Preparing for the Road Trip
These key preparations will set the stage for a more pleasant journey with your dog. Unlike cats, most dogs don’t mind traveling. With a little extra planning and preparation, we can create a dog-friendly vacation that’s relaxing and enjoyable for all family members.
Identification
As always, your dog looks most dapper in a collar with an ID tag. Make sure it displays the following information:
Dog Tag with Style and Substance
- Their name
- Your cellphone number
- Information about allergies or medications
In addition to their visible ID tag, make sure your dog is microchipped.
- Log into the website for the company that manages your dog’s microchip information. Verify that all your dog’s information – especially your contact information – is up-to-date.
- Confirm that your pet’s name is correct in their microchip records. You may wish to add the contact information for your dog’s regular veterinarian, if that is an option.
- Again, it’s best that your cellphone number is included in your contact information, in case you and your dog get separated while traveling. If possible, provide an alternate emergency contact.
Harness Safety
Everyone hopes for an uneventful drive. But it’s part of our duty as caretakers to make sure our pets are safely seated – and protected from any potential impact – while riding in the car. There are several different types of restraint systems available for canines. Most common is a harness used with a seatbelt adapter. Harnesses can either be purchased with the seatbelt adapter, or bought separately.
Buckling Up for Safety
Choose an appropriate harness for your dog’s size and weight. Try the harness on your dog before the trip. Make sure they can wear it comfortably. If it’s a long trip, your pet may be wearing it for several hours. You don’t want to distress them with an ill-fitting harness.
- Harnesses are available not only in several different sizes, but also in a few different styles. You can find anything from a minimal framework of straps fitted around the torso to varieties with cloth panels or padding.
- The seatbelt adapter will have a clip or a karabiner on one end, and a seatbelt buckle on the other. (The clip or karabiner attaches to your dog’s harness.) You can get seatbelt adapters of varying lengths. Get one short enough that the dog cannot be thrown against a seat back in the event of an accident.
- It’s possible to hook the seatbelt adapter directly to your dog’s collar. However, it’s probably not safe in a high-speed collision. At highway speeds, a restraint which pulls directly against your dog’s neck could be harmful.
Food
Pack enough of your dog’s usual brand of food to last throughout the trip. You don’t want to be forced to make a last-minute substitution, leading to an upset stomach.
Veterinary Care
Find a few veterinary clinics and emergency vets along your route. Hospitals and urgent care centers for people are usually well-marked and fairly easy to find. The same is not always true for pets. You don’t need an exhaustive list – just be aware of stretches where vets are few and far between. With a prepared list, you can quickly find medical care for your pet, should the need arise. Also note down the locations of a few veterinary clinics close to your vacation spot. The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) provides a veterinary clinic locator on its site.
On the Road
When you’re ready to hit the road, keep the following points in mind:
Buckle Up for Safety
Make sure your dog is buckled into their harness securely and comfortably before the drive starts. The back seat of the vehicle is probably safer than the front, especially for a smaller dog.
Seatmate for Your Mutt
If possible, have someone sit near your dog during the trip for reassurance. Closeness and a simple touch can smooth over a rough road.
Drinking from a Collapsible Water Bowl
Water for Your Canine Companion
There are several varieties of collapsible water bowls available, if packing their usual water bowl is not practical. Of course, it’s not generally feasible to put out a water bowl for your dog while the car is in motion, which leads to our next consideration…
Frequent Rest Stops at Dog-Friendly Venues
Be sure to stop every hour or two for an exercise, water, and relief break for your dog. Some private venues may display “no pets allowed” signs. You should be able to take advantage of public rest stops, which are generally right off the highway at regular intervals. A few rest stops offer a fenced-in area for dogs to run free, but it’s best to leash your dog before you let them out of the car.
- Be prepared to pick up after propecia online 1 mg your pooch at rest stops, just as you would back home.
- K9 Road Trip offers an interactive map of the continental United States. It includes reviews of rest areas, campgrounds, and highway stops along your route. Just click the checkbox for the category “The Road”. (At this writing, listings are sparse west of the Dakotas.)
Keep Cool
Make sure your dog has adequate ventilation, and that the temperature inside the car is comfortable at all times. A closed, parked car can quickly become an inferno for your furry friend – and even on a cool day, the temperature inside a parked car can rapidly rise. As always, if you park to run an errand, bring your leashed dog with you when you exit the vehicle. (This may require some planning ahead, especially if you and your dog are the only ones on the road trip.)
Keep it Quiet
Noise levels in the vehicle, such as traffic noises (from car horns, sirens, etc.) may be disturbing enough. Remember that your dog’s ears are more sensitive than a human’s, and that the car is a closed environment. Keep the car stereo and the conversation at a reasonably quiet level.
The Stay Itself
Dog-Friendly Accommodations
With the help of the Internet, it’s easier than ever to find a place to stay where your best friend is also welcome. BringFido can help you find a place to stay with your pet almost anywhere in the world, and can even provide information on pet-friendly flights. Another good resource is DogFriendlyHotels, which provides a “Dog Friendly City List”. The site also has an interactive booking interface for both hotels and car rentals within the United States. The TripsWithPets site offers a similar interface for the United States and Canada.
- There may be restrictions regarding numbers of dogs who can stay in a hotel room or rental. The size of the dog(s) allowed may also be restricted.
- You may be required to pay a separate “pet deposit”, as insurance against any pet-related damage which might occur during your stay. It also covers any non-standard cleanup.
Dog-Friendly Activities
Doggy Paddle Champion
Make the vacation fun and accessible for your pet. As pack animals, dogs will not be happy staying by themselves in an unfamiliar environment for hours on end. Try to minimize the time your dog has to stay alone, and integrate them into as many activities as possible.
- The more outdoor activities you plan, the more likely that you will be able to include your dog. Check on the Internet or call ahead to make sure the places you’re planning to spend the most time are pet-friendly. DogPlay has assembled an impressive list of links for both dog-friendly lodgings and activities. Their list includes beaches, camping venues, hiking, skiing, and even snowshoeing!
Dexter was happy to find a café that caters to dogs.
- Some restaurants are starting to cater to pet lovers. Restaurants with patio areas may extend their welcome to dogs, so you can dine out with your canine companion. DogFriendly issues an annual guide to thousands of restaurants across North America where you can take your dog to dinner. There’s even a list of restaurants that will literally cater to your pooch by providing them with water, food, and snacks. BringFido provides similar resources for restaurants in cities worldwide.
- The GoPetFriendly Road Trip Planner helps you find dog parks, grooming services, hotels, vets, campgrounds, restaurants, and activities all along your planned route. (The Road Trip Planner covers the continental U.S. and Canada.) It even gives you driving directions!
Proper Treatment
Make sure fellow travelers know exactly how you want your pet treated, as well as what you consider off-limits. For example: You might not want your dog given junk food or table scraps. Be sure everyone in your party is aware of that rule. You may even want to go over the basics of how your pet should be handled. Not everyone has the same ideas about the acceptable treatment of pets.
On the Tail-Wagging Trail to a Dog-Friendly Vacation
Vacationing with your dog is easier and more satisfying than ever, thanks to an increasingly pet-friendly world. With the ever-expanding, easily-accessible resources of the Internet, you can discover accommodations and activities both you and your best friend will thoroughly enjoy.
Dexter Dreams of Driving His Cur-vette on Vacation
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