Just because you have a dog doesn't mean you have to stay home all the time. If you do your homework and follow safety measures, you can avoid hassles when traveling with your dog.
If you want to go on a car trip with your dog, here are some suggestions to make the trip smoother.
Get your dog used to riding in the car by taking him on short trips. Go anywhere where you see the potential of fun - may it be at the dog park, a local fast food chain, or maybe at one of your friend's houses. Condition your dog and make him enjoy the car trip. You don't want your dog to think that all car trips end up at the vet's office.
If your dog tends to get carsick, don't feed him the morning of the trip. Surprisingly, this works in reducing the chances of your dog getting carsick on the long journey.
Bring plenty of water and a water dish along. Give your dog a chance to have a drink every now and then. Dogs are able to tell whether the water tastes "right" or not, so you'll have to bring water from home. Your dog may be picky and refuse to drink water that comes from other places, like a drinking fountain for instance.
Your dog needs its creature comforts, including his food, treats, or maybe his clothes or bed.
If your dog uses a crate, bring that along too. For smaller cars, foldable crates are available at your nearby pet store. 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.
How does your dog prefer to ride along in the car? If your dog prefers to lie down on the car seat, a blanket should be able to keep your upholstery clean. As mentioned above, your dog may need a crate. Your dog doesn't need any unnecessary distractions, so make sure the crate can't slide around when the car is in motion. You can even buy your dog seat belts and keep him safe while you're driving.
Your dog may need a walk, and maybe the aforementioned drink of water, so schedule stopovers accordingly. Big vehicles like trucks can scare off your dog, so walk him in a quiet place. But always be neat when walking your dog and respect the environment around you.
If your dog is anxious about staying in a hotel or strange house at your destination, he might not eat or drink. You don't want him to get dehydrated, so be sure to get him to drink, at least. Try adding some gravy or chicken broth to your dog's water. More often than not, your dog will lap it up immediately. Or you can mix said ingredients with your dog's food to convince him to eat it.
It may be difficult at first, as your dog wouldn't know yet whether you're returning home or not. With the first trip behind you, if you have taken the time to make sure it is pleasant for your dog, future traveling with your dog should be a breeze.
If you want to go on a car trip with your dog, here are some suggestions to make the trip smoother.
Get your dog used to riding in the car by taking him on short trips. Go anywhere where you see the potential of fun - may it be at the dog park, a local fast food chain, or maybe at one of your friend's houses. Condition your dog and make him enjoy the car trip. You don't want your dog to think that all car trips end up at the vet's office.
If your dog tends to get carsick, don't feed him the morning of the trip. Surprisingly, this works in reducing the chances of your dog getting carsick on the long journey.
Bring plenty of water and a water dish along. Give your dog a chance to have a drink every now and then. Dogs are able to tell whether the water tastes "right" or not, so you'll have to bring water from home. Your dog may be picky and refuse to drink water that comes from other places, like a drinking fountain for instance.
Your dog needs its creature comforts, including his food, treats, or maybe his clothes or bed.
If your dog uses a crate, bring that along too. For smaller cars, foldable crates are available at your nearby pet store. 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.
How does your dog prefer to ride along in the car? If your dog prefers to lie down on the car seat, a blanket should be able to keep your upholstery clean. As mentioned above, your dog may need a crate. Your dog doesn't need any unnecessary distractions, so make sure the crate can't slide around when the car is in motion. You can even buy your dog seat belts and keep him safe while you're driving.
Your dog may need a walk, and maybe the aforementioned drink of water, so schedule stopovers accordingly. Big vehicles like trucks can scare off your dog, so walk him in a quiet place. But always be neat when walking your dog and respect the environment around you.
If your dog is anxious about staying in a hotel or strange house at your destination, he might not eat or drink. You don't want him to get dehydrated, so be sure to get him to drink, at least. Try adding some gravy or chicken broth to your dog's water. More often than not, your dog will lap it up immediately. Or you can mix said ingredients with your dog's food to convince him to eat it.
It may be difficult at first, as your dog wouldn't know yet whether you're returning home or not. With the first trip behind you, if you have taken the time to make sure it is pleasant for your dog, future traveling with your dog should be a breeze.
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