Nothing beats the excitement of being on a road trip with your beloved furry buddy. Whether it’s a family trip or you’re hitting the road with your friends, letting your dog tag along can create an amazing bonding opportunity. Furthermore, the slight change of environment will help you and your pooch blow off some steam as you create memorable moments out there.
Nonetheless, an unforgettable experience like this requires proper planning, adequately, and in advance. If you want to have the time of your life with your pooch as the rubber meets the road, this article is for you. Here are a few things to keep in mind before you take your dog on a road trip.
1. Your Pooch Could Damage Your Car Seats
During your road trip, the dog will also be riding in the same car with you, and, of course, you won’t ditch him in the trunk. You want to prepare him a sweet, comfortable space he will appreciate. He will most probably be riding in the back seat and enjoying the country view. Note that sometimes dogs can be aggressive, playful, agitated, or even bored during travel.
As a result, some resort to scratching things, including your car seats in this case. To keep your fine car seats protected, it is wise to get a car seat cover that matches each seat in your rig. Get one made of tough quality material that will last as long as you would like. After the trip, you can choose to remove the covers or leave them since they will most probably be free from scratches.
2. Your Dog’s Overall Health
Of course, the last thing you want is to burden your dog with a long trip when ailing. Furthermore, even the perfect road trip can be extremely exhausting, especially when traversing rough terrain along the way. Unless the vet recommends it, this could add more suffering to your lovely canine.
Therefore, make sure your dog is checked regularly. Do it early before the trip to ensure their health is in good condition. This also means ensuring they get vaccination and immunization jabs early before the Dee day. Keeping a copy of their vaccination records might come in handy in case the canine fellow gets ill along the way. Additionally, remember to:
- Pack enough food and water
- Bring their toys
- Have a collapsible crate for bumpy rides and hotel stays
- Locate nearby dog parks for their socialization
3. Your Dog Will Need To Go To The Bathroom
Just like you, your pooch will also need a few pee breaks along the way. Therefore, you will want to have several stops for nature calls. If you are really close to your properly trained canine, you will know when they need to go to the bathroom.
4. Training Is Essential
To ensure their good behavior, it might be necessary to have your dog trained. This is more so if it’s the first time taking a road trip together. Also called positive reinforcement training, you can use treats and rewards to train your dog within a few miles from your neighborhood before the trip day. A few training areas you may want to focus on include:
- Sitting calmly in the car
- Not peeing outside when the vehicle is on the road
- Getting out of the car for the bathroom stops
- Obeying orders
Dogs are some of the most incredible pets one can have. When taking a road trip, you can have them tag along for a more enjoyable experience together. With the above things in mind, the experiences you create can be unforgettable.
