5 quick tips for bringing the family dog on the holiday road trip

Many of us consider our dogs to be part of our families. In fact, according to an American Pet Products Association survey, over one third of pet owners regularly bring their pets on overnight trips. If you’re among those who travel with your dog, or are thinking of bringing your dog with you when you hit the road this holiday, we’ve got 5 quick tips for bringing the family dog on the holiday road trip.

1)      Make sure your dog’s tags are properly attached. Taking your dog on the road unfortunately means there will be more opportunities to get lost (rest stops, unfamiliar neighborhoods, etc). Be sure to include your cell phone number somewhere on those tags. It won’t do much good for someone to call back to your house if you’re just across the parking lot from them.

2)      Make frequent potty breaks. No matter how well adapted your dog is to your vehicle, the ASPCA recommends giving your dog ample opportunity to not only eliminate, but also to stretch out and move around. As a side note, some dogs only feel comfortable “going” at home. You may want to make a few practice trips to get your dog acclimated.

3)      Ask your vet about preventative flea/tick treatments. Since there is no way of knowing what the environment will be like at each and every stop along the trip, there is no reason to risk your dog picking up fleas, ticks, or anything else.

4)      Prep the seat. If your dog is not traveling in a carrier, you will need to make sure their seat is ready for travel.

1.        Some dogs will sit still and can be fastened into a doggie seat belt, others prefer to move around a bit. If your dog won’t be fastened in, make sure they won’t have the opportunity to step on (or fall over) any luggage.
2.       Also, you’ll want to make sure to bring a chew toy for them and keep anything else chewable out of their reach.
3.        Finally, you’ll want to lay down a potty pad in your dog’s seat. Even if your dog is perfectly house broken, the unfamiliar territory of a moving vehicle could trigger an accident.

5)      If you’re staying at a hotel, make sure they accept pets when making your reservation. Some hotels have a charge for pets, but a small fee up front beats not being able to get the room you reserved.

Bonus tip: If you don’t know if your dog is a good travel companion, take a few test drives in the weeks leading up to your trip. This will help your dog get acclimated to riding with you, and can also let you know if boarding might be a better idea.

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