Petlife logo

5 Car Travel Tips With Your Dog

Follow these 5 car travel tips with your dog to secure a safe and enjoyable trip for you both.

By Dog Club LifePublished 3 years ago 3 min read
Like

For most “pawrents”, a perfect road trip is no fun without their four-legged best friend. While hitting the road with a canine would be SUPER fun, it can also be CHALLENGING!

Dogs are often reckless and they misbehave in countless dangerous ways! They could hang out of the window, they could bark when they see strangers along the road, they could even jump on your lap, while you’re driving full speed ahead on a highway!

You have to be well-prepared before you even load up and get going, to make it safer, easier, and more enjoyable to travel with your pet. This includes getting a sturdy dog car harness.

Follow these 5 car travel tips with your dog to secure a safe and enjoyable trip for you both.

Train your dog to love car rides

If it’s your first time to have your dog around on a road trip, it will be smart to ask yourself, “How does your dog feel about riding?”

If your pup has no anxiety and loves road trips, then chances are it will jump right in, but if it’s afraid, you might struggle to try to get him/her safely inside the car.

If your dog has a negative emotional response to riding a car, it’s best to counter-condition him/her first before going on a long road trip.

According to the American Kennel Club, desensitization is a great way to change your dog’s emotional response from negative to positive by having great stuff happen near and inside the car! This means delicious treats, a special toy, or even a meal near or inside the car!

Check-in with your vet!

It’s important to make sure that your pet is healthy to travel. If your dog has existing health issues, it’s best to ask your Vet, how travel might affect your pet’s condition.

Make sure your dog’s vaccines are all up to date and have this opportunity to ask about some over-the-counter medication to ease your dog’s motion sickness.

Booking for Pet-friendly Accommodations

Unfortunately, some hotels have restrictions on pets! This is why it is important to contact the hotel beforehand to make sure you are well informed about the hotel’s pet policies, rules, and possible additional fees.

One pet-friendly hotel chain is the Kimpton hotel. They accept all pets of all sizes at no extra cost and they’ve also got the goodies to keep your pet pampered!

Plan your route

Before you even get your pet geared up for your long trip, make sure you have planned for a pet-friendly route.

Also, plan a pullover schedule for potty breaks and exercise every 3 to 4-hour (for 15 to 30 minutes) to give your pet an opportunity to relieve himself and stretch a little bit.

Pack your ”Pawsentials”

When packing, you have to consider all places you will visit along the way. This will help pack smart for your dog.

Pack your pet’s food and water, feeding bowls, treats, toys, medicine, and equipment for picking up pet waste! I also suggest that you get some pet grooming wipes to clean your pet’s paws and fur.

FINALLY, do not forget to have your dog tags UPDATED.

Safe car travel with dogs is more than just loading ‘em up your truck. It requires thoughtful planning and preparation to make sure your road trip together isn’t just only fun for you, but also for your furbaby.

dog
Like

About the Creator

Reader insights

Be the first to share your insights about this piece.

How does it work?

Add your insights

Comments

There are no comments for this story

Be the first to respond and start the conversation.

Sign in to comment

    Find us on social media

    Miscellaneous links

    • Explore
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Use
    • Support

    © 2024 Creatd, Inc. All Rights Reserved.