Tips and Tricks for Traveling With Your Dog

Traveling as a family can be so much fun, it’s wonderful to include our dogs in our vacations. Here are some tips to make the trip enjoyable for everybody:

1. Take lots of breaks along the way. Dogs can’t necessarily tell us when they need to go to the bathroom or if they’re thirsty so it’s smart and considerate to take frequent stops. Dogs also need to stretch their legs and enjoy getting out of the vehicle for a good sniff around. If your dog is a puppy, a senior, or unaccustomed to long car rides, they may need to take more frequent stops.
2. Make sure your pup is buckled in or in a crate. Car safety is important for our dogs too. Teach your dog to accept being buckled in the vehicle or be comfortable in their crate for longer periods of time by taking short trips with them around town to get them accustomed to car rides in this way- if they’re not already. Taking some extra time to desensitize them to a car harness or a crate in the car is extremely beneficial for both of you.
3. Get them used to car rides before a super long drive. If you’re planning on taking boat or bikes rides, make sure they’re accustomed to those experiences first before forcing them into something they’re not comfortable with. If you’re the hiking type, make sure your dog is in good enough shape to handle the hike, and comfortable wearing hiking gear such as booties for tough terrain or backpacks.
4. Take time to train your dog along the way. Greeting strangers politely, coming when called, settling on a mat and going to the bathroom on cue are extremely handy behaviours for your dog to learn- making the trip more enjoyable for all of you.
5. Check out dog friendly places to visit, and make sure your accommodations allow dogs. Some hotels allow pets only up until a certain size or weight, so it’s a good idea to check ahead of time to find out what each establishment allows.
6. Pack for your pup. Making sure you have collapsible water bottles, enough food and water, comfort items such as familiar toys and blankets, proper identification, proof of vaccinations if you’re crossing a border, jackets for short coated dogs in cool conditions, life vests for boating dogs, dog-friendly insect repellent etc. Depending on what you’re doing your dog’s needs will vary, but always be prepared!

Above all, take time to enjoy your dog on your vacation and do all you can to make sure they have an awesome time too!

17 year old Chica on our final vacation together. 💕

A cabin beside the lake was our style