Have you been planning your next road trip? Even though long road trips with your dog can be fun and challenging, the open road is particularly appealing right now. Dogs can become restless and behave in unsafe ways, like jumping in your lap or hanging out the window when you’re driving on the highway.
It’s fun to take your dog anywhere you go because some dogs love to ride in cars. Some families can’t imagine their trip without their dog.
According to a survey conducted in 2018, almost 95% of dog owners planned at least one overnight trip with their dogs.
Travelling with your dog can be stressful if you aren’t prepared, though many dogs enjoy it. You can ensure that your journey with your dog is safe and comfortable by making advance preparations.
In this post we will see How to travel with your dog in car.
Let’s see together….
Keep your Dog into the Cage
Leaving a dog to roam in a car is neither safe nor recommended. If you’re driving a long distance or if your dog is a nervous passenger, you might want to put him or her in a pet cage. It is the most efficient method for keeping a dog still and under control.
Because distracted drivers frequently cause accidents, keeping your dog in a cage will help you concentrate on driving rather than the dog. In the event that you have to stop quickly or get into an accident, it will also keep your dog safe.
Find a way to ensure your dog’s safety even if you don’t want to cage him. Consider confining your dog to the rear of your estate car, for instance.
Boot Gate
Install a wire grid over the large window boot to prevent your dog from jumping over the seats. If your dog likes to sit in the boot, you should install a boot gate to keep them from jumping into the front of the car. During an accident, a boot gate also shields your dog and passengers from harm. A crate or harness will still be required to secure your dog.
Dog’s Bed
Place the dog’s bed in the corner or line the dog’s area with dog blankets so it can rest comfortably throughout the journey. Bowls and bottles, which can become dangerous projectiles in an accident, should be avoided at all costs.
Sleeping is an easy way for most dogs to deal with motion sickness.
Dog Safety Seats
Additionally, you could purchase a dog safety seat. While it isn’t quite as secure as an enclosure, it will be more secure and more agreeable than a vehicle seat for your canine in the event that you turn or stop the vehicle out of nowhere.
Bucket Seats
Bucket seats are among the most popular. They attach at the top of the back seats and the back seats at the back, creating a soft well in which your dog and any liquids (or solids!) they may create are contained.
You can make these with a blanket or buy them for cheap. If you only have a two-seater vehicle or you don’t want your dogs to be confined, dog seatbelts are an excellent tool. They should be fastened to a harness rather than a collar.
On one end, they have a standard lead clip and fit into the female buckle of a car seatbelt. By fastening them to a harness, you can be certain that the dog will be held in place by its body and that their neck won’t be hurt in an emergency.
Make sure the cage you use is secure. If you come to a sudden stop or are struck, make sure it is very secure. This will stop it from moving. An unsecured cage can be just as dangerous as an unsecured dog, if not more so.
Introduce your dog to the cage
If you are using a cage, introduce your dog to it. Positively show your dog the cage. Before the dog gets into the car, let it sniff the cage. Lock your dog in the cage once it is in the car.
Keep a positive attitude about the cage and spend some time away from the dog in the cage. Treats should be used to lure the dog into the cage, but you shouldn’t force it there.
Consult with your Vet
Verify with your veterinarian whether your pet is healthy enough to travel. Unless you talk to your veterinarian, you won’t be able to tell for sure. If your dog already has health issues, inquire about how travelling might affect them. Also, ensure that your dog has received the most recent vaccinations and flea and tick preventatives.
This is also a good time to ask your veterinarian about anti-nausea or stress-relieving medications that might help your pet while you drive (more on that later).
Take short trips
Before embarking on a more extended journey, take several short trips with your dog to get them used to driving. Start with shorter trips and gradually work your way up to longer ones with dogs.
Carry all the essentials
It’s generally really smart to go with your pet’s necessities. Pressing your pet’s food and water, treats, medication, toys, taking care of bowls, and different supplies will assist with keeping you out of stores and veterinary workplaces, which can be packed spots that put you at an increased chance of getting the infection.
To ensure that everything can be disposed of safely, keep in mind to bring equipment for picking up pet waste. Also, don’t forget your own COVID-19 safety essentials!
Even if you don’t anticipate encountering a lot of people, keep masks and hand sanitizer nearby in the car just in case. Clean pets’ paws and fur with pet grooming wipes.
Make the canine’s region agreeable by putting its bed or covers down for cushioning. Bring some of your dog’s favourite chew toys, treats, collars, lead water, and plastic bags for poop.
Exercise them before travelling
Before you put your dog in a car seat, you should exercise it. This will make it tiring. A tired dog may still be upset about being in a cage, but a dog that has had enough sleep will typically be even more so.
Avoid feeding your dog right before the trip
Feed your dog at least a few hours before your trip instead of right before it. Your dog will be able to avoid becoming car sick or urinating in the car, both of which are unpleasant experiences for both the owner and the dog.
Keep chew toys
Place a few chew toys with your dog in the back to keep him occupied. If the dog gets sick, it will come back if you give him or her a bone or a food treat. Additionally, undesirable, squeaky toys will make you irrational.
Before the trip, offer hyperactivity
If your dog exhibits hyperactivity, contact your veterinarian. Check to see if your dog can safely take a mild sedative, especially if the trip is long. Carefully follow the dosage instructions.
Prepare your vehicle for your dog
There are numerous car seats and floor covers that provide comfort for your dog and protect your vehicle. You might want to make an investment in some of these if you travel with dogs a lot.
When driving a long distance, always wear your dog’s collar
No matter how well-behaved your dog is, there is always a chance that he or she will get out of the car and run away from you. In the event that your dog escapes while you are travelling, make sure it can be identified.
Keep bottled water handy
Keep bottled water on hand, bring your own water, or give bottled water to your dog. It’s possible to get stomach problems if you drink water from a strange source.
Take important documents
Take important documents for your pet with you when you travel across state lines or international borders. A health certificate and proof of rabies vaccination may be required.
Take breaks
Pause and allow your dog to run around and get tired. During your break, you should also feed your dog a small snack and water. Even if it’s just on the grass next to a fast-food restaurant or a service station by the highway, you should make it a point to take a quick walk every hour or so.
This permits your dog to use the bathroom and provides ample opportunity for you to provide your dog with water. It’s important to take your dog for short walks so that it can stretch its legs and avoid becoming bored.
If you’re going on a long trip, this is especially important. The typical dog can only drive for four hours without taking a longer break, but as a driver, it is recommended that you take a break every two hours.
Take your dog for a walk to let off some of his excess energy, stop somewhere grassy and relatively quiet (not right next to the road), lock your car, and feed and water him.
Your dog must be on a lead whenever you stop by the highway for his own safety.
Don’t leave your dog in a parked car
On a hot day, don’t leave your dog in a parked car. A dog can quickly get heatstroke and die in a parked car. When travelling in warm weather, you should never leave your dog unattended in your vehicle.
Park your car in the shade and open the windows about an inch at a time when you stop for a meal to let in cool air. If your dog is in a dog seat, unbuckle him or her and give him or her a bowl of cool water in the car.
Order your food to go, and lock the doors of your car. In order to prevent your dog from becoming overheated, try to spend no more than five minutes away from the vehicle on a warm day.
Tie your dog to a post just inside the front door or outside where you can see it if your stop will take a little longer, like when you are waiting in a long line for food.
He or she won’t be in the heat while you wait, at least. To prevent the dog from fleeing, tie it in a secure knot. Tight bunches will likewise make it doubtful for somebody to take your dog.
Identify your pet
While your pet should have a microchip, they should also wear an ID tag with your cell phone number and home address. Get a temporary tag with the phone number of the place where you’ll be staying for longer vacations and trips in case your pet gets lost. Never use a choke collar on your dog, and all collars should be flat.
Keep your dog’s collar
When you’re driving a long distance, always wear your dog’s collar. There’s always an opportunity, regardless of how polite your canine might be, that your canine will escape the vehicle and take off from you. In the event that your dog escapes while you are travelling, make sure it can be identified.
Try not to comfort your dog
Try not to comfort your canine in the event that the person is giving indications of pain. Even though it seems natural, comforting the dog confirms that something bad is taking place. While paying attention to signs of genuine distress (instead of discomfort), do your best to remain calm and normal.
Reward your dog
When you arrive at your destination, reward your dog by taking it for a long walk right away. Give it a treat, make sure it gets it, and show it a lot of love for making it this far.
Follow COWID guidelines
Follow the CDC’s COVID-19 safety guidelines, no matter where you are or where you are going. This will help keep you safe. Among its recommendations are:
- Keep a distance of six feet from other people and their pets.
- Cover your face with a cloth.
- Wash your hands frequently.
- Don’t touch your eyes, mouth, or nose.