Traveling Pups: 7 Tips for Traveling with Your Dog

Traveling with a puppy can be a tall order that comes with its own set of challenges. Fortunately, there are a few tried and true tips to help you travel with your pet seamlessly. Check out the top seven tips for traveling with your dog below. 

Know Your Dog’s Needs

The first tip is simple enough, know your dog’s needs. Understanding their needs is the best way to ensure they are safe and happy on your journey. Anticipate matters like using the restroom or eating at inopportune times and plan for that by packing anything that could help with these situations. 

Sometimes you might need to learn the needs of the dog. For instance, what if you saw a sign stating adorable Golden Retrievers for sale on a road trip and made the spontaneous decision to scoop up a pup? Before returning to your trip, you might need to research their energy levels and exercise needs to adequately care for them during the rest of the trip. 

Keep Identification on Them at All Times

Dogs are curious. They might decide to walk away from you in a split second. Giving them a collar with detailed information is crucial to reuniting with your pet if they get lost. Keep them on a leash or harness while in public spaces to avoid getting separated.

Give Them Plenty of Food and Water

Though it might seem counterintuitive to give your pet a lot of water before a long trip, they need to stick to their usual schedule. However, some dogs get car sick, so if this applies to your pup, avoid feeding them a lot before the big journey. 

You will need to ensure they are fed enough throughout the trip and regularly stop for bathroom breaks. 

Update Their Vaccinations 

If you travel by plane, you may be required to show proof of vaccination or other documentation stating your pup has all the latest shots. That requirement is to protect your dog and everyone around them. If you are not traveling by plane, it’s still important to update your shot record when going somewhere new.

Teach Them a Few Commands 

Teaching your pup a few common commands like sit, stay, heel, come, down, no, and off is a good idea before you bring them around people, especially strangers. These are basic commands that they can learn quickly and easily. 

Puppy-proof the Vacation Home or Hotel

Though your accommodations are likely pet-friendly, you should pet-proof them to be sure your dog does not get into anything they are not supposed to. That includes picking up loose cords and putting away items that might be in their reach to knock over. 

Make Reservations for Air Travel

As many as 2 million pets travel by air each year. Several airlines require prior reservations for a pet on board since there are only a few spots open for animals. Most of the time, you cannot show up to your flight with your pet without proper documentation and a reservation. 

Before You Go 

Traveling with a pet is a commitment that will likely cost you extra money. However, with these pet tips, you should be able to travel with them seamlessly. The experiences you both will have makes it all worthwhile.