5 Tips for Traveling With Your Dog

Taking a vacation with your four legged friend is a fun way to spend time together. It can also be a horrible disaster. The difference lies in the planning and organization and most importantly preparing your dog for the big adventure. Most dogs love travel and are terrific company as long as they get exercise breaks and are trained to ride long distances in the car in a relaxed and calm manner.

The following 5 tips will help ensure your journeys with your dog safe and fun for all:

1. Get Your Dog Accustomed To the Vehicle

If your dog is not accustomed to riding in a car or riding for long distances it is a very good idea to get them adjusted to going for longer and longer rides with you. Some pups and even adult dogs could suffer from motion sickness and need to adjust to the constant motion. Taking frequent rides with something fun waiting at the end, like a walk in the park, your dog will soon think of riding in the car as a reward.

2. Restrain Your Dog in a Safety Device

Your dog's safety in the car is important, and it is just a bad idea to have them loose and jumping about. Sitting in the drivers lap is dangerous for all and even worse is their head hanging out of the window. There are handy harness style seat buckles available for medium and large dogs that fasten directly to the shoulder belt. This allows some freedom of motion but still protects in case of an accident or sudden stop. Smaller dogs should be placed in a travel carrier and that is then fasted directly to the seatbelt similar to the way a baby seat is buckled in.

3. Plan Regular Stops

You very well may be able to eat or have a soda while you drive along but your dog does not have the same luxury. The constant movement will cause a water dish to spill and splash, even those made for travel. He also must get out of the car to stretch and visit the doggy's restroom at regular intervals, and for some fresh water necessary to stop possible dehydration. While making plans for your trip include scheduled stops for exercise or a short romp and count on about 15-20 minutes every two or three hours. Higher energy dogs need stops more often and for a longer stretch of time. Some dogs are able to tolerate longer time spans between breaks without becoming stressed. Take your dogs specific needs into account when doing you're planning. You will be able to include stops at parks and various other sites, making this a fun adventure for everyone.

4. Never Let the Dog out Of the Vehicle off The Leash

The most well trained dog might become overly excited or stressed at the prospect of getting out of the car and might take off as soon as the door opens. They might smell something new in the air and want to see what it is or they might become confused and dart out onto a road. Even dogs that will obey on a single command in ordinary circumstances might react differently in new surroundings. By attaching the leash to the dog's collar before the car door opens you can eliminate all of the unpleasantness and possible grief that can happen if something goes wrong.

5. Book Hotels in Advance and Confirm They Accept Your Breed of Dog

This can pose a major problem if you have a large dog or a breed that has restrictions in place in some areas, may be banned entirely in other communities. It is important to check with the hotel as to whether or not your pet will be welcome to stay in the room. Also, you may be charged an extra fee each night to keep your dog in the room and he or she needs to be well behaved and quiet so the other guests are not disturbed. Many hotels and motels are pet friendly, and even have cute areas set aside for your pet's bathroom needs.

Article by Kelly Marshall of Oh My Dog Supplies, your top spot to purchase designer dog clothes online.

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