Teach your puppy that his carrier is a great place to hang out everyday. Have the carrier open and readily available at all times in order to make it feel like her safe place. Feeding your dog in the carrier can create a happy place. Practice going in and out from the carrier to make it as routine a process as possible, as this will be important during travel.
The best time to teach a dog to travel easily is when he is still a puppy.
Teaching a puppy to ride in a car can be easy.
When you start taking your dog in a car you want to make them feel confident. As with so many things with dogs, the sooner they experience travel, the better. The more confident they are, the more comfortable and less stressed they will be. You want your puppy to get used to cars as soon as you take them home for the first time.
Tips: Bring them a special toy or their blanket in the car with you so your dog feels comfortable and safe. You can even give your dog a toy, a special treat or a dog bone that she only gets in the car.
Introducing your puppy gradually
Start off with them sitting in a parked car. They need time to just sniff around and see what this new place is that they will be confined to and feel comfortable before you start the engine. Once they settle down, it’s time to move on to the next step.
Try to take your dog for a car ride weekly, the local dog park or a different part of town, where you can explore and take a walk if possible. Take your dog with you when you go visit family or friends. If you don’t have anywhere in mind, just take a scenic drive around the block!
Food In Moderation
Some dogs get car sick and – just like kids – they may throw up. So go easy on the treats but give her a few treats along the way to make the trip a bit sweeter. The only thing that helps is to get your puppy used to small trips and then slowly work your way up.
Your pup doesn’t need to get hot so try to keep the car slightly cool. With too much heat, your dog may get carsick, just like us.
If it’s a nice outside, crack open the windows just to get a little bit to get some fresh air flowing. This fresh air will help your dog experience motion properly so they don’t get sick. They need to understand that the car is moving and they are going somewhere.
If it’s so cold or super hot outside, and rolling down the windows isn’t an option, you can also turn up the AC just to get a little bit of cool air going. Keeping cooler temperatures inside the car will help your dog keep her food down.
Ease There Fears
Make car rides about happy experiences instead of just a trip to the vet. This process, takes patience and a little bit of time. Once your puppy realizes a car ride means fun, she will look forward to going all the time with you. In the beginning keep the trips short. For the most part, dogs are happiest that they are with their humans, and the “place” is not important.
While the idea of talking to your pet may sound crazy. I mean we do it all the time anyways. Dogs are responsive to their names and love to hear the sound of their master’s voice. It’s a comforting sound to them. Just by calling your dog’s name will most likely get her tail wagging. So why not do the same thing on the road. Tell your pet about where you are taking her and how much fun your gonna have once you get there is a great way to pass the time.
Most times when we head to the car, we’re in an rush, running around the house getting everything together and creating chaos! We are creating confusion and excitement for our puppies who get excited but not for sure what is going on.
Take a little extra time to help them get the picture. Things may take a bit longer than they usually do. It’s different getting on the road when you’re by yourself but a whole new ballgame when you’re taking your puppy with you.
Think of your dog like a kid who has a mind of their own and might slow you down. With patience and a little simplicity you can set a much more effective tune for the ride. One way to have the best car ride with your small furry friend is to make the whole experience of getting into the car a bit more peaceful.
Slow down and give yourself more time to get ready so you’re not getting your dog excited by your fast paced actions.
Crate Train
Having your pup in a crate or kennel while in the moving car is the best way for them to travel. Animals can be harmed while riding in a moving car. Attach them with a harness to the seat belt, car barrier, or a kennel. Vets agree that the most safest place for your puppy to ride is in a kennel or a crate.
If you don’t have one or don’t want to bring your dog’s kennel, you need to keep her secure during the car ride. It’s not safe – if your dog is moving around the vehicle while the car is in motion. Your dog should have his own seat and it’s not in someone’s lap. Pick up a harness like this
one and buckle her up.
Put her soft blankets that your pet uses at home in the car or crate as well. The point is to make the car just like home or as close as possible. This may make them happier. And on a long trip a happy pet makes a happy pet owner.
Exiting the car
When leaving the car you should always plan to get out first, and then let your dog out. Go to the door that’s near her, and give her permission to exit. The expert explains: “This way you attempt to have control outside the car, and you aren’t still sitting in your car while your dog is running around outside.” Another good rule: remember to bring your dog’s leash!
Breaks Breaks Breaks…plenty of them
Always take a lot of breaks. Puppies need to pee a lot, so you should plan on extra time to take lots of bathroom breaks. In addition to your puppy doing her business, take her for a little walk or maybe a game of fetch to burn up some energy.
You may get lucky and find other dogs at a rest stop a 20 minute play date with another dog is far better than a leash walk. Take advantage of areas specifically designated for dogs. If you can tire her out, she’s more likely to sleep longer in the car.
If you dog likes to run and play fetch, a fast way to get some exercise is a chuck-it ball thrower. You’ll be able to throw the ball much further than you can with you arm, which means the dog runs a lot further in less time. Plus, you won’t have to touch that slobbery ball with your bare hands.
Sleepy dogs is often a well-behaved dog, so right before you take off on your road trip, take your puppy for a visit to the dog park or a power walk. This will help your dog feel more tired and maybe they will sleep for a good part of the trip.
“Be sure to have your dog wear identification during travel.”
Have you been dreaming of your next road trip?
Taking a long road trip with your dog should not fill you with panic, but if it does the you better read on. Dogs and cars aren’t normally friends. Many dog’s are scared of cars (for good reason) and a lot of dog owners don’t want to think about having their dog in the car.
But you want to get out on the open road, and longer road trips with your dog in the car, can be challenging but also fun. Dogs can get restless quickly, and they aren’t safety minded, like how safe is it to hang out of a car window going 55 mph down the highway, or when they jump in your lap to look out your window. Add to the mix all this coronavirus pandemic, and a peaceful road trip starts sounding stressful.
Tip to remember: A road trip with your dog begins long before the day of travel.
Be prepared for anything! Stay organized by making a checklist ahead of time. You know your puppy best, so make sure you’ve packed your bag with all the things your dog will need for some time away from home.
If you love your puppy so much and can’t stand being away for very long, holidays are no exception. Not only do we miss our puppy, it can be expensive to get someone to puppy sit or costly to board them. We want to make sure they are happy and well taken care of when we go on a trip.
For many of us, there is no question of if but of how are we taking our dog along, What mode of transportation we will be using. Traveling by air might be the fastest way to get around any time of the year, but a road trip may be more affordable and, for some, the only option.
Whether you’ve got a lap dog or a giant one, there’s always a way to take a road trip with your dog that won’t have you both flopping to the ground in exasperation by the time you arrive.
ARE YOUR DOG TAGS UP-TO-DATE
Make sure your contact information on your dog tag is up to date just in the rare case your puppy somehow gets away.
While you’re planning your road trip remember to take COVID-19 precautions into account too. A general rule is to treat your puppy like a family member. You should avoid places that are overly crowded, or you are unable to maintain 6 feet of distance between you and another person. Your dog should also stay 6 feet apart from other people, too.
Don’t let them get sunburn. Just as we suffer sunburn while driving in a car, so can your puppy. Shade your dog from the sun as much as possible. Keep the car cool enough, so your dog doesn’t get overheated. If they’re going to be outside in the sun, you can put sunblock on their skin so they don’t get sunburned, especially for short-haired and white dogs. Luckily I have never had a dog get sunburned,
Don’t ignore your dog’s nerves.
Supplements like Zesty Paws Calming Dental Sticks for Dogs – Stress & Anxiety or pressure wraps like Thundershirt, or Calming Collars can all help If you notice your dog is stressed or anxious while riding in the car. You can try some natural stress reducing remedies for your pup.
With some advance planning taking a road-trip with your dog can be a blast!
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Here are some tips for surviving a long road trip with your puppy:
- Packing – Depends on how long you will be away – food, water, toys, poop bags, collar, leash, and any medication your pup may be on.
- Crate or kennel – If you’ve got the room and you think your dog will tolerate it, before you hit the road set up and secure his crate.
- Hotel – Sites like BringFido.com and DogFriendly.com are great for figuring out which restaurants and hotels on your route can accommodate dogs.
- Safety – If you like to travel with the windows open, make sure your dog’s head can’t fit through it. Dogs eyes or head can injured by a flying insect or a piece of gravel if his head is hanging out the window. Lock the power windows so that your dog can’t open or close a window by stepping on the button. Have you moved locations since you got your puppy? It’s also important to have your dog microchipped before a road trip…you never know when your dog will run away when the door opens! Make sure your contact info on their dog tag is up to date in case your dog somehow gets away from you.
- Ever had a gassy passenger? Never feed your dog breakfast and then hop in the car with her. Traveling on an empty stomach minimizes the risk of nausea and vomiting. Ideally, feeding her a light meal and drinking just a normal amount of water 3-4 hours before the drive will be less chance of her throwing up.
- Potty breaks – Older dogs can stretch 3-4 hours at a time, but be sure to stop in a safe, confined area – NEVER EVER pull over on the side of the road! I personally was in a horrific accident by stopping on the side of the interstate. By God’s grace my 4 year old son and I both survived.
- Toys Toys Toys – A chew toy or a dog-safe bone are enough to get started with. It’s also smart to give your dog a 10-minute leash walk every time you stop.
- A surprising number of dogs get car sick! Talk to your vet about over the counter medications for car sickness, and learn to spot the signs. Gagging and drooling are obvious, but some dogs become sick after getting particularly sleeping or just from facing backwards in their seats.
- Don’t forget to stop along the way to take in new sights and chase after new squirrels. It’s all about the memories.
Never, ever leave your dog alone in the car. The interior temperature can rise to a dangerous level within a very short time, causing heat stroke. It is simply not a risk worth taking.
Don’t leave your dog in a cold car. Dogs can and have died of hypothermia due to being left too long in a car on a freezing day. Take your pup inside with you when you can, and, if you have no other choice, leave the car running with the heat on.
Most importantly, remember to have fun and happy travels!
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