With summer vacation around the corner everyone has travel on his or her minds. Any trip I make with my dog is always my best trip. Dogs force you stop at rest areas, take a stretch and remind you to drink more water; things we should do but often we just keep driving. By the time we do stop we are too dehydrated or so stiff its difficult to get comfortably stretched out and walking normal again. What I would like to discuss this month though are the other considerations to take into account when traveling with your dog in the car.
First and foremost in my book is safety while traveling. Cars are equipped with seat belts, air bags, bars in doors and other features to keep humans safe in case of an accident. There is nothing in your car to keep your dog safe, so it is up to you to provide protection in the event of an accident. After doing a bit of research and talking to people who had been in accidents when a dog was in the car with them I am convinced the safest way to travel with a dog in a car is in a well constructed kennel cage or crate as they are often referred to. The biggest problem I found with the cages in crashes or where the car was rolled over is they generally fall apart with one of two outcomes for the dog; either the dog is crushed in the wire cage or the cage breaks apart on the impact. If the dog survives the impact of the crash and the cage breaks apart this creates a situation where a disoriented dog is now loose at the scene of an accident. Emergency responders may or may not notice the dog if the dog decides to stay around and either your dog is now lost or worse yet may end up getting hit when it attempts to cross the road you were traveling on.
After hearing so many horror stories of such things happening I was intrigued when I heard about a crate that was designed to withstand impact from crashes and was molded of all one piece of high industrial plastic so it would not fall apart when tossed around such as in an accident. After looking at their product I decided that I wanted to outfit my vehicles with these industrial marvels from Rough Tough. Over the 45 years I have trained and bred dog I can honestly say I have at one time or another owned one of every brand of dog cage made. But I can say with out reservation the Rough Tough kennels are by far the best I have ever come across; not to mention I now have the peace of mind when traveling knowing that my dog is as safe as I can make it for him.
The next step on the list to prepare is packing your dog’s own bag. Here are a few of the things I have on my checklist.
Food, water, and treats
In this group I include enough food for all the meals and then add 2 days extra. I have a good supply of training treats, biscuits and some type of chew. My dog’s love the Yak Milk chews which last a long time so they are especially good for trips. One of these will go in the cage while we are driving down the road. I also include a Kong and Kong Stuffing as a bit of variety from the chews. Heartworm pills and flea medication is taken if we will be gone during the time when that should be given. Don’t forget water and food bowls either. My dogs have a separate water cooler too so they are drinking the water from home while traveling.
Bedding
My Chihuahua Boo would not let me leave home without his blanket even though it might be summer but especially if we are going to cold weather areas. Something soft to lie on in the crate is usually appreciated and I always take 2 terry towels for drying wet dogs in case of rain or an afternoon swim. Also include a large sheet to cover the bed where you will be staying if your dog is one that likes to sleep with you. People including the hotel staff appreciate keeping the covers clean from the dogs.
This old girl has her mattress, blanket and is all set for camping out .
Extras
A Canine first aid kit goes on every trip I make as well. Cut paws, scraps and even emergency first aid for bee stings make it a must. I also like to pack doggy boots. I will use these more in the winter than in the summer but some times hot pavement can not be avoided and your dog will thank you for having the extra protection. Just be sure to teach your dog how to walk in them first. Speaking of protection I like to be sure to have a nice natural oil spray to put on the dogs to keep bugs away. Of course you cannot convince a Chihuahua not to lie in the sun, they never seem to be able to get warm enough. So for dogs like Boo who can get sunburned I will also have a spray on sun protection. If we are going to the beach or will be boating the doggy life jackets get packed too. Little guys have trouble with rough waters so life vests are a must, but I have them for the big guys too if needed.
I always make sure I have a variety of leashes and collars packed for every trip, in case one breaks. I really love the collars that light up in the dark for nighttime walks and have one in the bag for that occasion. Remember to put a healthy supply of pick up bags in with your things. All that done its time to load up and head down the road. Safe travels everyone, let me hear about your adventures and please feel free to add comments on your favorite things to pack for your dog(s) as you travel.
the collars that light up in the dark for nighttime walks and have one in the bag for that occasion. Remember to put a healthy supply of pick up bags in with your things. All that done its time to load up and head down the road. Safe travels everyone, let me hear about your adventures and please feel free to add comments on your favorite things to pack for your dog(s) as you travel.
Chilbrook Labradors 