| Nothing is quite as fun as packing up and heading out | | | | soon associated riding in the car with something she |
| of town for a weekend or a longer trip. A change of | | | | enjoyed instead of something unpleasant. Buffy's |
| scenery from time to time is important to recharge | | | | nausea when riding in the car was soon replaced with |
| your battery. This is true for your dog as well. Most | | | | excitement. |
| dogs love to travel and to be exposed to new | | | | TIP FOUR |
| places just like you do. But there are a few things | | | | Keep a clean water supply with you as you travel |
| that you need to do to make the trip a positive | | | | with your pet. You can keep a couple of bottles of |
| experience for everyone. | | | | water with you just for this. There are pop up bowls |
| TIP ONE | | | | that you can use as a drink container for your pet |
| Make sure that you take with you items that your | | | | when you are on the road. |
| dog is fond of on the trip. Being ripped away from | | | | TIP FIVE |
| their routine and surroundings can be traumatic for | | | | Make frequent stops during the drive - at least once |
| your dog. If your pet has a favorite toy or blanket, | | | | per hour to hour and a half. Dogs can get car sick |
| be sure to take it along with you in the car. For more | | | | just like humans and if you dog gets nervous out of |
| comforts of home, you can also bring their food and | | | | his routine, he may need more potty breaks than |
| water dishes from home to use when you arrive at | | | | normal. From my experience, my dogs have been so |
| your destination. Also pack a good supply of paper | | | | excited to travel, that they wanted to get out of |
| towels and blankets for cleaning up dog hair, dirty | | | | the car and explore often. |
| paws and the like. | | | | TIP SIX |
| TIP TWO | | | | One of the most important things to do when |
| Keep small plastic baggies of food and treats with | | | | traveling with a dog is to make sure they have |
| you as you travel with your dog. The main supply of | | | | identification on them. The identification should clearly |
| their food for vacation can be kept in the main | | | | state their name, your name, address and phone |
| luggage. Even if you do not think that your dog will | | | | number. This will be a lifesaver if you should become |
| need to eat while traveling because it will be a short | | | | separated from your pet. This happened to a friend |
| amount of time before you reach your destination, | | | | of mine who was traveling from Florida to Texas in a |
| you still need to have some food on hand in case | | | | convertible with a friend and her Golden Retriever, |
| something happens and your are detained longer on | | | | Goldie. At some point while driving down the freeway |
| the road then planned. Keep these baggies of food in | | | | Goldie fell out of the convertible onto the road. It |
| a couple of different bags that are being carried on | | | | was a miracle that she was reunited with Goldie |
| the trip. This will help you from misplacing the dog | | | | about five hours later when she received a call on |
| food when you really need it. | | | | her mobile phone from the person who found Goldie |
| TIP THREE | | | | limping along the highway. If my friend had not had a |
| If your dog does not currently travel often, keep in | | | | current identification tag on Goldie, she would have |
| mind that it could be a traumatic experience him to | | | | lost her best friend forever. |
| travel with you. To lessen this possibility, take some | | | | Traveling with your dog can be a fun experience for |
| time well before your trip to take your dog in the car | | | | you both. Once you have taken one trip with your |
| for short trips to acclimate him to the experience. My | | | | dog, hopefully you will want to take him on every |
| poodle Buffy, who wasn't accustomed to riding in the | | | | trip. Your dog will love exploring new places and |
| car except to the vet, without fail would throw up | | | | spending time with you. By following the tips above |
| as soon as she rode in the car. That is until I began | | | | you can make sure that your trip with your dog is |
| taking her with me to the park when I walked. She | | | | fun and free for you both. |