Tips for Taking a Road Trip With Your Dog
Published on: 2023-01-20
Driving to the vet office or to the park with your dog it could be very exciting or overwhelming for some dogs, that’s why you need to take all the necessary precautions to make both of you safe. Securing your dog not only keep him safe, but also keeps you more focus on the road. The most important thing here is to have a safe journey.
Training
Take practice trips ahead of time. Doesn’t matter if your dog is scared of trips or get’s over excited about getting in a vehicle, you should start with small happy ending trips around the neighborhood so he get’s used to get in and out of the car, the sounds on the road, the horn, the engine, the smell of the car. By taking small steps he can learn how to behave in the vehicle, also don’t take him to the vet every time that it get’s to the car, take him to the pet store for example so he don’t associate the vehicle with the doctor.
Seat Belts
Most cars weren’t designed with dogs in mind, so your regular seat belt won’t fit him, although there are plenty of options available for this like car dog harness, pet barriers, and hammock. For safety reasons, your dog should be safely in the back of your vehicle but never in an open area.
Essentials
Bring your dog’s:
- food
- water
- treats
- medicines (if is a long trip)
- toys
- feeding bowls
It’s a good idea to bring their toys to the trip so they can stay entertained most of the time. Also never left your dog locked inside the car, that could be dangerous, in the summer the interior of the car could get extremely hot and suffocate animals and in the winter it could get him freeze. If you are getting a long trip be sure to take a pet-friendly route so you can make several stops for potty breaks and exercise. Is also very important not let him hang out the window, this is not good for dogs because their eyes can dry easily and also expose them to flying insects and other particles
Enjoy the ride
Every road trip begins with a preparation, you plan your route, make your packing list, pack some snacks and a lot of music, now you just need to add this new tips to your list and you are going to be prepared to enjoy your journey with your pet.
