Traveling by Car with Your Dog

First, you will need to determine whether your dog travels well in the car. Do a test drive with your dog before hand to see if he is okay riding in the car for an extended period of time. Some dogs are overly anxious while in the car, others can suffer from car sickness. If this is the case, you’ll be better off leaving him at home.

Make Frequent Stops
Map out your route and plan to make frequent stops so that your dog can have a potty break or just stretch his legs. The breaks are good for you too! Plan for a stop every 2 – 3 hours. Offer him some water so that he stays hydrated during the trip.

Never leave your pet unattended in your vehicle, even with the windows open. In the summer, the car can heat up very quickly – within a matter of a few minutes and can be deadly for dogs. Remember that dogs do not have sweat glands and they wear a fur coat! In the winter, your car can drop below freezing very quickly.

Secure Your Dog in the Car
For safety, small dogs should be kept in a carrier or kennel. Larger dogs should be strapped into a dog seat belt harness or if you have enough room in your vehicle, kept in a kennel. This is just as important as you wearing a seat belt while driving. An unrestrained dog can be injured in the case of an accident or even if you need to stop short. He can also be thrown forward in the case of a sudden stop or accident, which will turn him into a projectile, injuring you.

Plan Your Entire Vacation
It is important that you pre-plan every aspect of your trip with your dog in mind. Don’t leave anything to chance. You will have to have your dog with you at all times, so it is best to have reservations made ahead of time. You will also have to plan your own meal breaks and times. More than likely, you won’t be able to go into restaurants while you have your dog with you and you won’t be able to leave him alone in the hotel room. Vacationing on the fly is a lot harder to do when you have a dog with you.

Clean Up After Your Dog
Remember to be a good citizen and be diligent about cleaning up after your dog. Leaving behind dog poop contributes to the spread of dog diseases and worms, some of which can be passed onto you or your children. And nobody wants to stumble upon your dog’s mess!