During your road trip planning, it is essential to keep your dog’s needs in mind. It is imperative to take precautions and make preparations, whether the trip lasts for a few hours or spans over several days, to assure your dog’s comfort and safety, similar to how you would prepare for humans. Please read this article to ensure your fluffy companion is safe and protected!
We must consider our dogs’ needs when going on a long car ride. It can be difficult for them if they don’t have their seat belt or carrier. We’ll tell you some tips that will help with their safety during a long drive, including what to bring, where to put it, and how to keep them safe if you get into an accident.
Secure Your Dog in Their Carrier or Harness
Your dog must be restrained so he doesn’t distract the driver or interfere with driving. Some carriers are out on the market today that you can buy for cheap. They secure your dog, so he doesn’t bounce around the car, and they have a little window so you can keep an eye on him. If you’re going to get one of these, the seat belt must go through them, not just over the top. Just be sure that your carrier won’t fly in case of a collision or a sudden stop.
Bring a Water Bowl
There are many benefits to always having a water bottle on hand, especially if you’re going to be out all day and you know it will get hot for your dog. You must watch how much they drink, just as much as you would with a human. It’s a good thing to have on hand, but you must give them small amounts frequently. You don’t want them to get sick from drinking too much water at once.
Bring Lots of Food and Treats
You never know how long your road trip might be. If you’re going out for just the day, you’ll want to bring things that won’t spoil. If you’re going out for a few days, it’s okay to get food and treats that might go bad if they sit in your car for too long (like bones and melty stuff). It’s important to stay stocked up on their snacks and bring extra water with you as well.
Bring Poop Bags
We all know that if our dogs go to the bathroom outside, they may not always make it to the designated area – at least not every time! So having their bag on hand is essential if you’re planning on stopping at rest areas or places where your dog might need to ‘get busy.’ It’s not gross, and it’s responsible. We should all do our part in keeping the earth clean!
Bring Your Blanket or Towel
If you’re bringing your dog along for the ride, he must have his blanket to lay on. That way, if there are spills (and there will be spills), you won’t have to worry about your dog getting dirt on him. Plus, you’ll have a towel just in case he gets too excited and pees or poops on himself! It’s a good idea to bring multiple towels so that you can change them out without having an accident if they get dirty.
Bring a Leash and Their Regular Collar
You must bring your dog’s regular collar with them in addition to their travel carrier or harness. Many accidents can happen when you’re on the road, like getting sick or scared and trying to run away from your car. It might be a good idea to have a leash that connects to their harness or carrier just in case.
Don’t Feed Them Right Before You Leave
If your dog tends to get carsick, it’s important not to feed them an hour before leaving on your trip. You don’t want them to feel sick while driving, especially if they make a mess in their carrier or your car’s floorboards.
Bring a Portable Water Source with You
If you’re going to be out all day, you must bring some form of hydration with you, whether it be a full-sized water bottle or a bowl they can drink from if they need to. Sometimes, you might need to leave them in the car and run errands. Other times, they might be able to go with you, but it’s also lovely that they’ll still have some water available to them regardless of which one is true.
Bring Something for Them to Do
If you’re going out on a more extended trip, you might want to bring something for your dog to do with them in the car. Whether it’s a ball or a plush toy stuffed with food, having fun toys on hand means that they’ll be more patient and wait for you when you’re away from the car – like at a rest stop.
Stay Safe!
After all of this preparation, make sure you stay safe on the road as well. It’s essential to drive safely and not text and drive (or talk and drive), no matter who is in your car or what they’re doing. Make sure that you keep yourself and your dog safe by staying vigilant behind the wheel.
If it Starts to Get Hot, Roll the Windows Down
If it’s going to be a sunny day and you’re going somewhere further away, it might be a good idea not to leave your dog in the car for too long. It can sometimes get scorching on hot days, especially with black or dark-tinted windows! Make sure to take breaks when you can, roll the windows down when you’re parked somewhere safe and don’t leave them there for too long.
Happy Travels!
There’s nothing like hitting the open road with your pup at your side. With these tips in mind, it’ll be easy to ensure they are comfortable and safe while you’re on the road. Make sure to take lots of pictures and videos while you’re away from home so that they can experience the fun, too!
Conclusion
You’ll find that there are many things to consider when you’re travelling with your dog. Whether it’s for two hours or two days, make sure you’ve prepared and planned everything from how they will be secured in the car to what type of food and water sources they should have available, if possible.
Be mindful about their feelings while driving long distances, too; dogs can get carsick just like people – so don’t feed them right before a trip! You might also want to bring some form of entertainment (like a ball) for them as well.
