Dog cartingHere are few of my favorite sites for traveling with a pet or for finding things to do with them in spite of inclement weather.

One of my favorite trip planning pet sites is PetsWelcome.com. It offers 25,000 hotels, B&Bs and ski resorts that welcome pets, a great travel tips section, info exchange between pet owners and an amusing management section. I especially liked their links to the pet policies of 18 major airlines.

Looking to take a long weekend away with your dog? DogFriendly.com offers a list of the top 10 cities to visit with your pet in the U.S. and Canada. The criteria they used included overall appeal of each city, suitable pet friendly hotels, dog friendly side trips, places to eat, off leash parks and if the city is generally supportive of dogs and their owners. They recommend:

  1. Boston
  2. Vancouver, British Columbia
  3. New York City
  4. San Francisco, CA
  5. Austin, Texas
  6. Portland, Oregon
  7. Northern Virginian (Washington, D. C.
  8. Orlando, Florida
  9. San Diego, California
  10. Dallas/Ft. Worth, Texas

If you live in the San Francisco Bay Area, as I do, and you are looking for something new to do with your pet, I recommend Stacy’s Wagntrain.com for her comprehensive and fascinating list of events for dogs and their owners. She lists classes for learning to dance with your dog, including how to pick the right music, dog sports obedience training, canine aggression seminars, community dog walks, dog carting, and even a dog stuff swap meet. I am sure other cities offer the same type of activities if any appeal to you and your dog.

Looking for something to do with your dog in February no matter where you live? It is National Canine Weight Check month. To participate, take your dog to a participating vet’s office to see if it is overweight. You can find a list of participating vets at stopcanineobesity.com.

National Spay Day is February 27. You can have an animal spayed or neutered, you can volunteer or you can donate to the cause. Do it for love of your pet and for all the abandoned animals in our country. It is the kind thing to do.

Just looking for general dog news while your dog snoozes near you? Doggienews offers short snippets including a scathing article about PETA, funny takes on exploding dogs, sharing a shower with your dog (eww) and much more. Definitely worth a read.

If all else fails, grab a treat, a leash and take a walk with your dog. That seems to be all my dog needs from me to earn her unconditional love.

What is your favorite pet recommendation? Does your dog (cat, bird) like to see the world with you? Or is channel surfing considered a form of exercise in your house? Share your stories for keeping your pet fit and healthy this winter!