by mail. There are additional charges for extra pets or for additional documents tailored to specific needs.

Straka sent me a fictional report for the cartoon dog Snoopy, and the scope of the information was impressive, with five questions on feeding alone. A finished report can run more than 50 pages, complete with images of the pet.

Starting later this year, Straka plans to offer the service on the Web at www.alwaysafriend.com. For more information on the Friends Forever service, visit the Web site or call 425-922-3760.

Q&A

Vaccine guidelines changed for cats, too

Q: You wrote recently about vaccines for dogs, but I know that recommendations have changed for cats, too. We're planning on getting a kitten soon. Can you go over what shots are recommended? -- D.W., via e-mail

A: Like puppies, kittens need a series of vaccinations to protect them as they grow. Young mammals pick up antibodies from their mothers through the placenta and in the special milk, called colostrum, that they drink in the first days of their lives. These antibodies diminish over time. But until they do, they not only protect the kitten against disease, but they also may block the usefulness of any vaccine.

Although it's technically possible to determine exactly when a kitten's maternal antibodies have fallen to the point where a vaccine is necessary, doing so is impractical. That's why veterinarians give a series of shots to ensure that the kitten is protected as those maternal antibodies fade.

Here are some general vaccine guidelines for kittens.

Core vaccines: A combination vaccine gives protection against feline herpes virus, feline calicivirus and feline panleukopenia virus. The first combination vaccine is given when a kitten first comes in to see the veterinarian with additional shots at three- to four-week intervals until 16 weeks of age.

Vaccination against rabies is highly recommended for cats and may be required by law depending on where you live. Kittens get one shot with an annual booster, and then shots at three-year intervals, or as required by law.

Non-core vaccines: The need for all other vaccines should be discussed with your veterinarian. Some experts question the how well some of the non-core vaccines work, while others recommend non-core vaccines only for those cats who are at high risk for disease, such as pets allowed to roam outside.

Feline leukemia is one vaccine that should be considered, unless you're planning to keep your cat indoors. Kittens are tested for feline leukemia, then given one shot with a booster three to four weeks later.

The vaccine for feline infectious peritonitis is controversial, and some experts recommend it should be considered only for those cats living in large multi-cat households or breeding operations. Talk to your veterinarian about when the vaccine should be given, if at all.

If you are getting multiple vaccinations for your kitten, discuss spreading the vaccines out and not having more than one or two inoculations given in any one visit. If too many shots are administered at one time, the potential for reactions or interactions may be greater.

In adult cats, the risk of vaccine-site sarcoma -- cancer at the injection site -- must be taken into account when weighing the risks of vaccines vs. their benefits. The trend overall is to tailor vaccines to the lifestyles of individual cats, to increase the amount of time between boosters, and to give shots at various times, in different places on the body. Keep an eye on vaccine sites, and report any lump that grows or persists more than a couple of weeks.

A good overview of the American Academy of Feline Practitioners recommendations on vaccines can be found on the Winn Feline Foundation's Web site at www.winnfelinehealth.org/health/vaccination-guidelines.html.

The bottom line: Discuss with your veterinarian what vaccinations your kitten needs, what risks are involved, and how you can best minimize those risks. Keep in mind, however, that despite the risks, vaccines still prevent many times more death than they cause.

A good veterinarian will be following the changing view of routine vaccinations and should be up on the latest recommendations in preventive care for your new kitten.

(Do you have a pet question? Send it to petconnection@gmail.com.)

PETS RX

Are those ... pimples?

Did you know cats can get acne, too? Although most classic acne cases occur in cats who are simply not good chin groomers, there are other possibilities, including mites, ringworm and allergies.

You'll need the help of your veterinarian to get your cat's chin cleared up. The area needs to be kept washed, at the very least, resisting the urge to squeeze any blemishes. You may additionally get prescribed creams and pills.

Since some cases are caused by an allergy to plastic, your veterinarian will probably also recommend switching to ceramic or stainless food and water dishes, and keeping them scrupulously clean.

Ordinary feline acne is more of an aesthetic dilemma than a serious health concern. As long as the area doesn't become infected, your cat won't be bothered by the blemishes.

(Pet Rx is provided by the Veterinary Information Network (VIN.com), an online service for veterinary professionals. More information can be found at www.veterinarypartner.com.)

Gina Spadafori is the award-winning author of "Dogs for Dummies," "Cats for Dummies" and "Birds for Dummies." She is also affiliated with the Veterinary Information Network Inc., an international online service for veterinary professionals. Write to her in care of this newspaper, or send e-mail to petconnection@gmail.com. You can also read her frequently updated Web log or view her column archives at www.spadafori.com.

4520 Main St., Kansas City, Mo. 64111; (816) 932-6600

For Jan Haag, it started with one half-starved, half-grown and completely wild cat she thought was male when she took the terrified animal, still in a live-capture trap, to a veterinarian to be neutered.

Haag, a Sacramento, Calif., college professor and friend of mine for many years, is a member of a volunteer "kitty committee" that works to manage a feral cat problem on her campus. The group has managed to keep the feral cat population down by taming kittens for placement in new homes, and by trapping, neutering and releasing the untamable adults to keep other cats from colonizing and breeding.

She'd trapped many feral cats and had taken them to be neutered, but this time she was in for a surprise. "The vet said not only was 'he' a 'she,' but also that the cat was pregnant. With two babies," she said.

"How much trouble can two little kittens be?" Haag remembers asking herself, in words that her friends and family reminded her of many times in the weeks that followed.

Not long after, the cat gave birth in Haag's back bedroom -- and refused to mother the newborns. It was near the end of the spring semester, Haag's busiest time, but she did what needed to be done, taking over where the mother cat left off in raising the kittens.

At that point, she joined hundreds of dedicated volunteers who do the same thing every year, bottle-feeding orphaned or abandoned kittens. The bottle-raisers range from young people who'll likely raise a couple kittens once at most to seasoned old hands who've each saved dozens if not hundreds of kittens over decades of volunteering. Many of the staff at veterinary clinics and hospitals also donate their time to bottle-raise orphans, and so do countless veterinary students.

With so many more kittens than homes available every year, it's natural to ask if the effort is worth it. Haag wondered that herself when told by the veterinarian that the feral cat could be spayed, ending the pregnancy long before the kittens could have survived on their own.

"I thought about it," said Haag. "But in the end I decided the kittens would live, and I'd take responsibility for them."

After the mother abandoned the kittens, Haag hooked up with a mentor who showed her how to feed the pair and keep them clean and warm. "One of her tips was to fill an old tube sock with white rice and zap it in the microwave -- but not for too long, of course. I'd then cover the warm sock with fleece and they'd snuggle up to it."

The bigger problem was one of logistics: The tiny kittens needed to be fed every two to three hours around the clock, and Haag had classes to teach. "I put the kittens in a carrier and took them to school. The students -- even some of the big, tough young men -- would line up to help with feedings."

Despite all the challenges, the kittens -- known collectively as the "Twinkies" for their size and yellow-orange color -- not only survived but thrived. They took greedily to bottle-feeding and put on weight easily. In no time at all, they'd moved from a small carrier to a towel-lined kiddie pool. Soon, they were ready to be placed. They went to a home together, and are healthy, well-socialized and playful youngsters today.

With another kitten season coming to an end, lots of bottle-feeders like Haag are finally catching up on all the lost sleep, putting the supplies away and trying not to think about next year.

There will always be more kittens, but chances are there will also be plenty of dedicated volunteers to turn the fortunes of these babies around and give them a chance at the loving, permanent home all pets deserve.

"It was a pretty intense few weeks," said Haag, who placed the kittens with a friend and sees them every week. "Bottle-raising kittens is not for everyone, but I'm glad I did it."

Glossy-sleek, healthy and playful in their new homes, there's no doubt the Twinkies and all the other bottle-raised babies are glad for the time and love of volunteers, too.

HOW TO HELP

For any cat lover with time to help, saving orphaned kittens can be an extremely satisfying accomplishment.

Contact any local shelter or rescue group to volunteer. They'll set you up with supplies and show you how to care for the kittens they'll give you to foster. Feline specialist Dr. Susan Little also has a thorough orphan kitten how-to on her Web site at www.catvet.homestead.com.

Kitten season starts up again in the spring.

THE SCOOP

Book a fascinating study of misunderstood animal

Of all the animals we have domesticated, perhaps none has as strange a relationship with us as the rabbit.

Like cats, rabbits are kept as indoor, litter box-using pets. Like sheep, rabbits are raised for meat. Like mink, rabbits are killed for fur. In animal testing, they are more used as "guinea pigs" than guinea pigs are.

We have adored the rabbit as a beloved character in countless children's books from Peter Rabbit onward, and we have even used the rabbit as metaphor, as in Michael Moore's "Roger & Me," when he drew parallels between the "pets or meat" offer of a Flint, Mich., rabbit-seller and the treatment of workers by General Motors.

With rabbits such a pervasive part of our culture for so long, it would seem likely that there'd be a good amount of scholarly thought about the complicated relationship between our species and theirs. After all, I can think of a couple of dozen such books about dogs or cats in just the last few years. But when it comes to rabbits, we seem to give them hardly any thought at all.

Into this void comes "Stories Rabbits Tell: A Natural and Cultural History of a Misunderstood Creature" (Lantern Books, $22). Authors Susan E. Davis and Margo DeMello, associated with the pioneering House Rabbit Society (www.rabbit.org), take a thoughtful and thought-provoking look at this common and yet nearly unknown animal. In my 20 years of writing about pets, I can remember few books that challenged and ultimately changed my perception the way this one did.

The authors bring their backgrounds in academia and journalism into play in taking a surprisingly dispassionate view of all the things we've done to rabbits, including massive hunts where even young children participated in the "fun" of driving wild rabbits into pens and clubbing them. The rabbit wars of Australia, where the animals were introduced and quickly bred out of control, are a grisly if fascinating study in what happens when humankind decides to mess with a well-balanced ecosystem.

Every section is like this, exploring territory that seems familiar yet afterward must be looked at in an entirely new way. In the end, one is left with a better understanding of the rabbit -- and a great deal of respect for its mostly involuntary contributions to the march of human progress.

For anyone who has thought of a pet rabbit as something to be largely ignored in an outdoor hutch until the children grow tired of it, "The Stories Rabbits Tell" will reveal the often unappreciated companionship potential of this often-neglected animal. For those who already understand and enjoy life with an indoor pet rabbit, the book is one that cannot be missed for the breadth, depth and affection its authors bring to the subject.

Q&A

Off-leash dogs dangerous on trails for horses

Q: Please spread the word about a dog-related problem we're having. We have horses, and we mostly use them to trail ride. The trails are posted in many places with signs that require dogs to be on leashes.

Every time we ride, we encounter dogs that are not on a leash. When we politely ask the owner to put their dogs on a leash, we often receive very rude replies. Our horses are not afraid of dogs, but some horses are. And any horse may be startled by a running, growling or barking dog.

Recently a runner came up behind us with her dog. One of the horses with us was startled and took off running. It took some time for the rider to control the panicked horse, and by the time the horse was under enough control so the rider could dismount, the rider was very upset. The horse could have easily thrown the rider and hurt or killed her. A scared horse could also kick and possibly hurt or kill a dog or dog-walker.

This is a serious situation that deserves attention. Signs on riding trails that say to keep your dog on a leash are there for the safety of all. -- P.L., via e-mail

A: As a person who has ridden horses off and on for years, I'm constantly amazed at how careless people can be around these large and powerful animals. Even well-trained horses can spook, with disastrous results.

Many if not most trail riders are gracious about sharing space with leashed, well-mannered dogs. They shouldn't have to share trails with irresponsible and inconsiderate dog owners (or runners, mountain-bikers, etc.) who put everyone in a dangerous situation.

For anyone who is allowed to use riding trails without being on horseback, please be alert for horses, let the riders know where you are, and stay out of the way while horses are near. And if the trails are posted off-limits, stay off. The rules truly are for everyone's safety.

Q: My 9-year-old Labrador has suddenly taken to helping himself to the fresh deposits in the cat-litter boxes. No changes in our household preceded this new behavior. Cats being the fickle creatures they are, I am afraid to alter their litter boxes for fear they will develop anti-social behaviors of their own. Can you help? -- C.R., via e-mail

A: The first rule to tackling a behavior problem is to make sure it's not a medical problem. While a lot of dogs love cruising litter boxes -- it's one of the most common problems I get asked about -- it is a little unusual for your dog to start this habit at this fairly advanced age. So please: Get your dog checked out by your veterinarian to see if any deficiencies show up in the blood work.

If all comes back clear, the best way to stop this disgusting behavior is to put up a barrier your dog can't get through but the cats can. Some people cut a cat-sized hole into the door of the room where the litter box is, while others ended the snacking with a baby-gate across the room opening. These solutions do require some effort, but they should keep the cats happy and the dog out of the litter box.

ON THE WEB

Pet toys get political

Pet toys in the image of political figures weren't selling all that well at Pet Food Express, a 22-store chain based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Then the head of the company's Web site (petfoodexpress.com) had an idea after adopting a puppy from an Oakland animal-rescue group.

"Like most pups, Lola is a ball of fire," said Bill Thompson. "To save my fingers, toes, socks, shoes, wallpaper and everything else, I brought chew toys home for her from work. The 'W' chew toy caught her interest immediately. I said aloud, 'Lola is voting with her teeth,' and a lightbulb clicked in my head."

Thompson put a "Vote With Your Teeth" promotion up on the Pet Food Express Web site, with not only President George W. Bush toys but also those representing Sen. Hillary Clinton and California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. The dog toys have squeakers, while the feline models are stuffed with catnip.

Sales have been strong ever since, but Thompson isn't willing to theorize about how those sales might translate in November. After all, there's no doll for Sen. John Kerry to even things out. "Most people take it in the spirit of fun that is its intention," says Thompson.

PET RX

Keep dogs cool on warm fall days

Autumn weather can be deceptive, with cool evenings and falling leaves making people forget the potential danger of a warm fall day to our dogs.

Staying in cars on warm days or exercising in the afternoon can put a dog into heat-related danger within minutes. This is true of all dogs, but especially true of obese, out-of-condition or older dogs, or dogs with short muzzles such as pugs and bulldogs.

A dog in trouble will be panting frantically, with a glazed look in his eyes. This is a dog who needs to be transported to a veterinarian immediately! While arranging transport, take the dog into some shade, put a fan on him, and swab his underside with cool water and alcohol. Do not use ice-cold water or ice because these can actually overcool blood vessels near the surface and trap heat inside the animal.

The best way to protect your pet from overheating is to make sure adequate shade and plenty of water are always available. Do not leave dogs in cars, even with the windows rolled down, and exercise during the coolest parts of the day.

October adoptions focus of group's promotion

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, a New York City group with some national outreach programs, marks every October as Adopt a Shelter Dog Month. The group notes that less than 20 percent of all dogs were adopted from shelters and that behavior problems are what keep many shelter dogs from finding permanent homes.

In recent years shelters have worked to address these challenges, from hiring trainers to make shelter dogs more adoptable to implementing behavior hot lines to keep at-risk dogs from being taken to shelters.

Although it can take time to find the right dog, shelters continue to be a wonderful place to find a perfect pet. Not only that, but by adopting from a shelter you'll also be doing your part in the fight against pet overpopulation.

Gina Spadafori is the award-winning author of "Dogs for Dummies," "Cats for Dummies" and "Birds for Dummies." She is also affiliated with the Veterinary Information Network Inc., an international online service for veterinary professionals. Write to her in care of this newspaper, or send e-mail to petconnection@gmail.com. You can also read her frequently updated Web log or view her column archives at www.spadafori.com.

4520 Main St., Kansas City, Mo. 64111; (816) 932-6600

SEQUIM, Wash. -- Indoor facilities for dog-training classes are common in places where winters can be as long and nasty as their days are short. So it's no surprise to see a spacious room at the heart of Terry Ryan's training center in this Pacific Northwest town.

But then you notice the details that make you wonder if Legacy Canine Behavior & Training is more than just one of countless local businesses dedicated to helping people instill good manners in their pets. There's the collection of videotapes in Japanese, for one thing, or the clocks on the wall that note both the time both in Sequim and in Tokyo.

And then there's the fact that you're almost as likely here to meet a student trainer from Japan as a local dog lover. Finally, there's Ryan herself, soft-spoken, articulate and passionate about changes taking place more than 4,000 miles away.

"When I started going to Japan in 1990, the only dog training available was residential," she said. "Three-month old Fluffy would be boarded with a trainer for three to six months, and at the end of that time you'd pay a lot of yen and take home a dog who was completely different."

Not only were training classes unheard of, but also the training in those boarding centers was strictly of the boot-camp variety, according to Ryan. "Test and punishment," she said, grimacing. But there were dog lovers who saw a need for change, and they sought out Ryan's help.

The timing, she said, was perfect. Japan's booming economy left people flush with income and interested in what they saw as Western status symbols, including purebred dogs. Suddenly, breeds such as the Siberian husky were all the rage, despite their unsuitability for living in tiny urban apartments. The dogs may have been acquired for questionable reasons, but the new dog owners loved their pets and needed help training them.

"The next year after my first trip to Japan, I took two trips. The following year it was three trips, then four. Now, I spend three months of the year there," she says.

In her almost 30 years of training dogs in the United States, Ryan saw -- and helped to lead -- a complete turnabout in how we handle our pets. Today there's hardly a pet trainer left in North America who exclusively uses force-based methods, or who hasn't at least integrated some reward-based techniques into the canine curriculum. A popular speaker, author and innovative trainer of other trainers, Ryan is a firm believer in what Japanese dog lovers are now looking for as well: a cooperative, positive approach to a well-mannered dog.

Despite the enthusiasm she found for her gentle, in-home training techniques, she had to adjust her teaching style to the culture. "In Japan, tradition is very important. There's a feeling of 'This is the way it's done because this is the way it has always been done,'" she said. "Some of the concepts didn't even translate into Japanese."

With Ryan's help, there's now a version of the American Kennel Club's Canine Good Citizen certification program in place in Japan, rewarding those dogs and owners who prove they can be trusted to be model citizens in public. Dogs who pass the test -- about 20 percent of those tested pass, says Ryan -- are given special privileges, such as being allowed to stay in participating hotels. The test is tougher than the American version, says Ryan, and the dogs must be recertified every two years until the age of 10, when they're given the status for life.

With an eye toward easing up on a demanding schedule and thinking about being a little more retiring, Ryan's focus in Japan is shifting to the path she has been on in the United States for some time. She is becoming more involved in training Japanese dog trainers so the interest in gentler methods of dog training will continue to expand there.

"I don't want to keep going to Japan over and over," she says. "And Japanese instructors are twice as fast because of the language and less expensive because of the travel costs."

Which means there'll be less of Ryan in Japan, and more touches of Japan in her aptly named Legacy training center in Washington.

THE SCOOP

Fall's a great time for traveling with pets

Fall is my favorite time of year to travel. The weather's cooler, the crowds smaller and the colors spectacular in many parts of the country. While I don't mind wandering alone, I much prefer to take my dogs along.

In this, I'm not alone. In response to the surge in pet-related travel, the hospitality industry has rolled out the red carpet in recent years, not only letting pets in, but in some cases pampering them in ways unimaginable not that long ago.

While some people do travel with cats, birds and other pets, when people travel with animal companions they're usually taking their dogs along. Most dogs love travel by car, and enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of new places every bit as much as we do. Not to mention: They just love being with us!

Basic gear for dogs means carriers, leashes, ID tags, bowls, clean-up bags and food. (Water doesn't need to be packed from home.) Basic gear for dog lovers includes a travel guide listing pet-friendly lodging along the way.

For years now I've kept "Traveling With Your Pet -- The AAA PetBook" ($17 in AAA offices or retail book sellers) in my van. I've gone coast to coast with multiple dogs and done a great deal of regional travel, and this basic guide has never let me down. Because on long trips I don't always know how many hours I'll feel like driving, I use the guide to look down the road and check on my cell phone for same-day lodging.

While I can't say I always found the plushest of accommodations -- a trucker motel in the middle of Texas comes to mind as one I'd prefer not to visit again -- I can say I always found something basically acceptable and never once had to sleep in my van because my dogs weren't welcome.

The AAA pet guide has a new edition coming out in April, and they're looking for a pet travel picture to put on the cover. The winner will receive $100 cash and pet travel accessories. For more information visit the group's Web site at www.aaa.com/PetBook. -- G.S.

Q&A

Prepare a 'user's manual' for your pet, just in case

Q: Would you share an experience that might help others? I am only 55 years old, and early this year I suffered a major stroke that put me in the hospital and then a nursing home for two months.

While I'd had the foresight to set things up for myself in case of illness, the only preparation I had set up for my 10-year-old mutt, Peabody, was for someone to take care of him if I died. I was lucky that a co-worker took him in while I was sick. All things considered, he survived our separation well.

However, I wish I'd left a file of information about him to make the time less traumatic. Things such as: what kind of dog food he likes, the name of his veterinarian, which of the many blankets and rugs in the house is his "main bed," where his leash hangs, where his toys are kept, and the words I use when I take him outside to relieve himself.

I could even have left a request for someone to take him to the dog park a couple of times a week, so he would still have that routine and his special doggy friends. -- A.S., via e-mail

A: Your suggestion is excellent. Everyone should prepare a simple "user's manual" -- a file folder for each pet just in case someone needs to step in and care for the animal.

Like you, I've left specific instructions for what is to happen to each of my pets if I die, but I haven't given a thought to what would happen if I became temporarily incapacitated. I mean to change that, thanks to your note.

The Bar Association of the City of New York has some great guidelines on providing for pets in case of death or disability on its Web site (www.abcny.org/rep_brochure.html; click on "Providing for Your Pet."). In New York City, the information took on a special urgency after the terrorist attacks left countless pets without caregivers. In many cases, no one even knew animals were trapped in the homes of the victims.

That's an extreme example, to be sure, but one that should remind us all that it's important to let people know we have pets, and to make sure those pets are provided for if we can no longer care for them.

I'm happy to know you and Peabody have been reunited and are both doing well. -- G.S.

ON THE WEB

Disaster relief groups need help

With the hurricanes in Florida still fresh on our minds, it's important to prepare for our own disasters and to support those who look after animals in times of crisis.

Even if you don't care about animals, you need to know that helping animals also helps people. Many times people will not evacuate if they cannot take their animals with them. Helping animals makes crisis situations better for both animals and people.

Groups such as the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS.org), United Animal Nations' Emergency Animal Rescue Service (uan.org/ears), American Humane (www.americanhumane.org) and Noah's Wish (www.noahs-wish.org) all have information on their sites about how to prepare for your pets in case of a disaster and what to do afterward. It's essential that all pet lovers know this potentially life-saving information.

All such non-profit groups providing disaster relief could use a donation now to help rebuild their disaster teams after the hurricanes that recently hit Florida. Most take donations directly on their Web sites. -- G.S.

PET TAILS

Vanity plates go to the dogs (and cats)

Go to any dog or cat show and you'll see vanity license plates that proudly reveal the love the vehicle's owner has for animals. It's a little harder to spot animal-themed plates while driving around in the general population, but I've managed to see quite a few, including "DOG MA," "CAT MOM" and, on the veterinary side, "K9(heart)DOC" (for a veterinary cardiologist) and "AVN VET" (for a bird veterinarian).

I always assumed the vanity plate started in car-crazy California, but Popular Mechanics magazine traces the phenomenon back to Connecticut in 1937. No matter where they started, vanity plates are popular everywhere, often earning money for some worthy causes with the extra fees spent on them.

Do you have a pet-related vanity plate on your vehicle? Send a jpeg image of it to petconnection@gmail.com, along with an explanation of what it means and how you came to choose it. We'll be doing a feature on these plates in a future issue. -- G.S.

Gina Spadafori is the award-winning author of "Dogs for Dummies," "Cats for Dummies" and "Birds for Dummies." She is also affiliated with the Veterinary Information Network Inc., an international online service for veterinary professionals. Write to her in care of this newspaper, or send e-mail to petconnection@gmail.com. You can also read her frequently updated Web log or view her column archives at www.spadafori.com.

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