6 Tips That Will Make Traveling With Your Dog Easier
by dogtoyadvisor | Last updated on November 18, 2020
We only review products we tested ourselves. We have affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.
It’s that time of the year when you’re about to take a much deserved break and probably travel somewhere sunny and fun.
Most dog owners find it very complicated to travel with their dogs and prefer to leave them with family or at a dog hotel, but there’s really no need.
Building memories and living amazing moments with your loved ones is what Summer vacations are all about!
Plus, dogs love going for a drive!
5 Tips for Traveling With Dogs
Having three dogs, we needed to find ways to make the logistics of traveling with our dogs easier. We searched high and low and this is what we came up with.
Hopefully it will help you too!
Tip 1 – Visit The Vet
Before going anywhere away from your home, it’s always a good idea to take your dog for a check-up.
Make sure he’s perfectly healthy, get his vaccinations in order and inquire to see if extra vaccines are needed for your destination.
If your dog takes regular medication, get extra just in case as well as a copy of his medical records.
Oh, yes, better stock up on car-sickness medicine too!
Tip 2 – Prepare Your Car
Getting your car ready for taking a road trip with your dog is the key for a successful travel. There are two main ways to keep your dog safe during a road trip and prevent injury in case of an accident: safety harness or crate.
If your dog isn’t used to being crated, doing it just before you’re about to travel isn’t the best time to train him. If there’s still time, read all about crate training your dog here.
We prefer to use the harness option. You’ll need two things, a safety harness and a seat belt to connect it to the seat belt lock.
This is a very comfortable way to travel, it gives your dog some room while keeping him safe and secure.
Just remember never to use the seat belt without a harness because using it with a regular collar can seriously injure your dog’s neck.
You’ll also need some sort of protection for your back seat.
For pet hair but also in case he pees or vomits.
You can use a blanket, but nowadays there are waterproof covers that you can easily set up and wash.
Also, take along his bed, blanket and loads of his favorite toys to keep him distracted.
Read also: How to Remove Dog Urine Smell and Stains From Everything
Tip 3 – Plan Your Route And Your Accommodations
This is a no-brainer.
Your dog will need breaks every 4 hours (and so will you). Planning ahead to see where you can stop, preferably places with pet-friendly places like dog parks.
And while we’re at it, never ever leave your dog inside the car in high or low temperatures. You’d be surprised how quickly the temperature inside the car rises or falls and unfortunately many dogs die every year because of it.
Read also: 5 Tips to Keep Your Dog Cool in Hot Days
If you’re planning on making a stop during your travel and go somewhere you can’t take your dog, plan ahead for dog-care.
Accommodation-wise, you’ll need to look for pet-friendly lodging. Even hotels or camping sites that accept pets can have certain restrictions you’ll need to know about.
Also, if you’re planning on camping, don’t forget to check the weather reports.
Tip 4 – Pack Your Dog’s Bag
Every traveler needs a few essentials and your dog isn’t an exception.
You can get a proper dog travel bag with all the required gear. We have one we’re very pleased with.
– Poop Bags (lots and lots of them). We’ve recently decided to use biodegradable poop bags, considering the amount we use per day. We love these incredible cornstarch pop bags from Earth Rated .They’re actually more resistant than plastic poop bags and the price is the same.
– Food and Water (With bowls)
– Medicine and a First Aid Kit
– Dog appropriate insect repellent and sun screen
– Brush and Shampoo
– Bed, blanket and lots of toys.
If you’re traveling with your dog during the summer and the temperatures are high, we also advise you get a cooling mat for him to rest on during your travel.
It will make him much more comfortable during those long hours of travel. Again, never don’t leave your dog alone in the car with high temperatures, not even with this mat.
Tip 5 – Maintain Your Routine
It is impossible to do exactly what you usually do at home but it is a good idea to keep the routine as much as possible.
First and foremost, feed him the same food he’s used to eating.
This is important, changing your dog’s food can upset his stomach at the best of times.
Adding to it the traveling and all the disruptions can lead to disastrous results.
Also, once you arrive at your destination, make sure to walk and feed him at your usual schedule. This will help make him more relaxed and less anxious, dogs love routine.
Conclusion
Traveling with your dog will create memories that will last you a lifetime.
Preparing for it will only make sure no nasty surprises can ruin that experience.
The reality is simple, there is nothing your dog will love more than spending quality time with you and the fact that there are new scents and sights for him to explore is only an added bonus.
Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising and iStock
Recommending Reading:
0 Comments