Traveling across the United States and beyond is a hobby for many, and traveling across the country with your dog can take that experience to a whole new level. As much as you love road trips, it’s important to be prepared in advance before deciding whether or not to take your dog on a road trip.
Even the most experienced riding dog can feel uncomfortable if they are stuffed in the back seat of a car for 12 hours while crossing the country. Preparing your dog (and yourself) before the trip means that you can predict how your dog will handle it if an emergency arises and make sure you are both safe and healthy.
Just like you wouldn’t hit the road without an adequate stockpile of treats, you shouldn’t take your dog on the road without adequate preparation. Read on for our tips on how to prepare for a road trip with your dog or puppy.
What Does Your Dog Need?
The basic necessities seem simple: dog food and medication (if your dog takes medicine). But that’s not all. What do dogs eat? Where do you put your food? What about water and dog bowls? All of this takes up valuable space in your vehicle.
Food
The best solution is to buy a 10-pound sealed food bin to hold the food and then fill the empty space inside the box with the medication. You should also prepare an airtight bag with veterinarian notes, a food bowl, a water basin, and a collapsible travel basin.
Comfort Items
Some dogs, especially puppies, need comforting or enriching items. Puppies need to eat several meals a day because they grow quickly. Prepare some snacks to eat between meals. Include a couple of good chew toys (especially for teething puppies), as well as some comfy bedding so they can stretch. As for enrichment items, some dogs may be comfortable with familiar toys or chewable items, but think about what keeps your dog busy or distracted in a traffic jam. If your dog loves peanut butter, this might be a good time to spoon a scoop into a hollow toy. Dogs may be distracted for hours trying to lick to the last bite.
Sweater or Jacket
You need to consider the climate of your travel destination. Will it be cold? If you have a dog with very thin fur and no undercoat, or very little body fat, your dog can catch a cold easily, so bring a dog sweater or jacket.
Training and Preparation for the Road
Before taking your dog on a national tour, you have to make sure that they are good canine citizens. Good dog behavior should be improved by practicing the following skills:
- Take a walk with a rope politely and don’t pull
- Don’t rush to someone when meeting or greeting
- Wait to get off the bus until you are released
- Socialize with new dogs
- Come back to you in case of emergency
Tip: If you’re out on a leash when you’re outside, it’s crucial to control your dog off the leash with your sound.
These behaviors don’t have to be flawless, but some are absolutely essential, like jumping out of a car while waiting for someone to prompt you. If you get a flat tire, pull over to the side of the road, open the door, and your dog will automatically follow you, it can be a catastrophic situation in such close proximity to fast-moving traffic. You need to teach your dog to wait – if you train every behavior before starting your road trip, it’s important for your dog’s safety and shared well-being.
Medical Preparation
Before traveling, make sure your dog is up to date with vaccinations and that you have a paper copy of these records. It is also wise to get a health certificate from your veterinarian. A health certificate is required to travel anywhere by plane with your pet, and it can be helpful if you’re confronted by law enforcement over your dog’s health condition.
It can be helpful to have a thorough medical check-up before you go. This way, you can be confident that your dog is in optimal health before heading to an unknown place and that there is no need to take your dog to a regular, familiar veterinarian right away.
Travel Practice
Start small and gradually increase the number of trips your dog drives. Start with a daily drive to work or a short trip to the park. Then gradually add to an hour’s drive to interesting places like the lake or other parks. Usually, beautiful mountains, rivers or lakes can be reached within an hour from any big city, making them perfect for day trips. If your dog hasn’t been on many long car trips, be sure to try one or two trips that last 5 to 10 hours. Make sure to put a dog seat cover over your car seat to protect it from dog hair, saliva, mud paws, and toys.
The Mental, Emotional, And Physical Damage Caused by Traveling with a Dog
Your goal should be to make your dog enjoy the trip. Before getting in the car, make sure the dog is properly exercised and a little tired. A good tip: Schedule a full day of dog daycare for your dog the day before your long trip. Not only is this good for the dog, but it allows you to load into the car and clean the house without having the dog under your feet. While you’re doing your own thing, your dog can play with a dog friend all day long (maybe even bathing or doing a spa treatment). You can do everything that needs to be done without stressing out the dog, and the next day the dog will be tired while driving. It’s a win-win situation.
Once on the road, go to the bathroom regularly so your dog can stretch his legs and feet and sniff new places. As a good rider, snacks should be a regular reward. Keep the fun up and make sure your four-legged buddies always want to hop in the car and start the next round of adventure.