Dogs - Traveling With Your Dog Can Be Fun

It can be a lot of fun to take your dog traveling, especially if you are going on vacation. Dogs enjoy traveling... they love to hang their heads out the window with their ears streaming back in the wind and their tongue hanging out like they're having the time of their lives. Traveling with your dog takes some careful planning, however. You need to find out if he is welcome at your friends and relatives homes or at the hotel you plan to stay at. You'll also want to make sure your dog is in good health before imposing the stress of a trip. If everything looks like he'll be welcome, you'll need to plan next how to keep your precious pet safe and comfortable as you travel.

When you travel with your pet, you need to worry about more than your own safety. Be sure you have a secure crate or a harness for your dog that can be attached to the seatbelt. Make sure your dog has adequate water available at all times, as well as something familiar like a blanket or toy. Give them enough room to move safely. If you are using a crate, make sure there is nothing inside your dog can hurt themselves on and that it is strong with convenient handles. The crate should be well-ventilated. Don't forget to mark the outside of the crate with the words "Live Animal" as well as your name, address and telephone number. Double check that your pet is wearing his collar with an ID tag, so if somehow you do get separated, you'll be able to find him later.

Before you start your long road trip, take your dog on a few short day trips to acclimate him to the car. Some dogs get nervous in the car, others get motion sickness. If you find this out before your trip, you can get a nausea medication from your vet. If your dog gets overexcited at the mere suggestion of a car ride, and once in the car he won't settle down, you may be better off putting him in a boarding kennel, hiring a pet sitter for them, or crating them for the trip. You can also ask your vet for methods to keep your dog calm on the trip. Besides making the trip easier on the dog, it will keep both of you safe so you don't spend time worrying more about Rover than your driving.

Be sure to plan ahead for your trip and find out if dogs are allowed in the lodgings you want to stay in. Many hotels are pet friendly, but they need advance notice. Do a search online to find the ones you're interested in. Bring along a good supply of 'pooper scooper' supplies so your dog won't leave messes everywhere. When you're on the road, look for places off the side of the road where it might be safe to walk your dog to use the bathroom. Many rest areas have pet areas, but you don't know if the other animals that have used them were healthy. Always bring more than one leash, and before you let your dog out of the car, make sure the leash is securely attached to his collar. It is a big help to have a well behaved dog on a trip. Be sure to start training your dog, at least with the basics.

If the weather is hot when you're traveling, don't leave your dog inside. Even cracking a window may not provide enough ventilation. Cars can overheat on a hot day very quickly, and even though you were only popping inside somewhere for just a second, that may be long enough to cause harm to your pet. If you have someone else traveling with you, maybe they can either stay in the car with your dog, or run the errand for you. If that is not a possibility, make sure your animal is secured and has enough water, then leave the windows open enough to provide adequate air circulation. And don't get side-tracked and be gone too long.

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