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Tips for Traveling with Your Dog
Heading off on a road trip with your dog is a great way to share your vacation with man's best friend, however, some extra preparation and consideration will be required if you intend to bring Fido along for the ride. Traveling with your dog means thinking of his needs every step of the way, so here are a few tips to get the ball rolling.
1. Planning
Before you gas up the Range Rover, you'll need to plan your trip with the other Rover in mind. Most people draw up itineraries, make hotel reservations and rent cars in advance before they begin a vacation, but traveling with your dog requires additional thought.
For one thing, your dog can't hold its bladder through a nine-hour car ride, so plan your travel route by marking rest stops along the way. You can grab a snack with the family while your rambunctious pet gets some exercise and relieves itself. You'll also need to make sure to pack a lunch, as most restaurants won't allow dogs inside. You don't want to leave your poor pet in a 95-degree vehicle while you get some fast food.
For the driving itself, you'll need to have a place to keep your dog while you're traveling. Pet carriers, such as those found at PetCo and PetsMart, are great solutions to this problem, but might not be practical if you have a large dog. You can also purchase a pet safety belt to ensure safety on the road. Make sure that you also pack a couple of leashes and a spare collar. You can familiarize yourself with leash laws at your destination by visiting AnimalLaw.com.
Before you leave, it's also a good idea to take your dog on a "test drive" around town to see how he fairs in the car. If he lies contentedly on the back seat without trying to bother the driver, then you might not need to restrain him at all. This will also tell you whether or not your dog suffers from motion sickness. If he looks a little green around the gills, talk to your veterinarian about medications like dimenhydrinate, which is Dramamine for pets.
Regardless of where you're going, careful planning is essential when traveling with your dog. You can utilize Web sites like PetsWelcome.com and HappyTailsTravel.com, which provide helpful tools for remembering everything you need to know about vacationing with pets. They provide pet-friendly hotel listings, travel tips, packing lists and pet-sitter listings if you decide that Fido would be better left at home.
2. Travel
Safety is the No. 1 consideration when traveling with your dog: The safety of your pet and of the people it might come into contact with. For example, if your dog is aggressive around strangers, a tight leash is absolutely necessary, and you should be prepared to warn patrons of rest stops and hotels along the way.
If you need to leave your dog in the car while you fill up with gas or grab a bite to eat, make sure you crack the windows for ventilation and confine them to the back seat. If your pet gets behind the wheel, it can damage buttons and implements on the steering wheel and dash board.
Your dog will probably get hungry while traveling, so make sure you have its dish and a few treats to keep it occupied. If you think your pet might get noisy or active in the car, bring along a favorite chew toy or stuffed animal. You might also want to purchase a Tupperware container for water, preferably one with a narrow opening to avoid getting the seats of your car wet.
And finally, make sure that your dog cannot get loose while traveling. Before you open a car door, snap the leash on his collar and make sure that someone has a hold of it. If your dog escapes while traveling, it will be far more difficult to find and your pet might put itself in danger close to the highway. If you want to give your pet room to move around and play, purchase an extendable leash that allows more freedom.
Traveling with your dog will probably be a pleasant experience, but planning and safety are important for you, your family and your pet. Make sure that you can find pet-friendly lodging where your pet will be welcome in the room and bring something familiar from home so it doesn't feel nervous on the road.