Pampered Dog Blog

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.

Short car rides can be much easier to deal with than long trips.  Acclamate your dog by regularly taking him to a nearby dog park, a pet store, or any place where pets are welcome.  Make doggy playdates with friends that have dogs.  Having a destination that your dog can look forward to will make it much easier on your dog.  Remember to always keep water on hand.  You can find collapsible travel bowls at most pet supply stores.

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.

Plan ahead for long trips.  Make sure your dog has been seen by a veterinarian before you go.  Have copies of his up-to-date vaccinations and check-up with you.  If you know he’s healthy before you leave, the chances that he’ll get sick on the trip will be slimmer.  And, interrupting your trip in order to find a veterinarian in a strange city is no fun.  Always keep identification and rabies tags on your dog on a strong collar.  If for any reason you get separated, these are essential for people to contact you.  A micro chip implant is also a great idea.

Flying with your dog can be much more challenging.  Know all your airline’s regulations for animal travel.  Most airlines require that your dog travel as luggage in a travel crate either approved by them or provided by them.  Some airlines also require that your dog be sedated during the flight.  Finally, an “80-degree rule” is imposed by most airlines as well – if the temperature is expected to go higher than 80 degrees at any point of the trip, your dog cannot go.

Thoroughly research your destination too.  Make sure that you stay at hotels that welcome pets. Believe it or not, this is becoming a much more common trend.  Many campgrounds and state parks also welcome pets, as well as some recreation areas, but make sure you check with them first.  We love having our four-legged faithful friends with us, so be prepared to have your pet with you at all times on your trip!  If you wish to go out without him, find out if there are pet-sitting or boarding services at your hotel or nearby.  It’s a lot of fun to watch your dog experience the world – just be prepared, and all will go smoothly!

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.