Looking for the perfect summer vacation for you and your dog? Camping is the original dog-friendly option to escape the everyday. The great outdoors has always provided a respite for people and their pets giving you the opportunity to pitch your tent, start a fire and lie side by side with your best friend under the milky way. Before you get the car packed, the cooler full and the flea and tick spray applied make sure you know the campsites policy on dogs. Some campsites require dogs to be on a leash at all times, so if you have it in your mind that your dog will be free to jump off the dock, swim in lake and chase balls on the beach check with the campground on rules regarding your pet. Also, it would be wise to ensure you have copies of all your pet’s vaccination certificates with you. Often this request may not be mentioned when booking your site, but it is always best to be prepared. Make sure you still pick up after your pet, even while in the woods. The rule on when to pick up poop and when you don’t have to is if you are expected to use a toilet, so is your dog. As you take this opportunity to detach from the phone, the internet and the office take the time to commune with nature and your dog. Check out www.seesawyerrun.com for great outdoor dog gear.
A few books we recommend to take with you this summer! Marcus of Umbria by Justine van Der Leun. This great novel follows a city slicker searching for her perfect dog companion while totally out of her element in the quaint Italian village. Scent of the Missing, by Susannah Charleson is a fascinating memoir of the adventures of a Search and Rescue puppy and how her and her trainer make it through the graduation course. Dog Tags by David Rosenfelt is a courtroom drama which includes a dog, or two, as lead characters and is fast paced and dead on for pooch lovers. As always, Carol Lee Benjamin always delights as a dog trainer, turned PI who along with her 4-legged side kick solves mysteries with every volume.
