139 – Dog Show Mentor with Laura Reeves
Laura Reeves on Dog Show Mentor – Safe Travels
At Pure Dog Talk we are proud to support all of our friends providing educational resources to the purebred dog fancy. Lee Whittier, the Dog Show Mentor, recently invited Laura Reeves to talk with her members about travel and safety tips while attending dog events. Lee was gracious enough to return the favor and share the interview with our listeners!
Tips from Laura Reeves
Whether traveling by car, RV or airplane, long distance or short, we have tips and recommendations to help ease the trip.
- PICK UP after your dog!!
- DO NOT wash dogs in the hotel bath tub!!
- Carry a leash and a gallon of water for every dog in the vehicle.
- Pack for safe ingress/egress.
- Carry shade cloth in summer and chains in winter.
- Always be prepared.
- Install a temperature monitor.
- Nothing is more important than your animal’s safety and well-being.
- The best guarantee of your animal’s safety is direct supervision.
- RV maintenance — tires, generators, etc
- Electricity — know what it can and cannot do.
- Long-distance, cross country driving — get dogs out every 4 hours. Get food, fuel, potty dogs and people all in one stop. Plan ahead for shorter drives to accommodate this schedule.
- Keep a light weight pen on top of the stack to set up for young dogs to contain.
- Avoid feeding before driving to avoid car sickness
- Air travel — Not all airlines are created equal — Alaska is amazing.
- Know airline and their requirements.
- Be prepared to provide a bigger crate if needed.
- Fly your own wheels.
- Freeze water buckets to hang in crate.
- Put a small scissor or sharp object in an easily accessible pocket of checked baggage to cute zip ties on crates.
- Easier to travel with a friend.
Personal Safety
As a final topic, Laura offers the Dog Show Mentor some awareness topics for personal safety while on the road.
Input from retired Law Enforcement Officers
- Stay alert and aware.
- Pay attention to your surroundings.
- Body posture, head up, shoulders back.
- Stay in well-lighted areas.
- Situational awareness.
- Avoiding conflict is vastly better than fighting.
- Keep keys and cell phone with you.
- Bad guys don’t want to be the center of attention. Make a racket.
- If you have to fight, cheat. Your goal is to win, stay alive.
- Stay in touch with a friend or family member as regards expected travel.
- Make use of non-lethal deterrents… Pepper spray etc
- Dogs help deter, but don’t assume it will always work.
Allison Foley’s Tip of the Week: Dogs that Chew
Listen in to Allison’s best suggestion for dogs that chew their hair or beds… today on PureDogTalk.com
113 – Laura Reeves: On the Road Less Traveled – Stories of Dog Show Journeys
On the Road Less Traveled, Laura Reeves reminds us of takeaways from the dog show journeys themselves, and inherent dangers too.
Stories and Memories of Dog Show Journeys
The annual road trip to National Specialties is a must for any serious breeder. At Pure Dog Talk we have covered this before. But beyond seeing each stud dog for generations, the continuing education for breeders, the treasure trove of mentors, and the reunions of crazy friends that all have your breed as a common bond, dog show journeys offer something else… the road less traveled.
The Road Less Traveled
Traveling in the Western U.S. equates to hours across Louis L’Amour deserts and desolate places. Tornado watches and a mindful eye to the sky are in the midwest as we drive miles of grassy plains. Dark, winding roads, often slick or snow-covered in the Northeast where a momentary lack of attentiveness can be treacherous…
We all have stories, and most importantly, memories of our road trips.
We laugh about being stuck in the middle of nowhere, so remote that we can imagine “banjo music”.
Make Good Memories on the Road
Good memories result from good outcomes. So being safe on the road, preparing properly for your travels, and being aware of personal safety is something that we care enough to ask you to do.
Safety is not an accident!
This workplace sign goes for dog shows and road trips too!
So please enjoy some stories from Laura Reeves in epsiode #113, and listen and take heed to the “near miss” that could have ended in tragedy.