The relationship between working service dogs and their handlers is one of the closes bonds anyone can have with an animal. These caring, thoughtful, hardworking dogs are literally their handler’s lifeline for years.

Think about all the things you carry when going on a long trip to make yourself more comfortable. You might have a book, a hat, some snacks, a neck pillow – some people even carry a change of socks in their backpack! While a dog might not need as much as you do, they’re still sensitive and intelligent animals that do better with some creature comforts. Just like you wouldn’t get on a 12-hour flight with nothing but the clothes on your back, your dog shouldn’t have to suffer through an already stressful experience either.

Training a dog isn’t just about teaching it to sit, roll over, and shake hands. In fact, although these tricks are fun, they can miss the point. The most important thing you’re doing when you train a dog is ensuring that it can live safely and reliably in a busy world full of people (and other dogs). It’s tempting to let your dog “run free” in the yard and live a life free of human bondage. But in reality, this is actually a cruel thing to do to a dog. These animals were bred to live with and amongst humans, and by failing to give them the skills to do so, we’re making their lives, and ours, less enriching.

Researching the right breed of dog, preparing your space to make it dog friendly, and showing your new friend all the love and attention they deserve are all parts of caring for a happy and healthy animal. But there’s a lot more to doing what’s right for your pet than just that. A healthy dog is a happy dog and there’s one big part of dog health that every responsible owner should know about: vaccinations.

One often overlooked aspect of being a responsible and caring pet owner is trips to the veterinarian. Usually, we take our dogs to the vet when we first get them to make sure they are up to date on shots. Then, for many people, their dog doesn’t see the inside of a doctor’s office again unless there is something noticeably wrong with them. There are really two issues at play here.

When people are planning a big trip with their dog, there are a few things that most people think to consider. Research into pet-friendly hotels, airlines, and restaurants. Rules about air travel. What kinds of toys to bring with you to keep your furry friend happy.

If you are planning on taking a trip with your dog, the first step is always to make sure that you and your pet are prepared for the excursion and that you’ve researched pet friendly hotels and airlines. For those readers who are new to the experience, we’ve detailed some of things you’ll want to consider when first planning your trip in another post. Of course, once all the initial research has been done, you’ll want to focus on step two - actually enjoying your time with your pet!

Traveling with your dog is easier now than ever before, but there are still a lot of important things to keep in mind - especially when it comes to air travel and hotels. When done wrong, travelling with your pet can be stressful and you’ll wish you had just left your friend at home. However, when done right, it can be an easy and rewarding experience. There are two aspects to making a successful trip with your dog: planning ahead and knowing the laws.

Happy Holidays from all of us here at Service Dog Registration Of America! We know many of you will be traveling over the holiday season which means your Service Dog will be along for the trip. However, the two things that don’t always mix well are holidays and dogs.

In order to get the most out of each visit that you make to your veterinarian with your dog, you should ask lots of questions. The answers that you receive can help you to take better care of your pet, safeguarding his health and promoting his happiness. Here are 7 important questions that you should be asking your veterinarian about your dog.