Full article with thanks to: wandereroftheworld.co.uk/how-to-travel-long-distance-with-a-dog
Some dogs love long road trips, while others quiver at the very thought of getting into a car.
But either way, if you want to travel long distance with your dog in a car, then careful planning and attentiveness before and during the trip is needed.
Here are our tips on how to travel long distance with a dog…
How to Travel Long Distance With a Dog
Before travelling…
Ensure you’ve packed everything on your dog travel packing list
To keep your dog comfortable during the long road trip and once you’ve finally arrived at your destination, you need to ensure you’ve packed everything they will need during their trip.
If travelling with puppies, wait until their vaccinations are complete
Although it’s okay to travel with puppies providing you get them used to car journeys ahead of any long road trips, you must wait until all their vaccinations are complete.
This will normally be by the time they’re roughly 14 weeks old.
It’s also recommended to wait until your puppy is fully house-trained so that you don’t rack up a huge hotel bill!
Get them used to shorter road trips first
A quick drive to the shops, to the vets, to a different doggie park or even to puppy training classes ensures that your dog gets used to car journeys as best as they can.
And ideally, some trips should take them somewhere fun and exciting, so that they learn that the car is a good thing.
You should spend 1-2 months ahead of your trip getting them used to being in the car and driving around.
Use a windscreen shade before getting in the car
Even if it’s not a particularly hot day, temperatures inside cars can still be much higher than outside temperatures.
Therefore, it’s recommended to place a sunshade inside your windscreen ahead of travelling (ideally the night before) so that it’s a bit cooler inside the car.
Use sunshades for your back windows too
You should also get some sunshades for the back windows as well so that your dog won’t be sitting in patches of sun during the car journey.
As above for windscreens, install these the night before your trip.
Tire your dog out ahead of the journey
By ensuring your dog has used up all of their pent up energy, he’ll be more likely to just go to sleep in the car.
So encourage your dog to let off some steam in the local doggie park or field — play ball, fetch, chase, anything you can think off to get them sprinting around!
While travelling…
Keep them entertained
If you’ve not been able to tire your dog out before the journey, then they’ll need to be kept thoroughly entertained.
Keep the radio on if you’re not talking for the whole journey, and let your dog chew on an antler bone, a kong filled with tasty treats or another of their favourite toys.
The act of chewing alone should tire them out after a while.
Have lots of toilet breaks!
Unlike children, dogs can’t tell us when they need to do their business, but dogs also need more fresh air when travelling than humans as they can’t cool themselves down.
Therefore, have lots of toilet breaks along the way (every 90 mins to 2 hours is a good rule of thumb to have, although this will need to be shortened if your dog is less used to long road trips).
When you arrive, you should also let your dog do their business as soon as possible — even the most toilet trained dogs might go inside if they’re desperate.
We mention this last point as it’s very easy to forget this when all you want to do is unpack your car and grab a cup of tea!
Carry plenty of water
When travelling in cars, dogs will likely need lots of water. You should ensure you have enough to cover the full journey plus some extra in case of traffic or delays.
We usually travel with a full 2 litre bottle (just for our dog), plus a bit extra in a travel water bottle.
And while we’re on the subject, it’ll make things easier for you if you buy a bottle that has a bowl compartment attached to it so the dog can almost drink straight from the bottle.
Safety first! Don’t forget your doggie seatbelt (or car hammock)
Safety should always come first!
There are a number of products out there that are perfect for dogs and their car safety.
For short car trips, dog seat belts are easy (and quick) to put on and take off, while longer trips call for a full harness or a car hammock (the latter being the safest and most comfortable option for your dog).
Keep them comfortable with a blanket or bed
You’d be surprised at how much easier it will be for your dog to settle down in your car if they’ve got something comfortable and soft with their smell on with them.
You could pop their bed or their blanket into the car with them and let them snuggle into it, or you could also try a specialist boot/travel dog bed like this one from Scruffs®.
It’s ever so plush and has a cover that rolls down in order to protect your car when your dog jumps into it.
And when you arrive at your dog friendly destination…
Take it easy!
If this is your dog’s first trip, or if you’re travelling with a puppy, then be sure to take it easy when you arrive at your destination.
Your dog will need some time to get used to the new smells that comes with a hotel, B&B or other dog friendly accommodation, and they’ll also need plenty of naps throughout the holiday.
Treat the first few holidays like a staycation
It also helps to treat your first few holidays like a staycation.
By all means, have some days out, but keep them to a half-day with plenty of rest (and a couple of dog walks) throughout the rest of the day.
Keep your dog cool
When travelling in warmer weather, your dog may need a helping hand to keep cool.
We used to take electric fans with us, which did work well, but we’ve since tested out this cool mat, which is even better. Unlike an electric fan, it doesn’t need to be plugged in and lays flat.
If it starts to lose its coolness, all you need to do is leave it at room temperature for about an hour and it naturally cools right down again.
Our dog loves it!
Full article with thanks to: wandereroftheworld.co.uk/how-to-travel-long-distance-with-a-dog
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