Did it ever happen to you to be on your way out and see your furry friend giving you that sad look? Even if you want to take your dog wherever you go all the time, sometimes you just cannot do it. However, when it comes to a road trip there is no one else to tell you that you cannot bring your furry friend with you. Traveling with your dog is surely one of the most amazing experiences because we all know that dogs are man’s best friends. They can make you laugh with their silly playing no matter how bad your mood is. Yet, you have to be aware that taking your dog to a road trip means a lot of responsibility for you in order to take care of the dog properly so that nothing bad happens to any of you.
Before you decide to take your dog with you for a long road trip you have to make sure that this is a good idea. He or she might be a well-behaved dog but the noises around and the moving car is not a comfortable environment for any dog. So, before you get going on the road, take your furry friend for smaller trips to see how he or she behaves.
When traveling with your dog you need to consider his or her documents as well, especially if you are traveling somewhere abroad. First of all, you need to take your dog to the vet and take all the necessary vaccines that he or she might need, and make sure your dog is microchipped as a safety measure in case he or she gets lost. Moreover, those two are regulations that you need to respect in most of the countries. Secondly, you might need documents that prove that you are the owner of the dog and a passport for your furry friend to be able to cross the border with you.
Once on the road, you and your dog both have to eat from times to times and stay hydrated. Get plenty of dog food and water bottles to ensure your dog’s well-being. Moreover, you should also have with you treats for rewarding your bog for being a good boy/girl, toys to keep him or her busy while you are driving, and a blanket of bed for when your furry friend decides to take a nap.
During your road trip, there will surely be moments when you need to stop to buy some more things or to find a restroom. While you do that, your dog is going to wait for you patiently inside the car. However, you should make sure that you do not leave him or her there for too long because the high temperature of a dog’s body combined with the hot weather can seriously damage the health of your dog. Also, make sure that whenever you leave your furry friend in the car to wait for you, to leave an open window for some fresh air to come inside the car if you do not want people on the street to have to break the window to save your dog and you to have to got to get a car glass repair.
The happiest moment for your dog is going to be when you stop on the road to take him or her out for a walk. However, even if your dog is well-behaved, you are both in a new environment that you do not know and some distractions like noises or other people might scare him or her and you might have to run a lot to take your dog back inside the car. Which is why it is absolutely necessary for you to take your dog’s collar and leash for safety.
Thinking about the safety measures is the most important aspect of your road trip together with your furry friend. Essentials can be bought everywhere and that is why the well-being of your dog should be something that concerns you the most. When you are on the road you need a seatbelt in order to stay safe in case of an accident or when you have to slam on the breaks because you need to stop immediately. You need to consider that your furry friend also needs to be secured inside the car while you are driving and some situation like those above could happen. You surely do not want to see him or her flying forward. For securing your dog you can use a seat harness or a crate.
No matter how much you think you know your dog’s behavior and how much control you think you have when it comes to stopping him or her from doing something, letting your dog sit on your lap while you are driving is a horrible idea. There are many situations that could happen that will put both of you in danger. Your dog might get scared because of something or become nervous and try to bark at something on the window which is going to make it really difficult for you to see the road anymore.
You might be used to having such a long way without eating, drinking water or using the bathroom. However, your dog does not have the same patience as you might have. You need to make frequent stops and ensure him or her with all the essentials, short walks, and some entertainment because he or she might be really bored when you do not play with him or her for too long.
After you have finished packing for both of you, buckle up for an amazing adventure together with your fog, knowing that you have a loyal friend next to you that only wants to spend time with you no matter where you are.