Traveling Safely With Your Dog
There are many reasons why you may be needing to travel with your dog including family vacations, business trips, extended family emergencies and of course moving the family to a new home.
If traveling by car there are many planning items to attend to before the big travel day including how you will restrain your dog. Your dog should be restrained for many reason including driver and passenger safety, and the safety of your dog. During an accident all passengers including dogs should be restrained to minimize the risk of injury. A restrained dog is not likely to run out into traffic as soon as the car door is opened. You can restrain a dog by using an appropriately sized dog crate, or by using a professionally designed or commercial dog safety harness that hooks to the car’s seatbelt. If you should object to restraining your dog, consider installing a divider (metal or mesh) available to fit all budgets. This way your dog won’t be able to reach the driver and interfere with safe driving.
When you plan out your vacation dont forget to ask about pet accommodations at hotels, and entertainment places that you plan on stopping at. Many campgrounds allow pets but have rules that must be followed while the pet is on their premises. Be sure to ask for these rules before starting out on your trip so that you can be well prepared to follow them. Make sure that you plan to bring all of your dogs medical needs such as medications, special food, flea protection, and any pet first aid supplies that you have. Make sure that you have your local vets name and contact information with you because if a pet emergency should arise a vet will want to be able to contact your dogs regular vet if necessary. Have any special papers such as shot record, and special health conditions with you just in case they are needed. Tell your vet about your travel plans in case your pet may be in need of special parasite precautionary medication. Your vet is also a great source for tips on traveling with your dog.
Ask your vet specifically about any necessary certificates for interstate travel prior to your departure date. It is also a good idea if you have not already done so to ask your vet about getting your dog microchipped before traveling so that if the unthinkable should happen and your dog is separated from you, the microchip will increase your odds of getting your dog back.
Just as you pack toys for traveling for adults and any kids in the family, you will want to pack toys to amuse your dog while traveling too.
Plan in advance for extended family emergencies. These tend to happen without warning a favorite aunt becomes seriously ill or your dad is having heart surgery and you want to just pick up and leave but you want to take your dog with you. If you plan in advance you can have a travel bag packed and ready in case this should happen that would contain a copy of the dogs medical record, shot record, and favorite food & toys along with an extra collar and leash.
Business trips are much like planning for a family vacation except usually not as much fun for you. Many hotels have pet services that care for your dog while you are in meetings or at least can accommodate your dog in your room or a special place while you are attending to business.
The main factor in being able to safely travel with a dog on any occasion is to plan ahead to meet the needs of your dog and to ensure the safety of the dog and all those who will be traveling with the dog.
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