7 Questions To Ask Before Taking Your Dog On A Road Trip
Are you ready to start on a road trip with your four-legged best friend? Many dogs love to ride in the car and explore new places! But hang on – not every dog is the perfect companion for a road trip. Let’s look at 7 questions you should ask yourself before embarking on a journey with your dog.
#1 Has my dog been on longer car rides before?
We typically only take our dogs on shorter car rides in day-to-day life. The trip to the park, to the vet or to the doggy daycare rarely takes longer than 20-30 minutes. Before you start a road trip, ask yourself if you actually know how your dog does if he is in the car for many hours.
Some dogs do well on shorter car rides but have troubles on longer ones. If they can tell they are going to their favorite park they are excited and happy, but once you hit the interstate for many hours of driving your dog may start to whine, pant or even become ill. Take a “test drive” of an hour or two before going on the road trip!
#2 Is my dog social enough to be on the road?
Some dogs do not like to be around other dogs and people they don’t know, and that is ok! A road trip however will not be the best choice for them. If your dog is leash-reactive, anxious or scared in public, do not take him on a road trip – neither you nor him will enjoy it! Only dogs that are not stressed by being around strangers should go.
#3 Does my dog need any medical preparation?
Depending on the area you are traveling to, your dog might need to see a vet beforehand. If you are hitting a heartworm-heavy place, make sure you have heartworm medication on hand. If you travel to New Mexico or Arizona where there are many rattlesnakes, your dog may need the rattlesnake vaccine in case of a bite. Of course, you should always carry a dog first aid kit in your car as well!
#4 Do I need to take specific food?
You will be able to buy some kind of dog food anywhere you go. If your dog has food intolerances or a sensitive stomach however, you should take enough of his special diet to last for the duration of the trip. If you do not find the exact right food at your destination and your dog ends up with stomach pains and diarrhea, your vacation will not be fun.
Make sure to pack plenty of his dog food if he needs a specific diet.
#5 Do I need a tracker?
Some dogs are really good about staying with their owners anywhere they go. Others are runners that do not always come back when called! At home your dog may know how to find the way back to your house, but if your dog takes off at a rest area in the middle of nowhere you might never see him again.
If you know that your dog is prone to ignoring his recall and running away, invest into a GPS tracker for him before embarking on your trip. Of course, you should always keep him on a leash in addition to that – don’t risk him getting lost in an unknown place!
#6 Is everybody on board with the dog coming along?
If you are traveling with friends or family members, make sure that they all agree to having the dog tag along. Some people are just not “dog people” – and that is ok! While your friends may enjoy giving your pup a quick pet when they come over, sitting in a car with a dog for many hours (and potentially smelling his doggy breath or listening to him whine and bark) is a whole different story.
Respect the wishes of your fellow travelers and only take your dog along if they are in favor of this, too. Otherwise your road trip may quickly end in arguments about your dog.
#7 Do I have a back-up plan?
Even the best plans can fail – it is important to have a plan b, especially when traveling with pets or kids! Make sure you have some ideas for what to do if things don’t go so well. If your dog starts becoming violently ill in the car – are you ok with turning around and going back home? If he eats something he should not have, is there a vet along the way you can take him to? Hopefully everything will go well and you won’t need the backup plan – but you should make sure you have it in place just in case.
The Bottom Line
Going for a road trip can be a fun adventure that you will always remember. Before you rush to get started make sure that your dog is ready to go. Only take a dog who is social and well-behaved on long car rides. Pack everything you need: from any special diets your dog requires over medicine to a GPS tracker for dogs that like to run off. Plan for potential mishaps and of course ask everyone coming along if they are fine with the dog on board.
Great preparation makes for great trips and wonderful memories – invest some time upfront into planning your trip and it will be an unforgettable adventure.
