Traveling? Take Your Dog Along

Simply because you have a dog doesn’t mean you have to stay home all the time.  If you prepare and take a little care, it is simple and fun to travel with your dog.

Here are some tips to make the trip less difficult on both you and your pet:

1.  Get your dog used to being in the car by taking him on brief trips.  If it is possible to, begin taking your dog for short trips when it’s a puppy.   Go to fun areas like the dog park, the fast food drive through (where you can feed him bits of meat from your burger), or to visit friends.  You want him to feel that journeys in the car are fun. I tend to take my dog on quick journeys to the grocery store or on errands to get him comfortable with trips in the car.  You don’t want your dog to assume that all car trips end up at the vet’s office.

2.  If your dog tends to get carsick, don’t feed him the morning of the trip.  Having your dog travel with an empty belly should help to decrease the chance of any car sickness.

3.  Carry plenty of water and a water dish along.  You will need to offer your dog periodic drinks of water once you stop for a rest.  It could be less complicated to get your dog to drink if it is familiar drinking water from home.  Water from different locations frequently smells or tastes differently, and your dog may not want to consume it.

4.  Be sure to carry your dog’s food, treats, favorite bed, toys, and leash.

5.  If your dog uses a crate, bring that along too.  If you don’t have a large vehicle, one can buy crates which fold up.  When you get to your destination, you can put your dog in his crate while you go somewhere that you can’t bring him along.

6.  How should your dog travel in the car?  Some dogs prefer to sit or lay on the seat, so carry a blanket to safeguard the upholstery.  Other dogs may want to be kept in a crate in the car.  Ensure the crate can’t slide around and scare the dog while you’re driving.   You can purchase dog seat belts to keep your dog protected while seated in the car.

7.  Make a stop every few hours to walk your dog, and yourself a break.   Offer him some drinking water and let him relieve himself.  Some dogs are frightened by noisy trucks driving by, so try to walk in a peaceful area.  Be a goodcitizen and carry plastic bags along to pick up the mess.  While traveling, if you are walking your dog at night, it’s a great ideaon to attach a blinking light to his or her collar so that your dog can be easily seen by passing cars. 

8.  If your dog is anxious about staying in a hotel or strange home at your destination, he might not eat or drink.  You don’t want him to get dehydrated, so make sure to get him to drink, at least.  You can mix turkey broth or gravy into the dog’s drinking water.  That will normally get him to lap it right up.  One can mix chicken broth or gravy into the food too.

The first trip could be the hardest, many dogs are very uncomfortable having never been in a vehicle before.  I hope that the recommendations above will make your trip a successful one.  With the first trip behind you, if you have taken the time to ensure it is pleasant for your dog, future travel with your dog should be a breeze.