Dogs On Holiday

HOLIDAYS are coming….as soon as the Coca-Cola advert starts playing we know it is travel time.

Whether we are heading to family for Thanksgiving or out of town to avoid family for Christmas, the festive season gets us clocking up the miles.

And as the holidays are all about family, we do not like leaving our furry family members behind.

While there are excellent kennels and dog sitters, our pooches are important members of our family lives and we want them with us at special times.

But traveling with a beloved dog brings challenges all of their own, and it is worth taking some time to ensure you are prepared, especially since they are not the best at understanding carefully explained itineraries or following the trip tic.

One very important point to consider is the size of your dog – while it may be cute to let your toy poodle or your terrier just be loose in the car, it can get very dangerous very quickly. Little dogs can quickly get under a brake pedal, and if they’re not secure, they will end up flying around the cab if you stop suddenly – with potentially fatal consequences. There are good reasons humans wear seat belts – the same is true for your dog.

Smaller dogs are best with safety seats that are easily bought and easily installed. Larger dogs might be better suited to a safety harness – they may be restricted from climbing all over the cab but can still stand, sit or lie down with comfort.

While we have all seen plenty of happy dogs sticking their heads out of car windows – by the way, this may be cute but is not a good idea – some dogs are nervous travelers and will be distressed on a long trip. For these dogs a crate may be best – dogs are still den animals at heart and seek refuge in enclosed spaces. A crate with a favorite blanket and toy can create a safe space for them to curl up in until the trip is over. There are even dog treats available with ingredients to help them be more relaxed.

Where are you staying? If you’re heading to a motel or a B&B, check ahead to make sure your four-legged friend is actually welcome – everywhere will have their own rules and you do not want to find yourself with unexpected surcharges or even turned away because you forgot to ask about your dog. They may be as important as your own children in your family, but they could be just another unwanted dog to the property owner. Call ahead to check what the rules are and if you are happy to follow them.

And just as you would pack your own prescriptions with your wash kit, and take your health insurance card with you, make sure you have packed plenty of any medication your dog may be on, and take a copy of its health records too just in case you need to find a vet quickly because your pooch got into the Christmas chocolate unexpectedly- remember chocolate can be fatal to dogs.

The same goes for your fur baby’s toys and leash and poop bags – make sure you prepare for the trip as if you were traveling with a small child. Pack plenty of extra.

And most importantly – while dogs are very good at finding their way home if they escape your back yard, it is rather harder to do from four states away. Make sure your dog is very easily identifiable – collar with dog tag and phone number and a microchip with up-to-date contact information logged on the database.