Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Traveling With Your Dog Can Be Easy Too

By Edward French


You don't have to throw your vacation time away just because you have a dog to take care of. If you plan ahead and take a little care, it is easy and fun to travel with your dog.

These tips can help you and your dog have a great vacation by car.

Make your dog get accustomed to your vehicle by letting him join you on quicker trips. Make sure the trips are fun - you can take him to the drive through and share bits of your burger with him, go to a friend or relative's house, or take him walking at the park. Traveling by car can be fun, and you want your dog to be conditioned accordingly. Don't make your dog think of the car as the vehicle that sends him to the vet.

Let your dog travel on an empty stomach if he has the tendency to get carsick. This is a good way to avoid car sickness, even if he may go hungry for a bit.

Don't leave home without a water dish and a healthy supply of water. You will need to give your dog periodic drinks of water when you stop for a rest. The water will have to be familiar to your dog, so make sure it comes straight from your home. Water in different places often smells or tastes differently, and your dog may not want to drink it.

Bring everything your dog will need, including his food, toys, treats and leash.

If your dog uses a crate, bring that along too. For smaller cars, foldable crates are available at your nearby pet store. When you get to your destination, you can put your dog in his crate while you go somewhere that you can't bring him along.

How does your dog prefer to ride along in the car? If your dog prefers to lie down on the car seat, a blanket should be able to keep your upholstery clean. As mentioned above, your dog may need a crate. Your dog doesn't need any unnecessary distractions, so make sure the crate can't slide around when the car is in motion. You can even buy your dog seat belts and keep him safe while you're driving.

Your dog may need a walk, and maybe the aforementioned drink of water, so schedule stopovers accordingly. Big vehicles like trucks can scare off your dog, so walk him in a quiet place. But always be neat when walking your dog and respect the environment around you.

If your dog is anxious about staying in a hotel or strange house at your destination, he might not eat or drink. You don't want him to get dehydrated, so be sure to get him to drink, at least. Try adding some gravy or chicken broth to your dog's water. More often than not, your dog will lap it up immediately. Or you can mix said ingredients with your dog's food to convince him to eat it.

While you may know you'll be going back home soon enough, your dog wouldn't on the very first trip. If you follow the tips we had just given you, you can make the first trip at least easier for you and your dog, and succeeding trips maybe 100% trouble-free.




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