Top 10 Tips for Car Travel With Your Dog

Are you planning to go camping or visiting and taking your dog with you? You may need to experiment to find the best way to travel.  So everyone is both comfortable and happy, so neither the driver, passengers or dog are stressed.

Here are a few options that may help get you organised.

1. Starting to do car travel training at puppy stage if you can, gradually get them used to being in the car and then take short drives, do the same with an older dog. Then gradually make the drives longer and do them regularly
2. If you are planning a long trip or holiday make sure you dog is healthy, been vaccinated, micro chipped and is wearing a collar with identification tags. Get your dog checked by a vet if your dog has any health concerns
3. If the dog is travelling in the back seat it must have a harness and be secured to a back seatbelt, for the safety of persons in the vehicle. Another way to secure the dog on the back seat is to put it in a travelling crate and put a seat belt around the crate.
4. Dogs can also travel in the rear of a station wagon type vehicle with a safety grill behind the back seat. The can also be in a crate if you choose. Never leave your dog alone in the car, on a hot day the heat in the car can get extreme and heat stroke can develop.
5. Familiar blankets or soft baskets can be used to make the dog more comfortable. If your dog loses hair everywhere cover the car seats with an easy clean cloth or plastic cover first, so most of the hair can easily be cleaned out.
6. Take a leash, bowl, bottle of water, basket, blanket, pooper scooper and bags, medication if required, grooming equipment, familiar toys etc.
7. Your dog should be trained to do the basic obedience like sit, come, stay etc especially if you are going on a lengthy trip and staying at various places like campgrounds & Holiday Parks.
8. Keep your dog on a lead at all times so they don’t run off unexpectedly onto the road, after another dog or say hello to people who aren’t too interested.
9. Clean up after your dog in public places, no one like seeing doggy doos where they are walking.
10. If you are staying in a Campground or Holiday Park make sure it is pet friendly and dogs are not allowed in National parks

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