You’re about to head off for a trip and decided to take your dog along with you. While most dogs love trips in the car, a long trip can be difficult on your dog. There are however, some things that you can do to ensure that your trip with your furry friend will be easy and fun.
The first thing to remember is that all dogs are going to be different when they travel. While some dogs look forward with quivering anticipation to a trip in the car, others cower in fear and are filled with apprehension when confronted with new places, new people and in some cases, new dogs. You can help alleviate this stress and make sure your trip is a successful one.
Most dog owners elect to travel by car when they decide to include them in their travel. Not only can it be fun for the family, but your dog loves traveling with his human companion. It’s important to keep your dog safe when traveling by car. Consider a harness to keep him safely in the back seat so he not only does not interfere with your driving but can help prevent injury in the even of an accident. Remember, never leave your dog alone in the car, especially if it’s very warm outside. While driving, your dog should avoid sticking his head out the window – even though he probably would love to. Bugs, rocks and other debris can hit your dog while you’re driving and these could cause all types of injury and in fact, even blindness. Keeping your dog safe while you’re traveling by car will make the trip more enjoyable for you as well as for them.
On long car trips, stop often for potty breaks. If you forget to bring water or a water bowl, find a truck stop. It’s so common to have dogs as traveling companions, that they often stock pet products. Whenever possible, leave the window open a bit so your dog will get fresh air. Finally, have fun with your dog. Take a little extra time at the rest area to play.
Plan ahead for long trips. Make sure your dog has been seen by a veterinarian before you go. Have copies of his up-to-date vaccinations and check-up with you. If you know he’s healthy before you leave, the chances that he’ll get sick on the trip will be slimmer. And, interrupting your trip in order to find a veterinarian in a strange city is no fun. Always keep identification and rabies tags on your dog on a strong collar. If for any reason you get separated, these are essential for people to contact you. A micro chip implant is also a great idea.
Flying with your dog can be much more challenging. Know all your airline’s regulations for animal travel. Most airlines require that your dog travel as luggage in a travel crate either approved by them or provided by them. Some airlines also require that your dog be sedated during the flight. Finally, an “80-degree rule” is imposed by most airlines as well – if the temperature is expected to go higher than 80 degrees at any point of the trip, your dog cannot go.
It is not difficult to have fun traveling for vacation with your dog. For you this means a little pre-planning to find a pet friendly hotel, park and other recreation areas that will allow your dog on the grounds. You should also look into pet sitters and other facilities in the event you need to leave your dog for any period of time. Your dog is part of your family – have fun making him part of your family vacation.
Owning a hunting dog is a huge responsibility that shouldn’t be taken lightly. Making sure you are properly prepared for travel is very important, but so is the training equipment that you have. There are certain things you should consider buying when you have a hunting dog, some of the possibilities are dog tracker units, Innotek IUT-302, or Innotek ADV-1000P.