Spring vacation is almost upon us. Summertime is only months away. You’re planning a trip—possibly with your family, or going to see your family, or on your own. You’re wondering whether or not to take your dog.
If you’ve never taken your dog on a trip, you have a lot to think about. First and foremost, will bringing your dog make the trip better—or worse—for you? And how will the experience be for your dog?
Let’s assume you’re considering a driving trip. Traveling by train, plane, or bus is a whole different subject and, frankly, if you haven’t taken your dog on a car trip first, alternate transportation might not be a good choice for your or your dog’s comfort!
Do I have safe containment for my dog in my vehicle?
Dogs cannot ride loose in vehicles. Yes, I know, many—maybe even most—do ride loose, but honestly, that’s just wrong. Every day I see dogs sitting in the front passenger seats of cars, happily sticking their heads out of windows. What’s wrong with that? Most vehicles have front-seat airbags on both the driver and passenger sides. Should you have to brake suddenly, even in a non-accident situation, those airbags can activate. An inflated airbag can seriously injure or even kill your dog.
Heads out of windows is also, believe it or not, extremely dangerous. Without some sort of restraint system, nothing is keeping your dog from flying right out that window! Could it happen? Yes. Dogs can also sustain blinding injuries to their eyes from the impact of something coming at them at high speed. If you wouldn’t let your unsecured toddler stick his head and shoulders out of your vehicle’s windows, you’d be equally foolish to allow your dog (of any size) to do the same.
Seat belts, attached to harnesses on the dogs, are mandatory for dogs who ride uncontained in vehicles. Unless you have disconnected your passenger-side airbag(s), dogs should ride in back seats only. Keep in mind that seat belts secure the dog in one place in your vehicle, but they do not protect the dog in any way from injury in a collision. Seat belts may not even keep your dog inside the vehicle if the case of a serious impact. Seat belts are simply not the best protection for a dog in a car.
Crates—airline shipping kennels—are much safer. However, recent tests by consumer organizations have shown that even airline shipping kennels can be damaged enough in a serious accident that they fold in, pop apart, or get mangled in some way that can cause the dogs inside them to be injured or killed. To get the best and safest containment for your dog, look into the newest in travel kennels—heavy-duty metal, reinforced, and very expensive (for good reason). Most of us simply can’t afford to spend what it takes to buy one of these new super-safe travel kennels . . . but we can save up! Crates that are not airline-shipping–approved are also probably not safe for transporting pets in vehicles at all, so keep the cute colorful carriers and wire-mesh fold-down kennels for home use only, please.
Barriers that secure your dog in the back of your vehicle—whether the barrier is metal or fabric—can be good for preventing your dog from jumping into the front seat or bothering you while you’re driving. Barriers do not protect your dog from injury in case of an accident. Remember, too, that many states (including mine) have specific laws about allowing dogs to ride unsecured in the back of open pick-up trucks. Safe tie-out procedures are mandatory; check local laws for what those are.
Do I know how to keep my dog healthy while we’re traveling?
As you prepare for your trip, ask your veterinarian what health issues your dog might encounter at your destination. Should you decide to take your pet, plan ahead: get and pack preventatives (for example, if you’re going to a flea-infested area, anti-flea treatments). Find out what, if any, treatment might be required on your return from your trip (a heart-worm evaluation if you travel where heart worm is prevalent); make an appointment before you go.
From your veterinarian, get references to veterinary clinics in the areas where you and your dog will be traveling. Get a copy of your dog’s health records—especially vaccinations—and medications your dog takes or has taken. Keep your own veterinarian’s contact information handy.
Pack your dog’s grooming and bathing equipment. Include lots of “dog towels” and paper towels, plastic bags (both for doggy eliminations and for storing dirty bedding and towels until you get home), and clean-up equipment for possible doggy accidents, messes, and spills.
Attach a plastic container to your dog’s crate with all of the dog’s and your pertinent information. Tubes designed for this purpose can be found online, but you can certainly make your own. Include contact numbers for friends and family at home, and don’t forget contact information for where you’re visiting, too. This information could result in your dog’s being safe and cared for even if you yourself are in an accident that leaves you unable to communicate with first responders.
Add mobile phone numbers for yourself, for a designated contact (friend or relative) at home, and, if possible, for nearby friends or relatives in the area where you’re staying. These contact numbers can also be attached to your dog’s collar while you’re traveling, in case you are separated for any reason . Make it easy for rescuers to contact you!
Will I have enough time to give my dog attention and exercise?
How much driving do you plan? Will it be a very long trip in a very short time? Will you be able to make regular stops for the dog, not just to allow him to potty, but also to give him time to walk around, stretch his legs, chase a ball, take a walk? Are you open to taking detours from your direct route to search out dog-friendly parks, scenic areas, and other locations where your dog can be a dog?
Where will my dog stay when I go places that dogs can’t go?
Do you plan to stay with friends or relatives? Ask if anyone in the household or also visiting has allergies. Will there be other pets, of any kind, in the house or visiting? How are those pets with unknown dogs? How about the children—do they know how to treat dogs kindly? Is there a fenced yard that’s escape-proof? If there’s not a fenced yard, is the neighborhood dog-walking friendly?
Do you plan to stay in a hotel, motel, or rented condo? Is a place available that accepts dogs? Is there an extra charge? Are there facilities on site or within easy walking distance where your dog can eliminate, exercise, walk with you safely? Surprisingly, travel with dogs is becoming so common that many hotels and motels do provide exercise areas for dogs now (not just for mere pottying!). I recently read about a chain motel that has agility equipment set up for visiting dogs; many have fenced-in dog areas. These amenities are free to motel customers.
Do not plan to leave your dog in your hotel room unless you crate him . . . and unless you are positive, from past experience, that he will not bark or otherwise disturb other customers. You may be asked to leave if your dog is disruptive. Never leave your dog uncrated in your hotel room. Not only are you responsible for any damage, but you can’t receive maid service if a dog is loose in your room.
Do not plan to leave your dog in your car when you are not around. This is especially true in hot weather, of course, but it holds true for extremely cold weather as well. You run the risk of having your car broken into, either by someone wanting to save your dog from the elements, or by someone wanting to steal your dog for themselves, to sell on Craigslist, or . . . well, even worse. Given appropriate weather and adequate ventilation, your dog may stay in a kennel in your car, but only if you park where you can see the dog (from a window-side restaurant table, for instance). Even then, keep a close eye on your vehicle, please.
Will my dog enjoy the experience of traveling with me?
That depends! Does your dog enjoy short car rides, or does he become anxious? Does he vomit in the vehicle every time he rides? Does he bark endlessly, scratch at the seats, attempt to escape his restraints? Is your dog unsocialized? Inexperienced? Does he get nervous in unfamiliar situations, around unfamiliar people? Is your dog particularly high-strung? Is he shut down?
Does your dog have physical ailments that would make him uncomfortable on a long trip? Does he refuse to potty anywhere but in his own yard or on his own potty pads? Is your dog a puppy with an incomplete shot series? Is your dog a female who might come into season? Is your dog elderly or unwell? Does your dog have allergies that might bother him where you’re going?
You don’t know for sure that your dog will enjoy the travel experience until you’ve tried it. Experiment first with a very short trip—there and back in one day, or perhaps overnight to a destination that’s reasonably predictable (visiting family a few hours away, perhaps). Consult your veterinarian about medications that might ease your dog’s anxiety or physical distress from car rides, and try that prescription on a very limited basis to see how it works for your dog. Don’t wait until the “big trip” with the family to find out that the meds make it worse!
What if I’m sure that my dog won’t enjoy the trip?
Plenty of good alternatives exist to taking a dog on a car trip. The dog could stay at your home with family members, friends, or neighbors looking in and spending time with him during the day, making sure he is adequately exercised, pottied, and fed. You could find someone willing to stay overnight. You could hire an experienced live-in pet sitter to stay at your home while you’re away.
Or the dog could visit family, friends, or neighbors while you’re gone, staying at their home. You have to plan ahead for this choice, of course, to give your dog a positive and pleasant introduction to the new surroundings and caregivers. The same is true of boarding your dog with experienced pet-sitters or even at excellent boarding kennels. In those cases, you must be willing to allow your dog to experience at least an overnight stay, to see how he does. You may need to shop around to find a place to leave him where both you and your dog are comfortable. It’s well worth it!
Try out whatever you decide well ahead of your trip, and be willing to adjust your plans based on the outcome of those visits. Don’t discount your gut feelings. If you “just don’t feel comfortable” with the particular boarding kennel or other situation, cross that option off your list and keep looking. Don’t forget that the best places you pay to care for your dog are also the most popular. Plan ahead—far ahead, if you’re traveling during popular vacation dates like spring break or the winter holidays. Make reservations as early as possible to assure you can leave your pet with the caretakers you’ve selected.
Do everything you can to make the best choices for you and for your dog!
