Traveling with your Dog

If you have a dog that does not mean you have to stay home with it. Planning ahead would make traveling with your dog easy and fun.

These are some tips that would help make your trips stressfree:

Take short trips with your dog so it gets accustomed to going in the car.  Make your trip fun by visiting places like dog parks, your favorite fast-food drive-thru (feed him bits of your food), or at your friends. You want him to think that car trips can be fun and not just a trip to the Vet's office.

If you find that your dog tends to get car sick, avoid feeding him before your trip.  Traveling with an empty stomach will prevent him from getting sick.

Make sure to have lots of water and a dish as you would need to give him water frequently whenever you stop. A dog's nose is quite sensitive so if you give him water he is not familiar with, he would know the difference from the smell or even the taste and might not drink it.

Don’t forget to pack his favorite food, treats, toys,  bed, and a leash.

Some dogs have crates, if yours do, you might want to pack it as well. If it is too bulky for your vehicle, consider buying one that folds. This is convenient for when you reach your destination, as you can leave him in the crate if you have to go somewhere, he not allowed.

 When traveling in the car, your dog might want to sit or lay on the seat, be sure to have a blanket to cover your seat. Some dogs are kept in a crate if you put your dog in a crate make sure you place it in a position where it cannot slide as this may frighten him while you are driving.

As an extra precaution, you can purchase a seat belt for your dog to keep him safe when sitting in your car.

It is essential to stop every couple of hours so you can give your dog a walk and some water. You might want to do this in a quiet area away from the traffic, so he doesn’t get scared. Remember to pack plastic bags so you can pick up your dog’s mess.

Some dogs get anxious while staying in a strange environment such as a hotel or house. This may cause them to refuse to eat or drink. If this is the case with your dog, make sure he drinks to avoid getting dehydrated. You can add some chicken broth or gravy to the water and the food. This usually gets them to start drinking and eating.

After the first trip with your dog, if you make it a pleasant one for him, your subsequent trips would be much easier.