Festive travels

PLANNING FOR LONG DISTANCE TRIPS

TEXT: SARAH WANLESS

With the festive season break just around the corner, many of us are packing up and heading off on holiday. For some lucky pooches, that means a trip to an exciting new destination, be it the beach or the mountains. Yet, even with a stellar destination waiting, travel with your dog can be stressful; to help you out, we have compiled our top tips for ensuring you and your dog have a safe and stress-free road trip.

1. EXERCISE FIRST

The well-known adage that ‘a well-exercised dog is a tired dog’ often holds true, and in situations like this, a tired dog is an ideal travelling companion. We recommend taking your dog for a run or a nice long walk before embarking on your trip so that your dog is likely to sleep for a decent part of the journey.

2. SAFETY FIRST

Whether it be in a crate or strapped in with a canine safety belt, it is essential to confine your pet to a comfortable part of the car. This step is necessary to ensure both your and your pet’s safety on your journey. While many people dislike the idea of restraining their dog, it is the safest way for you and your dog to travel.

Finding the type of restraint that works best for you and your dog is important. There are a wide range of options available, and what option you select will largely depend on the type of car you drive, the type of dog you have and what works best for both of you. It is best to consult your vet or trainer to determine the most suitable option.

If you opt for crating your dog and they have never been crated before, it is very important to practice and habituate your dog to crate training in advance in order for it to be a pleasant experience for you both. The crate should feel like a safe space that your dog willingly wants to be in rather than a space in which he is trapped.

3. MAKE CAR RIDES A REGULAR OCCURRENCE

Start small. This step involves pre-planning on your part. Getting your dogs used to car rides is a great way to ensure that they are habituated to travelling, meaning they will be better able to handle long-distance trips. By taking your dog on short trips to enjoyable places, such as the park, you will help your dog to start to form positive associations with car trips.

4. PITSTOPS

Be sure to regularly stop at appropriate spots to allow your dog to stretch their legs, have a drink and a snack and relieve themselves. It is crucial to travel with water with you at all times and keep their leash handy to let them have a little walk and sniff. If possible, try and keep to regular meal times to maintain some routine while travelling.

5. CREATE A COMFORTABLE SPACE FOR YOUR PET

Whether it be the back seat, the boot of an SUV or a crate, be sure your pet has a comfortable space to settle down in the back of the car, as this is where they will be for a while. Filling the space with familiar items like their blankets is also a good idea. Having a cosy space like this with familiar smells allows your pet to relax during the car ride. Be sure to keep this space free of any choking or strangling hazards.

6. KEEP IT BREEZY

While it can be tempting to let your dog stick their head out the window, it presents several major safety risks for your pet. Be sure to keep the fan or air-conditioning on if it’s very hot to keep circulating fresh air through the car. If there is no alternative and it is hot in your car, you can open the windows a tiny bit to let the air circulate and keep your dog cool, but ideally windows should be closed when you are moving.

7. KEEP THEM ENTERTAINED

While we need to be cognisant of choking hazards while driving, it is possible to stock up on some long-lasting treats or frozen enrichment toys (such as stuffed Kongs) to help entertain your dog during the long drive.

8. ENSURE YOUR WINDOWS AND DOORS ARE LOCKED

Last but not least, ensure your windows and doors are locked. Accidents do happen, and it is better to be safe than sorry!

FINAL THOUGHTS

This list is by no means extensive, and it is always best to do your own research before a long trip. You can also Google the route you plan to take to incorporate appropriate pitstop points and see if you can find any petfriendly cafes or restaurants along the way. Happy travels!