Traveling with your dog

Summer is officially here! Are you planning a vacation with your dog?   Have you traveled with your pup before? Jack loves to travel with us and has been doing so since he was 4 months old when he took his first trip to Convict Lake near Mammoth where he got to play in the snow for the first time! Since then, he has been in 26 states via car and has flown once.  He is a great traveler.  He knows when we are in it for the long haul because of all of the packing so he lies down in his carseat and just relaxes until we get to our destination.  But we know that others aren’t so lucky so we thought we would give you a few tips on traveling with your pet….

No matter what type of travel that we do, Jack gets exercised first thing! No matter what time we are leaving, he gets a run to get some extra energy out, he goes potty and then he is ready to go so try to plan your trip with this in mind!  

1. It’s all about the treats!  Make sure you bring a bag of your pup’s favorite treats. Use every opportunity for training. At rest stops, in the hotel, airport,  even in the car! Mentally tiring your dog works just as well as physically training them!
2. Toys and/or Chew Sticks.  Many dogs always need something to do. I don’t know if I would advocate a squeaky toy as that may get old on an 8 hour car ride but I would bring a chew toy, bully stick, antler or even a stuffed kong. Anything to keep him busy while in the car and/ or hotel.
3.  Extra collar /leashes. You never know what is going to happen so we always bring an extra harness / leash just in case one breaks or he just needs a costume change!
4. Essential.  Make sure to bring collapsible dog bowls, poop bags, enough food for the entire trip (I always bring a little extra), bottled water and any medications, grooming supplies,  etc.
5. Calming herbs.  Many dogs just do not like the car or get anxious in new environments. There are many calming herbs that you can try.  Earth Heart has a few good ones & Rescue Remedy can be purchased in most health food stores or on Amazon and it works great. You can play with the dosage to see what works best for your dog.
6. Vet records.  Vaccination and rabies records are sometimes required.  You can scan them and keep a copy on your phone or just bring a hard copy with you.
7. Lost Dog.  Is your dog microchipped with up to date information?  Also, make sure your dog has his/her tags on at all times.  Also, have a current photo…. just in case!
8. Crate. Many people crate their dogs while traveling to keep them safe and then also in the hotel room. There are many different kinds of travel crates to choose from.
9. Dog Towel.  This is a NECESSITY in our travels because Jack always seems to be either wet or dirty and sometimes BOTH!! We wipe him off before getting in the car and of course the hotel room!

Via Car: 

1. Does your pup have a favorite bed you can bring for the backseat?  We bring Jack a pillow to lay on or we have his car seat so that he is comfortable.  Then you can also take it into the hotel so that they have their own bed to lay on. If your dog likes to sit in the front seat, make sure the airbags are turned off.
2. Speaking of seats…make sure your dog is buckled in at all times. There are many seat belt harnesses on the market.
3. Frequent potty stops. Lucky for Jack, mommy has to stop at least every 2 hours so he gets lots of breaks.  We get out and walk around and potty even if it is just in the gas station parking lot (there is ALWAYS grass somewhere nearby)!

Via Plane:

1. Check with the airline to see what the size restriction is for the dog.  Make sure your dog can move in the crate that he/she will be traveling in.  They have to be able to get up and turn around.
2. What is the cost of the dog travel and what are the rules? Every airline is different so make sure to reserve a spot.  Most airlines only allow a certain number of dogs so you don’t want to just show up and then be turned away.
3. If your pet is traveling as cargo, make sure that they are not going to be sitting on the plane in the heat of the summer and MARK THE CRATE EVERYWHERE with your contact information.
4. Ask when arriving at the airport if there is a potty area in the airport for you pup and let him/her go once more before boarding the plane.  Many airports have them now.

Hotels: 

1. Is there an extra charge for the dog?  Make sure you ask because we have found it anywhere from $10 – $200. and that could be a deal breaker
2. Are there size / breed restrictions at the hotel?
3. I would not recommend leaving your dog unattended in a strange hotel room. Even the best dogs may destroy something.  If you HAVE to leave the dog, that is what the travel crate and chew sticks are for!
4. Most hotels do not like the dogs being on the bed, another reason why we bring Jack’s bed with us.  Somewhere familiar for him to sleep on.  Some hotels have “pet packages” complete with a dog bed, bowl and towel!
5. We recommend getting a first floor room in case you have to make multiple potty trips. Even better is a room that does not have a lot of traffic or noise in case your dog feels the need to be on guard all night.

Rental Cars:

If you need to get a rental car, make sure you ask them if they allow pets.  They may charge more and/ or not allow them at all.

There are a lot of cool travel with your pet sites that will make your vacation run smoother. A few of our favorites are Furlocity and GoPetFriendly.    Both of those sites will help you find accommodations and everything that you need for your travel adventure!

Share below in the comments where your FAVORITE place to travel with your pet is.  Jack has been to 26 states and we now have a RV and are looking to hit a few more so we would LOVE to hear from you! He is buckled into his car seat in the RV ready to go! You can read about some of our adventures HERE and get some ideas for your next vacation!