Food: have two collapsible bowls and prepare each serving of dry kibble in separate ziplock bags so that it’s easy to serve and keep track of. Also, always bring 2-4 days worth of extra food in case you extend your trip or something else comes up. Expect the pup to eat less because of all the new sights and sounds (and maybe bring some yummy food toppers like Stella & Chewy’s or Honest Kitchen bone broth pour overs), but still be mindful of changes in behavior. Which means you may want to have pumpkin purée and probiotics on hand, too. Treats and chews: have lots of chews to help the pup refocus attention and avoid chewing on hotel furniture. Also chewing helps when there are changes in altitude. Bring a kong and some yummy non perishable things that it can be filled with. Treats are a must of course because you’ll want to take lots of cute pictures! Toys: bring a couple of toys, but not too many because you may want to get the pup some mementos from local pet shops during your travel. May want to leave the squeaky toys home depending on where you’re going. Sleep: A collapsible crate is a very good idea! Also bring unwashed blankets or bedding so the pup has something that smells like home. And of course their snuggle puppy! There are also websites like BringFido.com that make it easier to find pet friendly hotels. Riding in the car : make sure your pup is clipped in and wearing a safety harness. Or in a crate. Plan your trip along dog parks or open areas for quick walks and potty breaks. Have a list of vet clinics along the way, too. Other: have all of your pups vaccination records available. Some states can be finicky about that. You may also consider having a full checkup with your vet even before hitting the road. Have a doggie first aid kit (items such as tick tweezers, vet wrap, stypic powder, gauze/cotton balls, pet friendly eye wash, 3% hydrogen peroxide. Also have extra collar, harness, and leash just in case anything breaks. Thanks to all the pawesome furiends who shared their tips for this post! Find them on Instagram: Allthemfreckles Mr.Darcy_the_labradoodle Saucy_goma_san Sydney_andthecity abowlofchowder Its.truffles Theo_dorabledoodle abelsamazingadventures baloo_the_grandchow

Here is a very helpful and comprehensive schedule of the vaccination timeline for your pup: https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/puppy-shots-complete-guide/

When Maggie started going on walks at four months she pulled like a bucking bronco even though she was only 20 lbs. If she wanted to get somewhere faster than we were walking, she would pull up on her hind legs and start to bunny hop (earned her the nickname bad bunny). It took a lot of patience and training, but over the next few months her leash walking improved significantly and by five months we were able to start going for loose leash walks consistently. Here's what we changed to make that happen: Pick the side you want your pup to walk on, and always walk them on that side. If they pull from side to side then stop and only walk forward so long as they stay on the desired side (more on that in step 2) Worked on the quality of the walk rather than the length of the walk. Quality is measured by the attention the pup gives you rather than all the other sights and sounds. We did this by stopping regularly (teach the command "stop" and "wait"), changing direction, crossing the street, and making her keep guessing where we're going. This prevents the pup from thinking she can lead the way (clearly the @maggie_leadtheway handle was rooted in reality) Bought a step in harness with a front attachment and a martingale collar (Wolfgang Man and Beast has great ones that are comfortable and lightweight - code MAGGIE2021), as well as a six foot leash with a double dog leash connector. We attached one end of the connector to her collar and the other to the front of her harness. By attaching it to both points we distributed the force when she pulled. But by attaching it to the front we made it harder for her to pull forward without being pulled back. We broke out the highest value treat (string cheese)! This allowed us to keep her attention while we worked on a walking "watch me" and rewarded every few steps with a "fine dining" approach where Maggie nibbled at the cheese slowly making her more focused and interested. Over time we extended the length of the walking watch me. But always remember, "right hand side, right hand guide" / "left hand side, left hand guide" Credit to the amazing @mango.thedoggo 's human for teaching us all of this during our time training with her when Maggie was just four to five months old! What other techniques have worked for you pups? Or what are you currently trying?

First time dog owners like us are probably getting a little nervous for July 4th. Maggie is starting to get startled even at the faint sound of a few fireworks in the distance. Several of our furiends on instagram have been very helpful and started sharing links to articles with recommendations, which means it's on the minds of all dog owners (not just first timers). How are you preparing? What has your approach been in the past?