If you’re considering taking your four-legged friend on a long-distance car journey, then you’ve likely wondered if it is safe for your pet. After all, there are certain risks associated with car travel, especially if you’ll be going a long way. Fortunately, traveling in the car with your canine companion is a safe and enjoyable experience that can be made comfortable with just a few simple precautions. In this blog post, we’ll discuss the basics of traveling with your pup in the car and provide some tips to help ensure your journey is as stress-free as possible. We’ll also go over what types of precautions need to be taken to ensure the safety of both you and your pup while traveling. Lastly, we’ll discuss the benefits of traveling with your pet and some of the most important tips you should keep in mind while traveling with your pet in the car. So, if you’re ready to plan a
A tired passenger is a happy passenger
Making sure your dog is well rested before you leave is one of the best travel advice for canines. Your dog will be much more likely to unwind and enjoy the ride if you do this. They might even take a short nap, like an hour or two.
Therefore, try to give your dog a lot of exercise and mental stimulation the morning you plan to leave home. Take them to a dog park, go for a run or walk with them, or just play with them for a long time. Then they’ll hopefully be the “pawfect” passenger all day long.
Long car rides can be incredibly boring, whether you’re a furry traveler or not. In light of this, be sure to pack some chew toys and perhaps a puzzle toy (if your dog doesn’t get motion sickness) for the ride to keep your pup entertained.
Numerous dog-friendly road trip suggestions are included in our list of the best activities for dogs in the car, from singalongs to booster seats for smaller dogs. You can make those long days on the road pass more quickly with some advance planning.
Motion sickness can affect passengers other than those on two legs. In fact, motion sickness is a surprisingly frequent issue with puppies, so you should be aware of it when traveling with a dog.
It’s important to talk to your vet about motion sickness treatments in addition to feeding your dog a few hours before you leave. To help your dog travel from point A to point B pain-free, they can even prescribe medication.
Ensure you’ve packed everything on your dog travel packing list
Make sure you’ve packed everything your dog will need for the long drive and once you’ve finally arrived at your destination to keep them comfortable.
To assist, we’ve created a dog travel packing list that you can even print off if you’d like.
Tire your dog out ahead of the journey
Your dog will be more likely to fall asleep in the car if he has exhausted all of his pent-up energy.
Encourage your dog to burn off some energy in the neighborhood dog park or field by playing ball, fetch, chasing, or any other game that will get them moving quickly.
If you weren’t able to thoroughly entertain your dog before the trip, you’ll need to do so now.
Keep the radio on if you’re not talking for the whole journey, and let your dog chew on an antler bone, a kong filled with tasty treats or another of their favourite toys.
After a while, they should become exhausted just from chewing.
FAQ
How Long Can dogs drive in a car?
While traveling, it’s ideal to try to maintain your dog’s regular eating and potty schedules, but it might be challenging to do so. You should give your dog breaks approximately every two to four hours, lasting 15 to 30 minutes each. You should also aim to drive no more than seven hours per day.
Is it OK to take a dog on a long car trip?
Dogs typically travel well and don’t require any medication. While traveling, however, some dogs do experience stress. If your dog has trouble traveling, talk to your vet about the best travel strategy.
Do dogs like long road trips?
While many dogs enjoy traveling on the open road, many others don’t feel at ease there. The good news is that there are things you can do and try to make your dog feel better while traveling.
Is it stressful for dogs to travel by car?
Although many dogs enjoy car rides, some dogs detest them and may whimper, drool, or even vomit. This may be brought on by motion sickness, a negative experience in the car, such as an accident, or worry about being confined to a massive, moving machine.