Dog
Care Tips (4 of
10)
- Traveling with your Dog
 
Traveling with your Dog
If you and your family are looking forward to taking trips with
your new puppy, it's best to prepare for the event right from the
start.
Car sickness is fairly common in dogs. You can
help your puppy overcome this by letting it adjust to car rides
early in life. While it's still a few months old, take the puppy
out and sit with it in the car. There's no need to start the engine
yet. Just let the animal get used to the sights and smells of the
automobile. Later there will be less cause for alarm. Many dogs
see the inside of a car only on those rare occasions they are driven
to the veterinarian. Few dogs enjoy that particular experience.
Of course, they're going to panic when the car door closes behind
them!
After a few sessions of sitting in the car, the
puppy is ready for short trips. Plan to take your puppy out before
eating, so it has an empty stomach. You may want to begin by circling
the block a few times. Soothe the puppy's excitement or anxiety
during these rides, and reward afterwards with praise and treats.
Before long, the puppy should think car rides are another part of
normal life, and it will be ready for extended trips without incident.
We recommend using the crate when you travel with
a dog. Crates can provide protection from serious injury or prevent
escape in the event you are involved in an accident. Furthermore,
they can prevent trouble by keeping the dog away from the driver's
lap and feet.
No matter how much it seems to enjoy it, never
allow a dog to ride with its head sticking out the car window. For
one thing, eye injuries are likely. Furthermore, you risk losing
your dog this way-to escape (even the smallest dog can leap out
the window in a flash) or death from trauma once they hit the road.
Better safe than sorry; keep your dog away from open windows while
you're driving.
Traveling with a dog by air is another consideration.
Unless it's a seasoned traveler, your dog will probably find flying
stressful, so you may want to think twice before subjecting it to
the friendly skies. Each airline seems to have its own rules and
regulations for canine passengers. You must check with the airline
well in advance of your trip. All will require a regulation crate,
however, and some sort of documentation from a veterinarian certifying
the dog is in good health.
Many people prefer to tranquilize their dogs prior
to travel. Bear in mind, however, that tranquilization may not be
absolutely necessary. In fact, because of certain medical considerations,
tranquilization may be contraindicated for your dog. Ask your veterinarian
for his or her advice in seeing your dog safely to the destination.
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