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Are you planning on doing any traveling with your dog? If so, there are a few things that may help you have a safe and more pleasant trip. Mommy and I have been in 34 states together and we love going on little weekend excursions. It is really fun to explore all of the wonderful and beautiful places together!
There are some things that we have learned along the way and would like to share with you so you can have an enjoyable and safe trip with your pup:
1/ Make sure you have a seatbelt and travel harness for your dog. It is not safe to have your dog jumping around the car while traveling. We use the Kurgo one but you can research which one works for you! I also have a car seat so that I can look out the window and see all of the sights.
2/ Don’t forget to take any other dog gear that you may need? Life jacket? Booties for hiking or snow? Extra Leash? Extra harness? Travel bowl? Enough food & treats. Vacation is not a great time to change what you feed your dog.
3/ Know the weather where you are going. It is going to be hot? Is it going to be cold? If you are from a sunny warm place, your dog may not be used to the cold. You may want to invest in a sweater or warm jacket for Fido. Sometimes it gets cold at night and you want Fido to be comfortable! If it is going to be hot, plan your day so that the majority of your outings are when it is cooler, unless you will be around water!
4/ Take your dogs medical records. If you are traveling to Canada you will need them to get across the border. Even if you are not crossing the border, if something happens and you need medical attention on the trip, they are good to have. Also, don’t forget any meds that he/ she is on.
5/ Research where you are going. Are dogs allowed on the trails or lakes? Many State and National Parks do not allow dogs on the trails or beaches, only in the campgrounds and pavement. We by-pass those parks, they are no fun for us dogs!
6/ Are you staying in Hotels or Camping? Many hotels are dog friendly now but check before you go to make sure and see what extra fee they may charge and if there are any restrictions. Also, remember to think about dog friendly bed and breakfast places. We did a road trip to Oregon and stayed in them and it was really fun! Some even had little doggy gift baskets with blankets and treats for me!
7/ If camping, what are the reservation policies? Many state, national parks & forests use Recreation.gov or ReserveAmerica.com. On these websites, you can not reserve 2 days prior to your trip. For example if you are camping on Friday night, after Wednesday you will no longer be able to access the reservations or see which sites are available. They sometimes fill up quick, especially on the weekends!
8/ Are you camping in a tent? Has Fido stayed in the tent before? It never hurts to practice. If you can, set it up in your living room or back yard and have Fido get in it and make sure he/ she is familiar with it. I would also practice on short weekends before you set out on a cross country journey. Many dogs are freaked out by the sounds in the woods and it may take some practice! Have lots of treats available!
9/ Has your dog traveled on long trips before? You may want to practice taking Fido for longer car rides to make sure he/ she does well in the car before you set out on your extended journey. There is a difference between driving to the dog park and traveling 8 hours so make sure Fido is comfortable and happy for a more pleasant experience.
10/ If you are taking your dog, plan your trip accordingly. Many restaurants and stores will not allow dogs, even on their outside patio’s. Please don’t make a habit of leaving Fido alone while you are traveling. Many hotels do not allow the dog to stay alone in the room and it is not safe to leave them alone at camp. Plus, your dog wants to be with YOU!
My first road trip was at 4 months old. We went to Convict Lake, CA near Mammoth. We rented a cabin, went hiking and swimming. It was just the start of our travel adventures!
Mommy and I LOVE to travel but mommy plans our trips around ME! I go everywhere with her. One time in Durango, Colorado, we could not find any restaurants that would allow dogs so mommy was forced to eat ice cream for dinner at Cold Stone because they were the only restaurant with a patio that allowed dogs.
Moral of the story: sometimes you have to make sacrifices for your dog!
Let us know about your trip! We would love to hear about your travel experience with your pup! If you want to see some of ours, go to the Dog Road Trip link on our blog. We have been everywhere with more places to go so sign up for our blog to see the Adventures of Jack!
Thanks for reading, we hope these tips helped! Until next time…..
