Gina Spadafori

The number of people who travel with their dogs is growing, and so too are the options for pets on the road. From "ruffing it" at campgrounds to enjoying fabulous four-star hotels, the time has never been better to pack up your pet and go.

Still, traveling with a dog is no picnic sometimes. Finding lodgings can be difficult, luxurious inside dining is largely sacrificed in favor of eating takeout in the car or a park, and spending hours tripping through quaint shops becomes a thing of the past when a dog is waiting. Traveling with dogs offers some challenges, but nearly all are surmountable with common sense and creativity.

The travel industry wants to help, that's for sure. Countless books cover traveling with dogs, and some travel agents have carved out a niche booking canine-centered vacations. People in the travel industry have learned that many people with dogs are exceptionally grateful for pleasant accommodations, and so return to the places that treat them well year after year. As a result, some entrepreneurs have gone to great lengths to attract dog lovers. You can even find canine camps, where people do nothing but share a slice of "dog heaven" with their pet for a week or more at a time.

Is your pup ready to hit the road? As with all other training, ending up with a good car-rider starts with molding correct behavior when your dog is a puppy. No matter how cute or how small, do not allow your pup to ride in your lap, and don't make a fuss over him while you're driving.

Traveling with your dog in a crate is often easier and definitely safer. Depending on the size of your dog and the size and shape of your car, a crate may not be feasible. It should always be considered, though, especially for those dogs who are so active that they distract the driver. Collapsible crates are available for easy storage in the trunk when not in use.

Another safety tool is a doggy seat belt. Some models attach to the vehicle's seat belt and then to a harness you provide, while others come complete with harness. Also good for keeping a pet in place -- if you have a station wagon, van or SUV -- are widely available metal barriers that fit between the passenger and cargo areas. These barriers aren't considered as safe in the event of a crash as a crate or a safety belt, but they do solve the problem of a dog whose behavior can distract the driver.

If your dog's only exposure to travel is an occasional trip to the veterinarian's, don't be surprised if he hates car rides. Try to build up his enthusiasm by increasing his time in the car and praising him for his good behavior. The first short trips should be to pleasant locations, such as parks.

Because most of the car-sickness problems come from fear, not motion sickness, building up your pet's tolerance for riding in a car is a better long-term cure than anything you could give him. Ask your veterinarian's advice for any medication to help in the short term.

On the road, remember to stop at regular intervals, about as often as you need to for yourself, for your dog to relieve himself and get a drink of fresh water. Always keep your dog on a leash for his own safety. And don't forget that your dog's ID tags are never as important as when you're on the road.

With a few short practice trips and some training, you'll be on the road in no time.

Q&A

'Invaders' cause cat

to lash out at owner

Q: Whenever my cat looks through the window and sees another cat outside in the yard, she freaks. The last time it happened, I was trying to swat her head to get her away from me. She showed her teeth and hissed like she was going to attack me.

Later, she was back to normal. It's so weird because she is so docile and sweet most of the time. I hate to get rid of her for attacking me, but I am afraid of being bitten when she "goes off" like this. -- D.T.

A: You have a classic case of what behaviorists call "redirected aggression," and it's not in the least uncommon.

Cats are territorial animals, and the sight of another cat (even through a window) can trigger an aggressive response. The cat who feels "invaded" will work into a state of trancelike anger. The animal becomes frustrated that she cannot get to the invader, and typically will lash out at any person or other pet unlucky enough to be in proximity.

The usual advice in such cases is to work to remove the triggers for such behaviors. If possible, figure out a way to keep other cats out of your yard, and block your cat's view to the area where they show up. When your cat's in an aggressive state, do not pick her up or touch her, but try to "shoo" her into a darkened room to chill out. Throwing a blanket over her will also end the confrontation in a pinch.

Most cases of redirected aggression aren't as dramatic as your cat's. They can usually be dealt with just by giving the cat a wide berth until it's apparent (from the cat's relaxed body language) that the aggressive state is over.

Given the high level of arousal your cat displayed and your fear of more incidents including a bite, I'd recommend asking your veterinarian for a referral to a veterinary behaviorist who can set up a program of medication and modification that will help defuse the feline time bomb in your home. -- Gina Spadafori

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

ABOUT PET CONNECTION

Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet-care experts headed by "Good Morning America" and "The Dr. Oz Show" veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and award-winning journalist Gina Spadafori. The two are also the authors of many best-selling pet-care books. Dr. Becker can also be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker.

THE BUZZ

Calico cats are

truly distinctive

-- Calico and tortoiseshell (or tortie) refer to a pattern of markings, not to a breed. The link between them is red fur, which can run from a very pale tan to a bright, rich rust. The two marking patterns are genetically similar, but differ in the way they are expressed on the cat. On calico cats, the red, black and white colors are distinct patches; on tortoiseshells, the colors are swirled together. Almost all such cats are female, but males do turn up rarely. Male calicoes are unusual for more than their coloring: Although they appear male, they're carrying not only a Y chromosome, but two X ones (one extra), which is what makes the calico patterning possible.

-- Human health trends almost always end up echoing in the pet-care industry as well. General Nutrition Center and PetSmart are reported to be in talks to have GNC create a product line -- to be sold exclusively at PetSmart -- of vitamins and supplements aimed at each stage of a pet's life. The companies are counting on people being as interested in fitness, weight loss and healthy living for their pets as they are for themselves.

-- A healthy cat's heart normally beats between 140 and 220 times per minute, with a relaxed cat on the lower end of the scale. It's not unusual for the heartbeat to be high at the veterinarian's, since cats don't like being away from home, and they certainly don't like being poked and prodded by strangers. Put your hand over your cat's left side, behind the front leg. You'll feel the heart pulsing beneath your fingers. Count the beats for 15 seconds; multiply by four to get the BPM, or beats per minute.-- Dr. Marty Becker and Mikkel Becker Shannon

When we see a news story about a dog attacking a child, we quickly look for the reason behind the tragedy. It's usually there, if you know what you're looking for. And no, what we're talking about isn't a reference to the dog's being identified -- or just as often, misidentified -- as a "pit bull."

What we're looking for -- and usually find -- are the indicators that the situation was already well on the way to being dangerous when the attack happened. Typically, the dog was young, male and unneutered. He was also unsocialized, usually a backyard dog with little to no interaction with the family. Even more likely, the dog was in effect trained to defend his turf by being kept full-time on a chain or in a small kennel run.

"He never gave us any problem before!" says the owner of the dog, who really didn't know the animal because he was little more than a lawn ornament or the living equivalent of a burglar alarm sign. Or maybe the owners will grudgingly admit to a bite now and then -- but "nothing serious." Again, more warning signs ignored.

Is there a dog like this in your neighborhood -- or in your own yard? If it's the latter, call your veterinarian and arrange for your pet to be neutered, and then ask for a referral to a trainer or behaviorist with experience in aggressive dogs who can help you with any problems that have driven you to ban your pet from your family (like house-training issues). You can then work on manners and socialization that will turn your pet into a true member of the family -- safe around both family members and visitors alike.

Of course, you can't control what other people do with their animals. That's why you have to make sure your children know how to behave around dogs to protect them from attack.

Here's what every child should know:

Never approach a loose dog, even if he seems friendly. Dogs who are confined in yards, and especially those on chains, should also be avoided. Many are very serious about protecting their turf. If the dog is with his owner, children should always ask permission before petting, and then begin by offering the back of the hand for a sniff. Further, they should pat the dog on the neck or chest. The dog may interpret a pat from above as a gesture of dominance. Teach your children to avoid fast or jerky movements around dogs, since these may trigger predatory behavior.

Be a tree when a dog approaches, standing straight with feet together, fists under the neck and elbows into the chest. Teach your children to make no eye contact, since some dogs view eye contact as a challenge. Running is a normal response to danger, but it's the worst possible thing to do around a dog, because it triggers the animal's instinct to chase and bite. Many dogs will just sniff and leave. Teach your children to stay still until the animal walks away, and then back away slowly from the area.

"Feed" the dog a jacket or backpack if attacked, or use a bike to block the dog. These strategies may keep an attacking dog's teeth from connecting with flesh.

Act like a log if knocked down: face down, legs together, curled into a ball with fists covering the back of the neck and forearms over the ears. This position protects vital areas and can keep an attack from turning fatal. Role-play these lessons with your child until they are ingrained. They may save your child's life.

Discuss safe behavior with your children and role-play how to approach dogs, when not to approach, and what to do if confronted or attacked.

To be fair, dogs aren't the biggest risk that children face growing up. Organized sports, for example, are 10 times more likely to result in a child's trip to the emergency room than are dogs.

But why take a chance? With summer here and children out and about more than the rest of the year, you need to make sure they know the risks and what to do. You can help protect your child from a dog bite, and it's always worth the time to do so. And sometimes the place to start is in your own family, with a dog who needs your attention now.

Q&A

Have cats checked on

when you take a trip

Q: How long can my cat stay home alone if I leave plenty of food and water? I don't have anyone to care for him while I am gone, up to four days at a time for business. -- S.W., via e-mail

A: How would you like to be left with food that's getting older by the minute, water that's developing a skin of slime and a bathroom where the toilet's backed up? That's pretty much what you're dealing with if you leave your cat unattended for more than a day.

Even worse, what if the water is spilled, or your cat eats all the food on Day One? And what if he gets seriously sick or injured and no one's around to help?

Or what if your home is broken into or a window left open and your cat escapes? In some areas, if your cat ends up in the local animal-control shelter, he could be killed as a stray before you even knew he was missing. (This is why collar and ID tags -- and a microchip -- are a must even for indoor-only cats.)

Although there are some time-release food dispensers that can keep a cat covered for a weekend in a pinch, your pet really should have someone check in at least once a day.

If you don't have friends, relatives or neighbors who can help, hire a pet sitter to come to your home. PetSitUSA.com, Petsitters.org and Petsit.com all offer searchable listings, or ask friends and co-workers for recommendations. (And check references!)

There are some really great pet sitters out there, and once you find the right one, you'll find that your trips will be easier with the peace of mind that comes from skipping the added worry of wondering about the pet you left behind. -- Gina Spadafori

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

ABOUT PET CONNECTION

Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet-care experts headed by "Good Morning America" and "The Dr. Oz Show" veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and award-winning journalist Gina Spadafori. The two are also the authors of many best-selling pet-care books. Dr. Becker can also be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker.

THE BUZZ

Canine cancer cure?

Prevention is best

-- The best treatment for canine cancer is prevention. Restrict your dog's daily intake of food to maintain a fit body weight, and feed him a balanced, delicious high-quality diet with limited amounts of carbohydrates (sugars), moderate amounts of good-quality proteins and higher levels of n-3 fatty acids such as DHA. Consider supplementing omega-3 fatty acids to potentially reduce the risk of developing cancer. Add regular exercise to complete the list of preventive recommendations, and see your veterinarian if you suspect a problem, since early detection improves survival rates.

-- More than a third of lizard species in the world will be extinct by 2080, according to journal Science. The reason behind mass extinction is that the climate is changing too quickly for many species, especially the lizards who give live birth. These species have lower body temperatures that leave them more vulnerable to kill-offs. Almost 4 percent of lizard species are already extinct.

-- For the first time in modern England, a horse is being used to provide ambulance service. Chase, a 7-year-old horse, and his owner are replacing the traditional ambulance as the first responder at the Cannock Chase Country Park in Staffordshire. The team can get anywhere in the 3,000 acres of parkland within 15 minutes and are able to maneuver easier and more quickly than a vehicle can, officials say. In addition to his human partner, Chase carries many of the materials found on a regular ambulance, including a defibrillator, oxygen, blanket, splints and bandages, according to TheHorse.com -- Dr. Marty Becker and Mikkel Becker Shannon

Every time I drive the 16 miles from our ranch to my hometown in northern Idaho, I pass dogs who are chained to a tree, a doghouse or just to a stake driven into the ground.

Make no mistake: These aren't the pets of loving, responsible owners who want to make sure they're safe when unsupervised, so they secure them temporarily. These dogs are imprisoned within the chain's radius for their entire lives.

In fact, in the years I've lived here, I've never seen these chained-up dogs run free. Sadly, millions of other pets across this country share their fate.

I seldom catch their gaze -- they tend to seem resigned to their sad fate -- but I always feel sadness for the dogs and frustration at their owners. If these folks knew that chaining a dog all the time can have serious consequences, would they change how they confine their animals? I like to think so.

Experts agree that chaining increases aggression in some dogs. It can also be the primary cause of severe or lethal dog attacks on people.

"Rather than protecting the owner or property, a chained dog is often fearful for itself, particularly poorly socialized dogs, or those with a previous negative experience," says Dr. Rolan Tripp, a PetConnection contributing editor and owner of AnimalBehavior.net. "When tethered and exposed to a potentially threatening stimulus, one thing the dog definitely knows is 'I can't get away.' In that circumstance, a reasonable response might be, 'Therefore I'm going to try to scare you away by growling,' or worse yet, biting."

"I specifically see increased aggression when a dog feels responsible for protecting the owner and that person's belongings," agrees Dr. Myrna Milani, author of several books on animal behavior. "Under those circumstances, restraint of any kind makes it impossible for the dog to freely explore any perceived threat to determine whether it poses any danger or get away from it if it does."

Finally adding to this chorus is Dr. Elizabeth Shull, a board-certified veterinary neurologist.

"In addition to frustration, the constant physical restraint promotes excessive territoriality, which may be manifested as aggression," she says. "These attacks are unnecessary as they are easily preventable by using a secure fence for containment."

The person on the other end of the teeth is often a young child who wandered into the dog's territory, or a delivery person who didn't notice a chained dog until it was too late. A bite is always a tragedy for the victim, but it's often a death sentence for the dog. An avoidable catastrophe for all, in so many cases.

Dogs are social animals. They need to have company to live normal, healthy lives. Most dogs live in a human family, which fills their biological need for companionship.

The worst punishment for people in prison is solitary confinement, while the military uses the silent treatment as a nonviolent but highly effective means of reprimand. But these are only temporary measures, while a dog may be committed to the same punishment for most of its life.

These punishments are only evoked on humans for terrible crimes, but what crimes did these poor dogs commit to deserve such a fate? Think about what happens to a dog's physical being and spirit if he never knows freedom, companionship, play, joy?

If you need to secure your dog, get a big fence. If you need a security system, then install an electronic one. If you want a dog, but aren't willing to love it and consider its needs, get a stuffed one.

Chaining a dog up all the time is no way to treat a thinking, breathing, trusting, loving creature.

Q&A

Little budgies big

on personality

Q: I am thinking about adding a bird to my family and was thinking specifically about a parakeet. What kind of investment will that entail? Are they messy? What kind of cage will I need? -- K.P., via e-mail

A: What we in the United States call a "parakeet" is really a "budgerigar," or budgie. (There are other varieties of parakeets besides budgies, which is why the distinction matters.) Budgies come in many colors and patterns, and two basic body types. The American style of budgie is slender and long compared to the husky, almost bulldog look of the English budgie. The personalities are the same, though.

Budgies are quite common and inexpensive compared to other parrots. Prices will vary, and birds typically can be found for less than $20, with rare colors on the higher side. It's worth paying more for a hand-raised bird, if you can find one, because taming an aviary-bred pet who has never been handled can be difficult.

All birds are messy, but a little budgie needs less cleaning up afterward than will a larger parrot.

Because they're so common, budgies are often dismissed as "just" a children's pet. But a friendly budgie can be a loving and entertaining pet for anyone, regardless of age or bird-care experience.

As for housing, the best guideline for choosing a cage is to look at the one specified for your bird -- and then go at least one or even two sizes bigger. For pets who spend a lot of their lives in confinement, it's only fair that they have as much room as possible. When you're looking at cages, though, check bar spacing to ensure the gaps are too narrow to allow escape.

Budgies are parrots, and so should be fed like them. Choose a high-quality pelleted diet and complement it with a wide variety of healthy "people food." Give seeds sparingly. Their best use is as a treat in training. -- Gina Spadafori

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

ABOUT PET CONNECTION

Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet-care experts headed by "Good Morning America" and "The Dr. Oz Show" veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and award-winning journalist Gina Spadafori. The two are also the authors of many best-selling pet-care books. Dr. Becker can also be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker.

THE BUZZ

Pet insurance slow

to grow in the U.S.

-- The pet health insurance business started in 1924, when a Swedish company issued a policy to cover a dog. It wasn't until 1982 that such coverage became available in the U.S., when the celebrity collie Lassie became the first to be granted a policy. While the industry is growing in the United States with more companies and a greater variety of coverage options, there are still plenty of pet lovers who have not been sold on the concept. In Sweden, half of pet owners carry coverage, while about a quarter do in the United Kingdom. In the U.S., fewer than 3 percent of owners have health insurance coverage on their pets.

-- The Guinness Book of World Records has stopped listing animals in the "fattest" category, concerned that record-seeking owners will put their pets' health at risk to be a record-holder. Surveys of veterinarians report that about 60 percent of all cats and half of all dogs are overweight or obese.

-- For those who have thought ahead and made a disaster-preparedness plan, almost four of five say their pets are included, according to a report by the American Veterinary Medical Association. With hurricane season again threatening millions in the Southeast, now is a great time to develop a plan if you don't have one, or to review plans if you do have them. -- Dr. Marty Becker and Mikkel Becker Shannon