8 Tips for Traveling with your Dog

 

8 Tips for Traveling with your Dog

Travel with dogs can be easy if you do it right. Follow these tips to make your trip enjoyable for both you and your dog!

Just because you have a dog doesn’t mean you have to stay home all the time. With careful planning and a little care, traveling with your dog can be fun and refreshing!

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

1.     Get your dog used to riding in the car by taking your dog on short trips. Try to go to fun places like the dog park, the fast-food drive through to get your furry friend a pup cup or to visit friends your dog! The best way to think about it is that you want your dog to think that trips in the car are fun. You don’t want your dog to think that all car trips end up at the vet’s office.

2.     If your dog has a habit of getting carsick, try to not feed your dog too much if at all the morning of the trip. Having your dog travel with an empty stomach will help to prevent any car sickness.

3.     Remember to bring along plenty of water and a water dish. You will need to give your dog water throughout the day and a good time to do that is when you stop for a rest or gas. If your dog is familiar with a specific water bowl, bring that one to make the whole experience less jarring.

4.     Be sure to pack enough of your dog’s food, treats, favorite bed, toys, and leash as it could be difficult to stop and find adequate items during your trip should you forget to pack something!

5.     If your dog uses a crate, it would also be a good idea to pack that. If you don’t have a spacious vehicle, a lot of pet stores offer crates that fold up or are made of fabric and can easily be stored. Upon arrival at your destination, you can always utilize your crate if you’re worried about your dog in an unfamiliar location.

6.      How should your dog travel in the car? The short answer: every dog is different! The long answer: some dogs like to sit or lay on the seats, so remember to grab a blanket to protect the upholstery. Other dogs may prefer to be in a crate for the duration of the drive. Make sure the crate won’t slide around and scare your dog while you’re driving.

7.     Don’t forget to stop every few hours to walk your dog, give them some water, and stretch your legs too! Some dogs (and people) could be frightened by the noisy trucks driving by, so try to walk in a quiet area away from the hustle and bustle of the road. Most importantly, be a good citizen and remember to bring plastic doggy bags along to pick up the mess.

8.      If your dog gets anxious when staying in unfamiliar locations, they might have a hard time eating or drinking. The last thing you want is for your dog to get dehydrated, so encourage them to drink, at the very least. One trick to get your dog to drink is mix a little chicken broth into the water and food. That being said, dirtying your dog’s water bow like this can be dangerous if left for a long time so be sure to wash the bowls after introducing items outside the norm.

The first trip will of course be the hardest, your dog may not realize that you are coming back and the whole endeavor could be disorienting, just do your best to comfort your furry friend. After the first trip is behind you, if you lay the groundwork for a pleasant first trip with your dog, future travels with your dog should be a breeze.