Trippin’

Today is Memorial Day, which is considered the unofficial beginning of summer here in the United States: Schools close, swimming pools open, and middle-class families start traveling, which makes it a good time to talk about traveling with dogs.

If you plan to fly with your pet … don’t. It’s stressful at best and dangerous at worst. If you’re road tripping, having your best friend along can make the trip more fun — if you plan ahead and take these precautions to ensure the dog’s safety and comfort:

1. Never leave your dog unattended in the car. Even with the windows cracked, your dog can overheat very quickly, especially during the summer months, and you may not be able to get back as fast as you planned. If you’re traveling with another human, one of you can watch the dog while the other goes into a restaurant or other business. If you’re traveling solo, check BringFido.com to find pet-friendly restaurants and lodging options, and don’t forget to map out all the dog-friendly businesses on your route so you know where you can stop for a restroom break without having to leave your dog in the car.
2. Evaluate your dog’s temperament very honestly. If your dog isn’t road-worthy, board her. Taking a very nervous, reactive, or ill-mannered dog on the road is a recipe for disaster. Road tripping is a learned skill, and there’s no shame in admitting that your dog hasn’t mastered it yet.
3. Bring extra food and water. Dogs’ bodies need time to adjust to a new diet, and you do not want to spend 16 hours in the car with a dog who is experiencing gastrointestinal distress. (Don’t ask me how I know.) Bring enough of your dog’s regular food to last several days past the scheduled end of your trip, just in case your car breaks down or some other unforeseen circumstance forces you to extend your trip. You should also keep at least a day’s worth of water in the car so you and your dog don’t overheat or dehydrate if you break down somewhere.
4. Figure out how you will restrain your dog while the car is moving. If you have a small dog, the easiest solution is to put her crate in the backseat and let her ride in there. For larger dogs, purchase a properly fitting top-clip harness and a seatbelt leash, which buckles into your existing seatbelt and then clips to your dog’s harness. DO NOT clip a seatbelt leash to a collar. It can snap the dog’s neck if you have to brake suddenly. If you don’t have a seatbelt leash, just buckle a seatbelt and tie the dog’s leash to the lap part of the belt with a quick-release knot like you’d use to tie up a horse. Click here to see how to tie this type of knot.
5. Get your dog used to being in the car. Spend a few weeks desensitizing her to the car by taking her on trips of increasing duration and complexity. Include a couple of drive-throughs in your adventures; the disembodied voice in a fast-food drive-through can scare some dogs until they get used to it.*
6. Teach your dog to respect thresholds. There are dozens of methods, but if you’re leaving tomorrow and need your dog to understand tonight, Southend Dog Training has a quick method that works well for most dogs. Click here to see how to do it.
7. Bring bowls for food and water. This should be obvious, but it’s easy to forget. I like those collapsible silicone bowls that clip to your belt loop with a carabiner.
8. Microchip your dog before you leave. I live in a Route 66 town that is popular with tourists, and at least two or three times a year, we hear about people who lost their best friend at a truck stop, motel, or wherever else they stopped. Tags can get lost. Microchips can’t. Get your dog chipped, and keep the records up to date.
9. Protect your upholstery. Even the best-trained dogs can have accidents. Keep a roll of paper towels and a bottle of dog-safe cleaner in the car, and consider purchasing a waterproof cover of some kind to protect your upholstery if you don’t plan to crate your dog. I bought this one for my upcoming trip with the Burrito.
10. Bring your dog’s rabies tag and vet records. If your dog gets sick or bites someone on the road, you’ll need quick access to basic information. At a minimum, keep your vet’s emergency contact information in your phone, and take a picture of your dog’s most recent rabies vaccine documentation so you have it handy in case you need it.
11. Don’t forget the poop baggies! Few things irritate me more than people who fail to clean up after their dogs. My rule of thumb is to bring at least three times as many bags as I think I’ll need for a trip. If you don’t have storebought poo baggies, Walmart sacks will work just fine. I keep a roll of bags in my pocket and another in my treat pouch at all times so I’ve got them when I need them.

* My late rat terrier, Scout, haaaaaated drive-throughs until the day a Krispy Kreme opened in our area. Burgers? Bah. Chicken nuggets? Meh. Hot doughnuts? SHUT UP AND TAKE MOM’S MONEY. 😂