Sturdy, Loyal, Smart… and Absolutely Cute: The Keeshond
The Keeshon may not be familiar to a lot of Pinoys but it’s one of the oldest dog breeds ― and may be the perfect fit for your family.
A lot of us travel with our pets—driving to the park or mall with them, or taking road trips with our dogs. Of course we observe safety precautions like never leaving our dogs in the car even for a moment, and making sure they only exit our vehicles on a leash, but we don’t find a lot of tips about how to safely carry dog food when we travel with our dogs. Should we invest in special carrying cases or containers for dog food?
“When travelling with your pets, it is advisable to bring not only dog food but also water,” says Katy. We agree, and to that, we add that you may want to consider investing in one of those portable water containers that can fold out into a drinking trough and fold away into what looks like a slim case for an ordinary water bottle. This way, your dog enjoys fresh, clean water, and you lessen the risk of him or her ingesting water with pollutants or other things that can make him or her sick. As for carrying dog food, dry food can be placed in a clean and airtight container to ensure its freshness, Katy says. Just don’t leave such food in a hot car. Arjan explains, “The proper storage of your dog food will mean the difference in nutrition for your dog. Dog food must be properly stored in a dry, cool place away from direct sunlight. The reason for this is because dog food, however processed and artificial, is still organic, and anything that is organic, is subject to oxidation and bacterial contamination and spoilage.” When you travel with your dog, what you carry will have to be dry dog food, for the most part, as wet dog food does not travel well and in the notorious heat of our country, it is more likely to spoil quickly. If you are willing, you can consider investing in a mini-cooler or ice chest (stocked with ice) for carrying wet or fresh food on longer trips. Or you can buy food in an easy-open can and carry a collapsible bowl and feed your dog from there. If your dog does not finish his or her portion of wet dog food, it’s not recommended to store the leftovers and offer it again later. (You’ll read why in the answer to the next question) “For owners who like to travel with their dogs, and these dogs have a special diet, it will be beneficial to buy special carrying cases for the food that will fit nicely in their car or in their luggage,” Katy adds.