Dogs love to travel! If there's one thing they love about it is riding with you in a car. Some dogs, riding is the happiest experience of their lives, but for others its an experience they'll never do again.
If your dog is the latter, here are some things you need to do to have a hassle-free trip.
Associate Driving as an Enjoyable Experience
One of the reasons dog don't like driving is when you associate driving as an unpleasant experience to the dog. If the first thing you do when driving with your dog is to take them to the vet, then you are subconsciously telling your dog that driving is a bad thing.
So instead of taking him to the vet straight away, why not take them to the park first or any place that would give a positive vibe to your dog.
It would also help if you take shorter trips first and go further and further as your dog becomes comfortable.
If you see signs that your dog is hesitant to ride in car. It can be physiological or psychological and both can be treated. Treat motion car sickness first before attempting to drive with your dog. It will save you a lot of headaches along the way.
Pack the Essentials
Pack as if you are going on a trip with a baby. Dogs depend on you for the stuffs he need on your trip so make sure to bring the essentials like:
- Foods and treats.
- Poop bags
- A bowl of water
- water bottle
- dog carrier and harness
- pet seat cover
- first aid kit
These are just some of the basics. You can add more to the list, but make sure that your dog really needs it or your dog's stuff will be more of a burden than a help.
Drive Safer and Better With These Tips
Restrain your dog at all times. Some people think that restraining their dogs in car seems too obsessive. However, most of the dogs injuries in car were caused by sudden stop and an unexpected crash. Having them restraint at all times prevent it from having such injuries in the first place.
Tips:
Bring your dog's usual food. A sudden shift in your dog's diet will upset his stomach.
Don't feed them full before the trip. At lease three to four hours will do as a dog with a fully tummy and a car in motion will leave you in a very bad situation.
Cars are one of the best ways to travel with your dog. With some preparations and a few safety precautions you and your pet will have an enjoyable ride, regardless of how short or long the trip is.
Don't let your dog ride in the front seat. Not only that it is distracting, but when an airbag deploys it can cause serious injuries to your pet.
Don't let your dog ride at the back of an open truck. It will be easy to loose your dog as they can easily jump off or fall out of the truck.