The Only Guide You Need To Safely Travel With Your Dog
Most dog owners can’t imagine having at least one overnight trip without their dogs.
It might be because they couldn’t find anyone to babysit their dogs, or they just can’t imagine leaving their cute dogs alone to care for themselves, so instead, they choose to travel with them.
Luckily, many dogs enjoy the travel experience, but it can become quite stressful for you, and it may not always be the safest option for your dog. Well, we have created this ultimate guide with several tips on how to travel safely with your dog, so read on, learn, and apply.
5 Tips To Travel Safely With Your Dog
Keep Your Dog Restrained
Just like you would not let a kid ride with you unrestrained, you should not let your dog ride in the car with you without some sort of restrains. Without a restrain, your dog is likely to distract you while you are driving if they get excited or scared. To avoid this, keep your dog in the back seat away from the airbags and fastened, using the seat belt as a restrain or secured in a crate or carrier that is big enough for them to stand, move around, sit and lie down. The windows of your car should be rolled up to avoid your dog poking out its head and ears because that small debris on the road can turn into dangerous projectiles if it hits your dog at a high speed.
Keep Your Dog Comfortable
Take several short trips with your dog before the main trip. It is best if your dog gets comfortable with car rides and vehicles in motion at a young age. You should also look up dog-friendly parks in your travel location. For example, if you are traveling to North Wales, there are several dog-friendly caravan parks in north wales that you can go to with your puppy.
Regardless of whether your dog started taking trips at a young age, you can gradually increase the length of these short trips so that they gradually become accustomed to long car trips. If you go to a campsite make sure traveling is properly planned and you carry a Portable dog fence for camping.
Book a Seat in the Front of the Plane
Becky from Global Grasshopper suggests that if you’re traveling by plane and your dog is flying in the cargo hold, you should try booking a seat near the front of the plane. This way you’ll be able to get off the plane and to your dog more quickly, in order to avoid the dog’s overstimulation from the business of airports.
Rehydrate
Don’t forget to bring water from home because water from an unfamiliar source may affect your dog’s stomach. You can stop at a restaurant to fill up on unfiltered water. Make sure your dog takes regular water breaks, especially in the case of long trips. I’m sure you know that water breaks will also require pee breaks, so be prepared for that as well.
Pack A First Aid Kit
Those little cuts, scrapes, and bruises that happen in the house may also occur on a trip. So you will need a first-aid kit readily available for your trip. You can buy a pre-made kit, or you can make yours. Some of the basic things that should be in your first aid kit are bandages and antiseptics.
Bring Along An ID
Make sure that your dog has its collar and tags on at all times. The tag should include your contact information at your residence and your destination, contact numbers, name, and possibly a recent photo of your dog.
Other tips include; not leaving your dog in a locked car, bringing along important items like a leash, regular toys, and vet records in case of a medical emergency. Traveling with your dog is not dangerous and does not have to be stressful as long as you follow this guide.
