Traveling With Your Dog

Traveling with your dog can be a lot of fun or it can be a complete disaster. The key to successful dog car travel is knowing your pet and planning ahead.

So, before you head off on a much deserved vacation with your furry family members, check out these tips for traveling with your dog. They can help insure that you and your pet have a fun, stress-free trip.


SHOULD YOU TAKE YOUR PET?

The first step in planning a vacation is to determine if traveling with your dog is even a good idea. This may even be the most important tip of all.

But how do you know if traveling with your dog is the right choice?

Well, first of all, think about the type of vacation you are planning. Just because the hotel or campground you will be staying at allows pets, doesn't mean that it is automatically a good idea.

Following are a list of considerations to help you decide whether traveling with your dog is a good idea or if it might be in his or her best interest to stay at home with their favorite pet sitter:

• Will you be spending a lot of time going places where pets are not allowed such as shopping malls, restaurants, amusement parks and theaters? If you are going to be spending a lot of time away from your pet, it may be better to leave him home.
  
  
• What kind of shape is your pet in? If you will be doing a lot of hiking can your pet handle the extra exercise?
  
  
• Is your pet equipped to handle the temperature where you are going? If you are planning a summer camping trip in Arizona and your husky is used to your air conditioned home, he may not enjoy the heat.
  
  
• Does your pet like to ride in a car? A pet that is afraid of riding or gets car sick will make things unpleasant for everyone.
  
  
• Will you be flying? Traveling in a plane can be very unpleasant and even dangerous to pets. I would seriously consider this before deciding to subject your pet to flying.
  
  
• Will you have pet care options for those times when you will be leaving them behind in your campground or hotel room? Many places do not allow pets to remain behind unattended. Find out if there is a reliable pet sitter, kennel, or doggy day care in the area, before you leave home.
  
  
• Does your pet like strangers and new experiences? Some pets are stressed out by the slightest change in their routine. If this sounds like your pet, then traveling with your dog is probably not going to be a lot of fun either of you.
  

• Before traveling with your dog, make sure your pet is up to date on all vaccinations including rabies. It is also a good idea to have your dog vaccinated against Bordetella. Even if your dog will not be kept in a close vicinity with other dogs, they may still come in contact with other dogs at rest areas or parks. In order to be effective, it is best to have the bordetella vaccine at least two weaks prior to departure.
  
  

• Take your pet to your veterinarian for a check up. Depending on where or how you will be traveling with your dog, it may be necessary to receive a health certificate from your vet showing that your pet is free of sickness and disease. Health certificates should be received no sooner than 10 days before you leave.
  
  

• Let your veterinarian know where you are going and inquire about any problems to look out for in that particular area. It's probably a good idea to get a topical flea and/or tick treatment to take with you just in case. Ask your vet if there are any other pet travel tips that could be helpful.
  
  

• If your dog suffers from car sickness, ask your vet about motion sickness medicine. This is not recommended for pets that will be traveling on an airplane, so make sure to let your vet know if your pet will be flying. Please do not give your dog any medication without first checking with your vet.
  
  

• Pack for your pet. It is essential that you take along your pets food, water, leashes and any medications. Blankets, beds, carriers and a couple of their favorite toys will help make the trip more pleasurable for them. I also suggest taking recent pictures of your pets in the event they become separated from you.
  

• Collar - make sure that your pet's collar is in good shape and that it fits properly. Remove all choke collars or pinch collars to prevent them from getting caught on anything in the vehicle or crate.
  
  

• Tags - make sure that your pet's tags have the correct up-to-date information and that they are attached securely. It's also a good idea to add a temporary tag with the address and phone number where you will be staying.
  
  

• Pictures - I know I already mentioned this in the "What to pack" section, but it's a good idea to keep a picture of your pet within easy reach, just in case they do get lost. This will come in very handy if you have to search for your pet.
  
  

• Secure your pet - If your pet is the kind who likes to move around in a vehicle, it may be best to secure them in a pet seatbelt or a crate. This is actually the safest for your pet in case of an accident.

  However, if you prefer to let your dog stay loose and you are traveling with others make sure that when you stop somewhere that your dog is secured on a leash before anyone opens a door.

  (pet travel tip: when I am traveling alone with my dogs, I do not like to leave the leashes on them just in case they get caught on something outside of my reach.)
  
  

• Potty Breaks - try to stop every couple of hours to give your dog a potty break and a chance to stretch out those tired legs. Most rest areas have pet trails where you can take your dog on a short walk. Remember to be courteous and pick up after your dog.
  

Enjoy your adventures with your favorite furry pal.

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