Taking your dog on a road trip can
make any excursion more memorable
and enjoyable, and more people are
choosing it as an option as more hotels and
motels have become pet friendly. Sniffi ng
new smells in totally new terrain, spending
quality time with their humans and maybe
getting a little wind in their fur is a joyous
occasion for many pets, and with just a little
prepping a trip with the fourlegged
member of the family
can work out just fi ne.
Time spent in the house
together all day, every
day for these many
past months created
separation anxiety
with some pets when
it came time for their
owners to go back to
work, so the thought
of putting your dog
in a kennel or hiring a
dogsitter can be daunting
for the pet owner. Remember,
though, it is still far safer to keep
your dog at home with a sitter or
in a well-established kennel if your dog is
not socialized, or experiences trauma when
riding in a car.
A thoughtful traveler knows he or she is
acting as an ambassador for pet owners
everywhere, and the onus of responsibility
when it comes to cleaning up after your dog,
curbing excessive barking and chewing, and
keeping a pet safe lies with the human who
holds the leash. Getting out at rest stops
along busy roads, trying to juggle a pet
and luggage when it’s time to stop for the
night, or fi guring out how to keep the dog
comfortable when you have to leave them
for a bit are all common problems.
Prior Planning Prevents Poor
Performance
Planning is the fi rst step: Long before the
trip begins discussions must take place.
If there are two or more human traveling
companions, it should be discussed prior
to departure that it might be easier for one
person to stay with the dog at all times when
the other person (or others) leave the car
to freshen up at a rest stop or get gas and
snacks at a convenience store. Anything
can spur a dog to jump out of the car and
running through a busy parking lot or onto a
road is not optimal.
Leaving a dog in a vehicle, even with
the windows down a bit or the air
conditioning on can cause
unnecessary issues, such as
a Good Samaritan calling
the police to report a
dog locked in a hot car,
or the dog hitting the
“lock” buttons while
he’s waiting. Dogs can
also easily be stolen out
of cars, which is truly a
nightmarish proposition.
Dogs should be
restrained on a short leash
on any time people are
getting in and out of the car.
The bottom line is, it’s just easier
and less stressful for everyone involved
to keep someone in the car with the dog.
If you haven’t traveled much with your dog
in the car, make sure they don’t get carsick.
Many dogs do, which can lead to a real
aversion to travel for them. If that is the case,
ask your veterinarian what they recommend
giving your dog.
Unless you want to have some unpleasant
issues on the road, try to keep your pet’s
food and feeding times the same as they are
July/August • 2021 • GASPARILLA MAGAZINE 45
Hitting
the road with
the family and
your four-legged
best friend ...
what could be
better?