Best 7 Tips For Traveling With A Dog

Have you planned the date of your trip and you don’t know if your puppy will have a pleasant first experience?

In this article you will find some helpful tips & tricks to make the trip with your quadruped a pleasant one, so you can enjoy it together and be left with unforgettable memories.

Bringing your dog with you when you go on a trip can make your family vacation even more fun. But for this to be possible, you need to plan carefully and be organized. Disorganized planning can increase the level of stress and discomfort for both you and your dog.

Best Practices When Traveling With A Dog

Bathroom breaks – Plan them before you leave home. Even if there may be small problems along the way that can ruin your schedule, it is good to plan ahead the hours when your dog will urinate. Your dog will ask out depending on how much water it consumes.

In a hot car and sunny weather, your dog’s body will dehydrate quickly, so it’s best not to keep it thirsty. Offer your pet water whenever is needed and stop according to schedule. Remember that an adult dog, which consumes water regularly, urinates at least 3-5 times per day. So if you have a long journey ahead of you, keep this in mind. Even though your dog may not urinate when you stop, some exercises are good for both of you.

Also, if your dog only knows how to urinate on grass, you should teach it how to do it on other surfaces such as concrete, sand, gravel, etc. Don’t forget your waste bags and their leash!

Pack food and water for the road – Dehydration is also dangerous for your pet, not just for humans. That’s why the portable water dispenser or collapsible bowls are an indispensable travel accessory. You will want to take bottled water on the road to avoid the risk of gastroenteritis (if you give your dog water from ponds, rivers, or lakes).

When it comes to food, it is advisable to feed your dog only if the journey will last many hours. Adult dogs should be fed only 2-3 times a day, so if you plan to take a short ride, its diet should not worry you.

On longer journeys, you will need to pack a container with your dog’s current food. It is desirable not to change the food brand or type, as it may develop gastrointestinal problems. It is also preferable to take dry or non-perishable food with you. This way, the food will not spoil during the trip due to the heat, and you want to avoid upsetting your dog’s stomach.

Dog tag with your information– We never want to think that our dog can get lost. Although in many cases this is almost impossible, it is good to be prepared for any situation. A dog tag with your contact details on it can save you from an unpleasant situation. Put your phone number on it so that if the dog gets lost, you will get called to pick it up.

Pack its leash – If you have to go on a longer trip, don’t forget to take a leash with a collar or harness with you. Over long distances, it is advisable to make a few stops on the route so that your pet can relax and take a few steps; this will do you good too! When you take it out of the car, be sure to put its leash or harness first. This way, you make sure your dog stays safe by your side.

Pack games and toys for your dog–Toys are good because, first of all, dogs recognize and love them – every dog has at least one favorite toy – and secondly, they are good because they can help you distract their attention from the road. If you have a dog that is easily stressed or feels nauseous, giving its favorite toy could make it more relaxed. Also, to distract your dog, food puzzles (such as Kong-type toys) are good too – one or more treats are put inside the toy, then the dog has to find a way to get the treats out.

Pack dog pads – These accessories are great for your dog. Dog pads can also be useful when your dog has just returned from its swimming or stepped on something unexpected, and you cannot dry or clean it properly.

Get your dog a check-up before you travel – It is important to know the health condition of your dog before a long trip, especially if your dog already has a pre-existing medical condition and needs medication for it. It is also a good idea to go and discuss with your veterinarian any problems that may occur along the way and how to deal with them, such as anxiety, stress, and nausea.

How to Prevent Car Sickness in Dogs?

Like humans, dogs can suffer from car sickness too, and this usually happens in puppies because they do not have a sufficiently developed inner ear. Car sickness is most often motion sickness. Dogs should be taught from an early age with the car.

First, you need to spend some time inside the car so the dog can relax and know the perimeter, then you will take it for short rides. This will reduce the risk of motion sickness when the dog is an adult.

The dog will not eat at least 3-4 hours before the trip, but it will have water all the time. The car window should be lowered slightly so that the clean air always penetrates inside. Also, dogs with car sickness should always look ahead to reduce nausea.

You can help the dog to have the correct position by buying a special harness for the car. Suitable products for this are Dog Car Harness Seatbelt Set  If this is your dog’s first trip and you want to make sure it will be safe on the road, these products are also suitable for such a thing.

If your fluffy pet is in the molting period or you just don’t want hair on the back seat, another good accessory to take along with you is this Car Seat Cover or these truck seat covers if you own a truck.

If you are looking for a truck back seat cover you need to ensure the measurements of your back seat truck matches the cover.

These accessories can even increase the comfort of your pet along the way.

If you want your dog to be in a carrier during the trip, it is best to cover its sides with a thin red blanket – red inhibits the feeling of sickness. A perfect dog carrier for long rides, including by plane, is this Airline Approved Dog Carrier.

There is also the option of giving your dog anti-nausea medication before the trip, but for this, you should talk to your veterinarian. Also, if your pet becomes stressed easily, then long journeys may be inconvenient. For this, you should talk to your veterinarian, as he may recommend anti-anxiety medications.

If the trip is very long and you have to spend a considerable amount of hours inside the car, it is preferable to stop for 10-15 minutes every hour to take a break and do some exercises.

However, it is good to arm yourself with napkins, towels, and water in case your dog vomits.

The main symptom of car sickness is vomiting, but there would be some warning signs that if you notice in time, vomiting can be prevented. These symptoms are excessive licking of the lips and excessive swallowing, hypersalivation, excessive chewing, agitation, squealing, gasping, yawning, profuse salivation, restlessness, or trembling. When you notice one of these signs, it is time to stop the car and let the dog walk outside for a while to calm down and cool off.

A shortlist of what you should pack in your luggage when you go on holiday with your dog:

• Leash and eventually a LED collar
• Dog cage/carrier
• Water and (collapsible) bowl
• Treats
• Games and toys
• A jacket if you are traveling with a dog ,in a place with a cold climate
• A dog blanket/bed
• Waste bags for dogs
• Drugs (anti-anxiety or anti-nausea medication, or if it is undergoing any treatment)
• First aid kit
• The dog’s health card
• Necessary tools for grooming (brush, nail clippers, etc.)