Tips for traveling with your dog (no matter their age)
Finally! Summertime! And for a lot of us, that means school’s out and it’s time to get away for awhile 🙂 While some of us let our pets stay at their own “doggie hotel”, more and more of us are opting to take our dogs with us when we vacation. There are more pet-friendly hotels and campgrounds out there, so let’s get going! Need help finding some? Try these apps. Here are some tips for traveling with your dog – from puppies to seniors.
Puppies
- Start getting them used to the car early.
- Socialize them as soon as they have had all their shots and can be in public/around other dogs
- Start with short day trips – puppies tire easily, so build them up 😉 Also, housebreaking is a factor, you don’t want a lot of accidents!
- Start obedience training for basic commands/socialization as soon as you can (since we come to you, Dog Training In Your Home will start training as early as 8 weeks old!)
- If you are going to start doing overnight trips, make sure they are used to a crate to be able to use in a hotel room so they don’t have accidents.
- Decide ahead of time what type of outing he’s mature enough to handle. For most puppies, this might mean 2-3 hours at a park, beach, etc. before they become overwhelmed or exhausted.
- Monitor the weather – extreme weather conditions are not ideal for a puppy (heat, cold, severe storms, etc.)
Almost Grown
- If you adopt/rescue/buy them after puppy (but before adult) stage, go ahead and start making car rides positive and get them used to being in the car.
- Training, training, training! Basic obedience at the least so they are mannered, under control, and safe. (Again – we can really help with this one! We love teaching dogs their basics!)
- Make sure housebreaking is reliable, and still give him plenty of breaks when he’s in an unfamiliar environment.
Fully Grown
- Keep them on the same diet. Changing their food because you forgot it can give them major stomach upset. Not fun for you or them.
- Keep your dog in mind when planning your activities. Does he like to walk or play in the water? Would he rather chase a ball in a field or people watch with you at an outdoor cafe? Plan some activities that cater to both of your interests.
Seniors
- Make sure they are in good health before taking them on any long trips.
- Keep their stamina level in mind – they won’t be as energetic as they were when they were puppies. But hey, neither are you! 😉
- Watch for signs of join pain/distress – especially if your dog has arthritis. Get your vet to give you some medication to help with pain before you leave, and take a orthopedic dog bed to help with the stiffness.
- Bathroom breaks. Just like us, they can’t hold it as long as they could when they were younger…so you make need more frequent bathroom stops. Just plan for that extra time if you’re on a schedule.
Good luck traveling if that’s in your plans, and let us know if we can help 🙂
Call today: 803-561-9090 FIRST VISIT FREE!
Any age, Any breed; Veterinarian Recommended
