Some people can feel daunting about the idea of a road trip … especially if you travel for the first time with your dog.
Give Them A Safe Way to Ride
Most of us agree that allowing children to roam in the car while driving is not safe… so do not let your pup! Simply putting them in a safe spot reduces their anxieties in the car; your dog knows what you want from them and is happy to ride.
Some safety options include putting the cars in their cabinets, doggie boosters, backside barriers, harness systems and seatbelt systems. Only try to think about the safety of your pet as you pick which way would work best.
E.g. a harness system could not let them see a small dog out the window if you had a small dog; it would be better for a booster chair. If your dog is afraid and loves your cage, bring your cage to rest and relax. If you don’t want your seats to get muddy and scratched, a backseat barrier allows dogs (especially the big ones) freedom to enjoy the outdoor stops without making them a menace.
Pack a Bag for Your Dog
The fact that you have your entire product in the same bag saves a great deal of stress on the street. Just as you would pack one for yourself, pack a bag for your pup.
• Food & Drink withtravel-friendly dishes.
• ID tags in color & leash!
• Small items to be used in the positive reinforcement and education of the pet.
• Blankets & Favorite Toys to give them a sense of safety when away from home.
• Poop Bags, because you are not that guy.
• Wipes & Paper Towels, as doesn’t stop when you go home.
Take your pet on a couple of minibuses before the long-journey
Most dogs become nervous in vehicles as they share car trips with their veterinary surgeons. Make sure your pup knows cars don’t just lead to frightening places! Bring them to visit friends, go to the park and even treat them for a while.
Make Sure your Dog is Done with All the Vaccines before You Leave
You can take one of those trips. It may be harmful, if your dog is not prepared to explore new environments and to be around new animals. Most veterinary hospitals have online records, but a hard copy is always good.
Make sure that animal friendly stops are included along the route Make this trip a real pleasure for everyone.
Include some dog parks or walk tracks, you will be able to explore together. Make sure that you check for nature walking regulations in advance; anything marked as a nature preserve is not dog friendly. There are also many restaurants that are dog friendly and allow you to take a great break from the car.
Let drink and Pee to them;
Don’t limit the water of your dog to try and reduce breaks in your bathroom. If you don’t want to leave a water dish when driving (which is completely understandable… it is difficult to find a water dish that doesn’t sprinkle), then you can give them a safe and easy way to provide water on the street. A good’ command’ to go through: if you’re cold, you’re hungry.
If you notice it is panting, it is hot outside or it does more physical activity than usual. In fact, your pup may need more water than usual. Water restriction can dehydrate your dog quickly and contribute to stress and anxiety on the road.
Give them an Activity during Riding.
Many toys are designed to keep the dogs amused for reasonable reasons! Dogs are best behaved when stimulated mentally. Over hours or days, most people do not like to sit in a car; if we didn’t have music or telephones to amuse us, we would get blurred. Don’t lock your dog up and hope they’re all right because you have three tapes to hear.
Give Your Dog Light and Little Food.
If you are on a long journey, it will most likely conflict with the feeding schedule of your pup. Give your dog small meals. Feed them with 3-4 light foods instead of doing the normal meals 1-2 total a day. The entire bottom of the street tends to give the vehicle the unpleasant scent.
Let Your Pup out EVERY SINGLE TIME You Stop
Let your dog go off every single time. You’ll stop, even if you’re up… Even if you do not believe they must stool, let them out. This gives your pet the chance to sniff in a new area ,which is a favorite thing for a dog, and also could save you from stopping if you wake up within a couple of hours.
Allow some flexibility in your plans
Make sure that you don’t have a plan tightly packed so that it can be discarded by a small bump. Provide enough time to enjoy the ride rather than the final destination. Spend additional time at rest stops for a fun, grassy area in the vicinity. Going around, even 10 minutes, with your pup will make a huge difference in your journey.
Angelique Chrisafis is the Guardian’s Paris correspondent. She is responsible for churning out quality articles based on her research while keeping an eye on the tech world. She likes technology, gadgets, and food. Works as an individual contributor to the team.