Canine Commuter

Auto Safety for Pets – Let’s get specific

August 30th, 2010 by Lindsey Wolko

The American Automobile Association (AAA) recently released their report on pets causing driver distractions. This is a well-known problem that many Pet Safety Advocates have been discussing over the past several years. Unfortunately the information collected has been very general…nothing specific has been discussed – other than for pet owners to keep their pets in the back seat of the car and that they should be tethered. What the pet product consumer doesn’t hear is that there are absolutely no official testing regulations or requirements for those tethers or pet safety harnesses. Very few of the manufacturers test these tools of pet safety prior to release – and when a manufacturer does test them, they look at the consequence of their manufacturing – not of the dog or cat who is wearing the harness.

Will wearing a safety harness prevent pets from distracting you when you drive? At Canine Commuter we look at the safety harness as a tool – not a solution. First, you need to select a harness that properly fits your pet. There are several harnesses on the market that provide a very bad fit – and a poorly fitting harness can make all of the difference if your pet lays down and is calm – or if he is constantly shifting to get comfortable. We recommend that you ensure the harness has an adjustable tether. For some pets, the harness connections that buckle into the seat belt buckle can be too short. But you also don’t want a tether that is too long since it can easily wrap around the leg of the dog and cause unforeseen injury. Using a harness alone may not solve your problems when traveling with your dog.

Training is essential. We speak with many consumers who think that they can just purchase a harness, fit it to their dog, buckle them up and away they go! Unfortunately, some dogs may not take immediately to this new, more restrictive environment in the car. It is a very good idea to take some very short trips to get your dog acclimated to harnessed travel. This will help ensure that the dog remains calm during extended trips.

Is a Safety Harness enough? Canine Commuter performed safety harness trials and found that with some dogs, using just a harness may not be enough protection for your pet. It is a good start, but for some of the larger breeds there are concerns of the open cavern called the passenger leg compartment. Some of the medium – large breeds required additional support to give them solid footing and added comfort. We reconfigured the back seat of our sample SUV and passenger car to determine a "best practice" solution. Our team agreed that adding a seat extender and fitting a hammock-style back seat cover over it would provide the added stability we were missing. Using the seat extender alone, we found that the space between the edge of the back seat and the seat extender was a risk as many of our dogs ended up with a leg inserted between the two. When we used the hammock seat cover alone, it was still very unstable for the larger breeds. When we added the hammock-style seat cover to the seat extender, it proved to be an adequate solution.

Pet Safe Cars? Every year we read the list of the new "Pet Safe" Cars. At Canine Commuter we believe this sends a mixed message to the consumer. There are no pet safe cars – only pet friendly cars. You, the consumer, need to take measures to make any automobile as safe as you can for your four legged friends, whether it is on the Pet Safe list or not. This means containing or tethering your pet during travel and using the correct tools for your specific automobile brand, type and customizing them based on your dog’s size and temperament. Car manufacturers are getting better about providing the consumer with more pet friendly features – but no one can legitimately call a car "Pet Safe".

Will using a Safety Harness save my dog in an accident? Accidents are a frightening occurence and for human passengers car manufacturers have added automobile structural reinforcements, seat belts and airbags to help ensure our safety during such a traumatic experience. Unfortunately even for human passengers there are no guarantees. The simple fact of tethering or crating your dog will not guarantee their safety during an accident. It helps prevent driver distractions – leading to fewer accidents. It helps restrain your pet in case of an accident. It keeps your dog from becoming a projectile and risking further injury to you and your passengers. It helps keep a frightened (or injured) dog from running off into traffic or wooded areas. It is for these reasons we advocate the use of Safety Harnesses and Crates for pets during travel.

Travel Safe!

Lindsey Wolko and the Canine Commuter Team

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Invisible Fences for Dogs – Beware

August 18th, 2010 by Lindsey Wolko

This morning I woke up to an email from a local dog group who wanted to let me know about a dog attack in the neighborhood. I hate getting those emails….I get them a lot where I live.

I live in a neighborhood where invisible fences are an option if you have pets. If I can teach the dog owner one thing about pet safety – it’s that the electric perimeter fences (ie: invisible fences) are NOT a safe containment option for pets. Here’s why….

1. Invisible fences may help keep your dog within a designated perimeter – but – it does nothing to keep predatory animals off of your property. Basically – you could be offering your dog up as bait.

2. Invisible fences are easily breached by some dog breeds. Some dogs, depending on temperament, have no problem taking that one-time shock at the perimeter if it means freedom. I’ve seen dogs continuously test their boundary. If they want it…they’ll get it. That’s what happened this morning – a temperamental German Shepherd blew it’s perimeter and attacked a dog that was on a walk with it’s owner. It apparently threatened several other people in the process before it ran off.

What can you do in a neighborhood with loose dogs? Personally, if I choose to walk my dogs I carry pepper spray – sanctioned for use on animals. Check with your local animal control division before you purchase such a product. How do you use it? Well…I call out a loud verbal warning to the dog’s owner, if they’re close by, to leash their dog. I also let them know that I’m carrying pepper spray and I won’t hesitate to use it. Luckily, people scramble to leash their dogs (I do get some pretty dirty looks, I admit). Had I encountered this loose vicious dog, I would have attempted to get my dog safely inside and calling Animal Control as the best solution. As the owner of the mauled dog found out…sometimes you don’t have that option.

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Dog Motorcycle Carriers – Which to choose?

August 17th, 2010 by Lindsey Wolko

Motorcycle Dog Carrier At Canine Commuter we get emails from customers all over the world to ask us to lend our pet travel expertise to their specific pet travel situation. Last week we received an email from a gentleman in Switzerland who wanted to purchase a Motorcycle Carrier for his dog. Specifically, he was considering the Pet Ego Jet Set or Universal Sports Bag. I felt that this email conversation was applicable to many of the pet friendly motorcycle enthusiasts who want to travel with their dog.

Here’s a snippet of our email conversation:

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A letter to the Saab Convertible Driver on I-66

July 30th, 2010 by Lindsey Wolko

Dear Saab Convertible Driver on I-66:

As I was out today running errands, you passed me while driving your dark blue Saab Convertible on I-66 near Fair Oaks Mall. As you were driving, your little dog was popping up and down in the back seat. From my vantage point, I could not see if you had put a safety harness on your dog or not. He did not have eye protection on and seemed rather wind-blown given the fact that the top was down. I wanted to share some information about why I started Canine Commuter, and invite you to call me so that we can discuss how to better protect your pet when you travel.

Over the years I have personally witnessed several pet related incidents while driving through Metro D.C. traffic. Once such incident was when a dog jumped out of a moving vehicle. I’ve never felt so sick to my stomach …I watched helplessly as he dove head-first out of the back of the car – right into oncoming traffic. There was nothing anyone could do to help him. I won’t go into graphic details – since even now, it’s too painful for me to even write about. Let it suffice to say that had the owner properly tethered or contained their dog, he would likely be around today…and wouldn’t have suffered. Keep Reading

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Tips for the new puppy owner

July 28th, 2010 by Lindsey Wolko

Q: I am picking up my new puppy in two weeks. Do you have any advice for a novice dog owner? D.B., Charlotte, NC

A: Hi D.B. – Yes, like all seasoned dog owners, I have lots of advice to share. I’ve tried to summarize below – but feel free to contact me directly if you need more detail.

Home Sweet Home: Bringing your new puppy home is exciting for you – but likely frightening for the pup. Remember, its likely the first time he’s been away from his litter. New sights, smells and sounds can be overwhelming for the little guy and keeping a calm household is important. If you are picking up your pup from a breeder, ask her to place a towel in with the litter so it can pickup famililar smells. This will help give comfort to your pup’s new surroundings. If you are adopting from a shelter, you won’t have that option, so just make sure that there is ample warm bedding available. Sometimes a large, floppy stuffed animal helps to provide some added comfort for the new puppy to curl up with.

Consistency: Dogs are creatures of habit. It will be important to develop a consistent schedule to follow with your puppy. (My dogs are sticklers for keeping me on my schedule. I swear they can tell time!) Potty breaks at regular intervals, feeding at the same time(s) every day, playtime, walks – everything needs to be scheduled. Having a schedule will be especially important when crate training your new puppy….see below…

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Pidgey’s Crazy

July 18th, 2010 by Lindsey Wolko

Pidgey My littlest English Cocker, Pidgey, is crazy. When she came to live with me almost three years ago she was this adorable pup, that I named Madison. She had this very strange habit of perching on the back of the couch….like a pidgeon. Well, long story short….that’s why we call her Pidgey. She’s a good little dog….when she gets things her way. She loves to order a tummy rub…by rolling over and wagging her tail like a little rudder. Makes me laugh every time….and yes, she gets a belly rub every time. Pavlov would find it an interesting twist…dog trains owner. Oh brother!

No seriously…Pidgey is crazy! She loves to sit next to me on the couch and watch TV. The Daily Show is her favorite. Honest! She also likes to watch Lester Holt from the Today Show…(he gets most of the pet related assignments on the weekend…so I think that has something to do with it…(although he’s my favorite anchor too)). God forbid I watch the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show….she goes berserk when she sees any dog, cat, horse, bear, bird or animated bee that sounds like Antonio Banderas on TV. She jumps off the couch and bounces in front of the television cabinet growling and protecting the room in her very weird way. She’s been here for going on 3 years…and I still can’t figure out this obsession.

I’m getting out my video camera in the next few weeks….I’ll prove it to you… Pidgey is Crazy!!

Happy Summer…

Lindsey (and the Canine Commuter Test Pilots)

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Summer Cuts – Keeping your Dog Cool and Comfortable in Summer

June 14th, 2010 by Lindsey Wolko

It’s all about the hair…or the coat as it were. Dogs are identified by their hair. Flat coat, long coat, curly or coarse – each dog whether pure bred or mixed breed needs their hair for protection. Some water breeds have a water repellant coat, where as some dogs, like the Chinese Crested, have barely any coat at all!

During summer months, many of us clip our dogs to a short hair cut – we think it’s more comfortable – and yes, in many ways it is. Just be sure that you carefully monitor the sun exposure your newly clipped friend is getting. Dogs can easily sunburn when sporting a new short coat and SPF is a necessity. Your vet can recommend a product for you and tell you how and where to apply it. There are many new pet-friendly SPF formulas – just make sure to follow the application instructions, like with human SPF the product can wear off quickly.

Dogs are easy candidates for heat stroke during summer months too. Some puppies can get it in as little as 15-20 minutes of being outside, whether in the sun or not. When the weather is hot, always, always, always provide your pet with an air-conditioned space to rest and plenty of water. Cooling collars are helpful but do not make up for good common sense. I, personally, have dogs with black coats and they never stay out in the heat for more than 10 minutes at a time. It’s outside to go potty, and then they return to their cool climate indoors to rest and play. We save the cool Fall and Spring days for outdoor training and extended outdoor playtime.

Every year I tell our readers to leave their dog at home, not in the car. I will say it again this year. Please leave your dog at home…NOT in the car. It has become very popular to travel with your pooch and I see more and more dogs left in cars with the windows "cracked" open an inch or so. That’s not going to help your dog stay cool and comfortable, is dangerous for your dog - and may lead to a confrontation with your local Police Officer or Animal Control Agent. Do your dog a favor - leave them at home when you go out. They’d much rather enjoy sneaking on to the couch while you’re gone and basking in the cool, dry air conditioned house.

Wishing you a Safe and Happy Summer!

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A tribute to my dad….

June 1st, 2010 by Lindsey Wolko

All of us go through difficult times in our lives. We face work challenges, health challenges and lose family members. The last few months have been increasingly difficult as I had to administrate a move to assisted living for both of my parents. My father rallied and did very well for a few weeks only to face more health challenges. He passed away on May 8th. Most women hold their fathers in high esteem. I am no exception.

My dad, Howard S. Wolko, was a kind man, with great humor, who adored his wife and loved his line of work. He worked for Bell Aircraft, the Air Force and was on the team that designed the spacecraft heat shields at NASA. He was also the Assistant Director of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum and helped open the museum in 1976. If you’ve ever visited NASM, and looked up at the planes hanging there – you’ve walked under the work of my father. He worked the calculations and designed the rigging to hang the airplanes – including the historical aircraft – The Wright Flyer and the Spirit of St. Louis. He retired from federal service in 1993 as Special Advisor for Technology at NASM. He held a Doctor of Science degree from George Washington University in Theoretical and Applied Mechanics. He loved to teach and felt a quality education was important.

He was a WWII veteran. Dad started his training as an aviator in Florida, but a fuel line clog and subsequent plane crash ended that career for him. He re-enlisted afterward and served on the Aircraft Carrier Roosevelt as a helmsman. He always downplayed his service to our country. If you didn’t ask, it would never come up in conversation. He never forgot the joy of flying and it was the start of a life long passion. He lived for the study of aircraft structures and the engineering behind flight.

My dad was also an avid woodworker. He loved building things in his woodshop in our basement. It was very hard for him when he began to lose his vision from Macular Degeneration. He had to give up the one hobby he truly loved. He handled his vision loss with grace and calmly relinquished his driver’s license when the time came. Macular Degeneration is a cruel disease. He always hoped for a restorative cure…but it never came.

My father is the primary reason our family is so involved with dogs. He loved Setters. Irish Setters, English Setters – my dad loved them both. He and my mother have had many setters over the years. I have pictures of him walking their first Irish Setter back in the 1950’s…..or maybe Clancy was walking him, it’s hard to tell. He and my mother raised all four of their children to be responsible dog owners. He was very influential and helpful with the business model for Canine Commuter. Both he and my mother believed in our mission of pet safety. When I hit a rough patch, he and my mom were always there with encouraging words and a shoulder to lean on.

I find it interesting how one person can influence your life in such a dramatic, yet quiet way.

Thanks for everything dad.

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The Resident Dog….making Assisted Living feel more like home.

February 22nd, 2010 by Lindsey Wolko

I, like many boomers out there, am searching for the next residence for my parents. They call it Assisted Living, Continuing Care….it’s really more of an apartment setting with help. Some are warm and friendly – others are cold and institutional. It amazes me as I take tour after tour, of not only the varying environments and levels of care, but how guilty I feel about having to move mom and dad from the home they’ve lived in for almost 40 years.

As I was out touring these residences last week, I was greeted by a very friendly Cavalier King Charles Spaniel named Buttons. As I sat there reviewing the brochure, he immediately walks up to me, tail wagging. I immediately felt better. He’s the resident dog. He lives there with the elder residents and is part of the family. (This residence is also home to two cats and a handful of birds.) I spoke with the admissions coordinator about Buttons. He’s been there since he was 8 weeks old. He’s very happy (and quite well fed from what I could see!) and much loved by the residents. He even has his own business card!

Since I grew up in a household devoted to dogs – Buttons was a definite influence on my decision to short list this community for my parents. So many of the communities I toured have a "No Pets" policy. Why?? I couldn’t figure out why these residences wouldn’t want to add a wagging tail and some added comfort to the surroundings. I’ve been told that these transitions can be quite traumatic for some people….and the resident dogs and cats have a very positive effect on soothing those that find themselves in unfamiliar territory. Now, the first question I ask when touring a community is…."Do you have a resident dog?" I want my mom and dad to be as comfortable as possible during this time of transition….and what better way to bring them comfort than a wagging tail, a lick on the cheek and the unconditional love of a dog.

Lindsey Wolko is the Owner and Pet Safety Advocate of Canine Commuter.

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Dogs and the Elderly

January 4th, 2010 by Lindsey Wolko

Dogs are magic. I feel that I can state this as fact. I’ve seen it. As we baby-boomers head into the realm of retirement and provide care for our aging parents I want to share some of the benefits that I’ve seen my dogs provide to my mom. But first, let me introduce my mom – she’s 83 and as stubborn as they come. My mom is determined to live as independently as possible for as long as possible – which can sometimes cause problems for her and her kids – but I still admire her drive to do things as she wants – the way she wants. She’s a tough old goat. (I say that with love!)

As seniors age, you will notice changes not only in their appearance and appetite but also in mood and behavior. Honestly, as the child of elderly parents, it’s a tough thing to acclimate to. When their memory begins to fade, it can become exhausting.

So, this is where the dogs come in. My three dogs are wonderful with my mom. They help to shift the focus of the difficult topics to fun, non-judgmental fun. Mom looks forward to their visits and enjoys taking them outside to play and just get away from the stress of aging. For this short period of time, she becomes a kid again. Laughing, throwing balls, absorbing all of the love and attention the dogs give her. Her mood lightens and she’s much easier to communicate with. I’ve also found that she’ll have a much more detailed conversation with me when we sit outside together enjoying the company of the dogs. She’ll tell more stories about her childhood and fun times of her youth. She relishes the hugs and kisses the dogs bestow and for the duration of our visit, I see glimmers of the mom I grew up with. What is so amazing about this is that the dogs did this – without even trying.

My dogs – and your dogs (and cats) – have an amazing ability to sense things. These are things beyond sight, smell and sound. They sense mood, illness, depression and possess a natural ability to improve these – just by being available. Studies have shown that spending some quality time with a dog (or cat) will lower blood pressure and improve your mood. People who are around dogs require less pain medication too. To me – dogs are good medicine, they are magic.

If you have an elderly family member try visiting with the family dog. You might be surprised at the amazing difference the dog will make during your visit.

When you and your dog visit with an elderly person, here are a few tips to consider prior to your visit.

Evaluate your dog. If you have a young puppy or a rambunctious young dog their puppy teeth or jumping might actually present a hazard to your elderly family member. Use good common sense. If the dog won’t provide a calm presence – you might want to wait until you’ve finished training and the dog is not a risk.
Before bringing the dog into the environment, take a few minutes to do a very quiet, inconspicuous scan of the room. Sometimes elderly people will accidentally drop their medications and not notice. You’ll want to make sure that there are no pills on the floor that your dog might accidentally consume.
Pick the right time of day for your parent. As people age, their schedules change too. Doctor visits are more frequent and naps become an important factor in their day. Be considerate of their schedule and call first to ensure that you will not be interrupting their day.
Supervise your visit. Elderly parents should not be treated like children, but their vision and their balance isn’t what it used to be. You’ll want to ensure that your dog will not become a trip hazard or that their play doesn’t become too over the top for your elderly parent. A little fun will go a long way – but supervision is necessary to monitor such events so you can gently intervene before a problem arises. Safety First!
One thing that I try to do when I visit is bring a meal to share. Our visit can sometimes change their daily schedule and I notice that my parents don’t plan their meals until the last minute. By bringing them a meal you not only get to enjoy your time with them, but you also remove some of the stress associated with changing their schedule. They don’t have to worry about dinner and can relax and enjoy your visit more.
Keep your visits relatively short. As I said, daily schedules become an important factor for elderly people. I find that if my visit goes over 2-3 hours that my mom can start to become agitated and nervous. I have noticed several visual queues and behaviors that my parents exhibit when I’m nearing the limit of my visit. I heed those warning signs and the dogs and I pack up and head home at the first sign. An agitated senior might not welcome your future visits no matter how beneficial they are.
Remember to enjoy your time together. Take note of the joy that the dogs bring to both you and your parent and enjoy watching them play and visit together. These moments become less frequent as our parents age – so take note and enjoy them now!

If you enjoy spreading the wealth of well-being to the aging (and other age groups in need) you may also consider getting your dog registered as a certified therapy dog. Therapy dogs are welcome in many assisted living environments, nursing homes and hospitals.

If you have any questions about dogs and the elderly, please feel free to email me at CustomerService@CanineCommuter.com.

Lindsey

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Auto Safety for Pets – Let’s get specific

Invisible Fences for Dogs – Beware

Dog Motorcycle Carriers – Which to choose?

A letter to the Saab Convertible Driver on I-66

Tips for the new puppy owner

Pidgey’s Crazy

Summer Cuts – Keeping your Dog Cool and Comfortable in Summer

A tribute to my dad….

The Resident Dog….making Assisted Living feel more like home.

Dogs and the Elderly

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