While every dog owner dreams of endless road trips with Fido, the reality doesn't always match the movies. It's not as simple as putting your dog in the car and driving off into the sunset, and you don't have the security of a backyard fence installation to keep them safe.
However, you can take a few essential steps to ensure your dog's safety while traveling. We've compiled our top safety tips for traveling with dogs to help you enjoy a stress-free vacation.
Table of Contents
Dog Travel Tips
1. Understand Your Dog's Temperament
The most important thing is for any owner to be realistic about their dog's temperament. How confident are you that your pet can cope with travel and, more importantly, will behave? If the answer to those questions is no, it doesn't mean you are housebound; it just means you have a little more work to do.
2. Start with Training
Not surprisingly, training your dog to travel should be at the top of your list. They should be comfortable on all your trips, including those longer ones.
You decide how your dog travels, whether you put them in a crate in the back of the car or attach a harness. Either way, your dog needs to be safely restrained at all times. Introduce this slowly. If they are already crate-trained at home, it's slightly easier to transfer this to a car.
3. Crate Training a Dog for Travel
Set up the crate at home and allow your dog to explore it. Let them sniff and go in if they choose. Dogs are more likely to repeat a behavior when something good happens, so we need to teach our dogs that good things happen in the crate.
Once they are comfortable in and around the crate at home, transfer it to your car and repeat the process. Once it's in the car, let them explore, sniff, and throw treats inside. If you need a more extended distraction, you can give them a chew toy.
4. Start with Short Journeys
Once they are confident in the crate in the car, start with slow journeys (five to ten minutes at most). When you return home, praise and reward them. Your dog will learn to associate the destination as the "good thing!" Slowly increase the journey length: 15-20 minutes, 30 minutes, etc.
If your dog shows any signs of distress, stop the car when it is safe, let them out, and go for a short walk to calm them down. Return to the car when you are sure your dog is ready.
A similar approach applies if you are attaching your dog to a harness. You need them to get used to the harness and associate it with good things. So again, attach the harness at home and praise and reward your dog while wearing it. Once they have accepted the harness, move to the car.
5. Use a Harness in the Car
Attach your dog to the harness in the car, praise and reward them. Leave them attached for a minute or so, then release. Slowly build up the time spent in the harness in the car: one minute, two minutes, three minutes, and so forth.
Once you are sure they are confident in the harness, start with short journeys as above. Slowly increase the journey length. Again, if your dog shows any signs of distress, stop the car when it is safe, remove them from the vehicle, and take them for a short walk. Return to the journey when your dog is calm.
You should only take your pet on journeys when you are confident they can travel comfortably. As a driver, your eyes should be firmly on the road, and your attention should be there as well.
You don't need to worry that your dog is getting stressed or trying to gnaw their way out of the crate or harness! To find a good harness for your dog, check online product reviews.
6. Training Basic Commands
Before you set off on any trip, it would also be wise to train the basic commands: sit, stop, and leave.
- "Sit" will keep your dog out of trouble in restaurants.
- "Stop" could help save his life around busy roads or parking lots.
- "Leave" could be that saving grace that keeps you from spending the night in the ER.
See also: Husky Trekking with Spruce Island Husky
Before you train any command, they need to respond to their name and have good recall. To teach your dog their name, increase your pitch every time you say it. Your dog should pay attention to the change in tone and look at you. Praise them and give a treat (repeat regularly).
Recall
Here is where you need high-value or particularly stinky treats. Now that your dog knows their name, increase the pitch of your voice and shout your dog's name + "Come!"
With some high-value treats in hand, they should come straight to you, be praised, and be rewarded.
If they aren't food-oriented, use a ball or toy they love. Use the same principle. You need to be more exciting than anything else!
Keep commands simple. One or two words are more likely to give you the result you are looking for.
Sit
Sit with your dog in front of you and hold a treat by their nose. Move the treat backward so they have to tilt their head to follow it. Their bottom should instinctively fall to the ground.
As soon as they sit, label the behavior and give them the treat. Repeat several times, labeling the behavior as it's done.
Stop
Stop with your dog off leash in a secure area, and call them to you. As they run towards you, throw treats behind them. They will stop to eat them. As they stop, label the behavior. Repeat.
Moving forward, they should stop and look for treats as soon as you say the word!
Leave
This one often confuses people, but stick with us; it works. Hold a treat in a closed hand. Hold it by your dog's nose. They will likely try to get at it, but don't let them.
Give the treat as soon as your pet moves their nose or head away. Repeat. Your pet is learning that ignoring the treat eventually gets it anyway. Label the behavior as you repeat, "Leave!"
If you struggle to train any of these commands, keep your dog on a leash whenever traveling.
7. Keep on Leash in New Places
There will be plenty of new scents and things to explore in any new place. It's not worth the risk unless you are confident in your dog's ability to listen to you and perform these commands. Otherwise, your dog could become a nuisance to others or, worse, get into danger.
Summary
When planning a trip, consider your route and plot out toilet stops. Your dog will need to go potty and have a drink of water. Remember your poo bags, too. Look for truck stops with open spaces so you can take them for a walk to stretch those legs!
Keep your dog under control at all times and be mindful of what's around you as you are letting them out of the car; are they likely to see something and run after it?
There may be a little more to think about before you take your dog on that road trip, but keeping them safe will make your vacation a lot less stressful. Putting the work in before you head out will be worth it for all of you.
