With the summer months now here, many dog owners will be thinking about heading off on a road trip with their favourite non-human member of the family in tow.
Taking your dog on a trip can be a great experience, you won’t have to miss each other while you’re apart and you can enjoy exploring the new sights and sounds together.
Leaving your dog at home can be a huge wrench for both parents and children, and can put a real dampener on a week or two away. Thankfully there are lots of places which cater for dogs as well, allowing the whole family to enjoy a holiday together.
But arriving at the destination is the first challenge to overcome, as travelling in a car with a dog can be dangerous for both you and them if you don’t plan ahead. Here are a few ideas of how to make the journey safe and less stressful for all concerned.
Make a space for your dog
Even the best-behaved pooch can find himself over-stimulated when faced with a car journey. The sensation of movement, strange noises, smells and sounds as well as being in an unfamiliar place can all contribute to your dog getting excited or even anxious.
You may have taken your dog on short journeys before and had no problems at all, but a much longer journey may be a different matter.
Providing your dog with their own space to relax in for the whole trip is far preferable than allowing them to roam around the car. Research has suggested that a 60 lb dog travelling at a speed of just 35mph will metamorphose into a 2700 lb missile if they aren’t strapped in and there’s an accident. This could be a real tragedy for both you and your dog, causing serious injuries or even death.
If you have a hatchback, the boot is a great place to section off a space for your dog. They will need enough room to stretch out, to turn around, and change position so make sure you don’t cramp them into a tiny corner.
Make sure your dog is comfortable in the car
Keep them away from the window
Most people have seen dogs apparently having a whale of a time, leaning their hands out of the window and allowing the cool air to ruffle through their fur.
Whilst this might look like fun, this can be incredibly dangerous for the dog.
If they stick their head too far out of the window, they can easily become injured by another car that drives too close, or obstacles in your path. Even if they manage to avoid colliding with any other passing hazards, your dog could still end up with grit, dirt, or foreign bodies in his eye.
Allowing them to put their head out of the window simply isn’t worth the harm it can cause, even though it may look quite cute.
Don’t leave your dog in a hot car
You may only intend to nip out for a few minutes, but it doesn’t take long for the temperature in a car to rise dangerously high. You may have heard this said many times before, but the message can’t be repeated often enough:
Dogs die in hot cars.
Be careful that your dog doesn’t overheat in the car.
Leaving a sunroof open or the windows cracked doesn’t provide sufficient shade, or ventilation to stop your dog from being boiled alive in a hot car.
Leaving your dog in a hot car is cruel and uncomfortable, and at worst could mean your dog could die in a surprisingly short space of time. Plan ahead to carry out any small tasks so that you don’t have to leave your pet unattended.
Never, ever leave your dog alone in a hot car.
Plan comfort breaks
If you are driving a considerable distance you may prefer to keep going in order to arrive as soon as possible but this could be uncomfortable for your pet.
Make allowances for a break every couple of hours, providing your dog with the opportunity to get out of the car and stretch their legs, relieve themselves, and have a drink.
You can get collapsible drinking bowls which are perfect for use on long journeys. Carrying a bottle of water and a travel bowl means you don’t have to worry about finding a drink for your dog when you take a break.
Relieve boredom
Long journeys can quickly become tiresome for your dog who will have no idea what is happening or how long it is likely to last.
Providing their favourite toys and a treat or two is a good idea, but buying them something new to help alleviate boredom during the journey could make a huge difference. A new and interesting chew or toy will provide them with something to do to pass the time, and means you are less likely to have to worry about a restless pooch in the back of the car.
Conclusion
Taking the dog away with the family can seem like a great idea, but it’s important to travel safely so that you don’t all arrive hot, harassed, and short on patience. The above tips should help to ensure the safety of your dog whilst travelling, and will guarantee that you can all relax and enjoy yourself wherever you plan ongoing. The alternative of course is always to find a trusted local dog boarder via tailster.com.
Image Credits: Katie@ and Stiller Beobachter