You’re about to head off for a trip and decided to take your dog along with you. While most dogs love trips in the car, a long trip can be difficult on your dog. There are however, some things that you can do to ensure that your trip with your furry friend will be easy and fun.
The first thing to remember is that all dogs are going to be different when they travel. While some dogs look forward with quivering anticipation to a trip in the car, others cower in fear and are filled with apprehension when confronted with new places, new people and in some cases, new dogs. You can help alleviate this stress and make sure your trip is a successful one.
Proper car safety for dogs is very important. Just as you would use your seatbelt, or make sure that your small children are properly restrained in a car seat, your dog should be restrained too. Seatbelt halters are a great idea, especially if there is a car accident as they minimize injury. They also keep him from jumping around the car and distracting the driver. Though most dogs love to stick their heads out of the car window in order to smell the outside world, it’s really not a safe thing to let your dog do. Rocks or debris from the highway can be kicked up by cars in front of you and pose a danger to his head and eyes. If the window is open too much and your dog is not restrained, your dog could easily fall out as your making a sharp turn. Finally, never leave your dog alone in a hot car for any amount of time. Dogs can easily suffer heat stroke or death.
One thing to remember, even though you might be able to go several hours driving, it’s not a good idea to keep your dog cooped all that time. Make sure he will be comfortable during a car trip. Stop often, let him run, let him go to the bathroom and of course make sure he has plenty of clean, cold water as often as he needs it. If your dog has a favorite toy, blanket or bowl, don’t forget to have it on hand. This can help keep him calm while traveling. Make sure that you have plenty of food on hand as your dog will be hungry even though he is riding in the car.
While it may seem obvious, one of the first things you should do is plan well ahead of time. Doing this means there is less of a chance that things will go poorly. Make an appointment with your veterinarian and have all vaccinations and other shots that might be needed brought up to date. Let us face it, we like our vets for a reason – any opportunity to avoid a vet you do not know, especially in a strange city – and seeing a different vet is going to be stressful for your dog. Do not forget to ask your veterinarian for a full copy of all vaccinations as well as a health certificate. You can never be too safe, and having this will ensure that any questions are immediately answered. Be sure to put your dogs rabies tag on a sturdy collar that won’t easily come off – and do not forget to include his name, (your name) and a telephone number. You might not like to think about your dog getting lost, but sometimes you get separated from your four legged friend and you want to ensure that he will be able to find his way back to you.
Before you plan your airline trip, make sure you check with the carrier to see how they handle pet travel. First you will have to verify whether they require a special carrier and you will need to determine if they have any special requirements regarding sedation. Remember, most airlines do not allow your pets to travel as a ‘passenger’ but instead as ‘cargo’. Verify any weather related rules as well as most airlines require that the temperature be below 80 degrees during the entire flight.
It is not difficult to have fun traveling for vacation with your dog. For you this means a little pre-planning to find a pet friendly hotel, park and other recreation areas that will allow your dog on the grounds. You should also look into pet sitters and other facilities in the event you need to leave your dog for any period of time. Your dog is part of your family – have fun making him part of your family vacation.
Owning a hunting dog is a huge responsibility that shouldn’t be taken lightly. Making sure you are properly prepared for travel is very important, but so is the training equipment that you have. There are certain things you should consider buying when you have a hunting dog, some of the possibilities are dog tracker units, Innotek IUT-302, or Innotek ADV-1000P.