Taking your dog with you on a road trip can add lots of fun and adventure for both of you. With careful planning and preparation, your dog can be comfortable, safe, and happy as they go along for the ride.
Start Car Training When They Are Pups
As with most training, the sooner you expose your dog to car travel, the sooner they will become accustomed to it. Starting to train your dog to ride in a car as a puppy is ideal, but when it comes to car travel, you can teach an old dog new tricks, too.
Proper Restraint Keeps Everyone Safe
The key to safe, comfortable, and enjoyable road travel for everyone is ensuring your dog is properly restrained. For smaller dogs, try teaching them to travel in their crate or carrier. Take the time to show them how to exit and enter the carrier while traveling, as this will be important for making stops along the way. Having their leash or harness ready for stops is critical, as you always want to fully control your dog while near roads and at stops.
If you have a large dog and vehicle, they can also travel in their crate or carrier. Doggie seat belts and other restraints are available if your vehicle can’t accommodate a large dog crate. If you travel with the windows down, make sure they cannot stick their head out because they can be struck by flying objects such as rocks. Also, if you have power windows, put the child lock feature on so your dog cannot raise or lower the window and potentially harm themselves.
What To Pack for Your Dog’s Road Trip
Here’s a list of items you’ll need to take along to keep your dog safe and comfortable and be fully prepared for any unexpected medical or other event while you are traveling:
- Medical documents and vaccination certificates
- Any medication your dog currently takes
- Food and water so you don’t disrupt their diet
- Portable bowls so you can feed them along the way
- Pet waste bags to clean up after your pet
How to Prevent Dog Car Sickness
Dogs can get car sick. To help prevent car sickness, withhold food the morning you leave on your trip. If your dog still gets carsick, your veterinarian can prescribe medication to use when you travel. Also, if your dog is overly anxious, your veterinarian might recommend a swaddle or pheromone collar to help reduce anxiety. If those don’t work, your vet can prescribe medication to make the trip enjoyable for everyone.
More Dog Travel Tips
- Again, it’s wise to withhold food before heading on your trip to help prevent car sickness.
- Never leave your dog unattended in the car! Even when the weather isn’t hot, it’s simply not safe.
- Make sure your accommodations are dog-friendly or you could find yourself in a bind.
- Be very careful when getting your dog in and out of the car. Remember they are in a strange place and could frighten easily. Never let your dog off the leash when letting them in and out of your vehicle.