Safe Car Travel With Your Dog

For dog owners, most of us want to take our dogs with us when we go places. That's a given. We feel more comfortable when our furry friends are with us in the car, whether it's a weekend away or just a ride to the store.

Likewise for the dog, that ride in the car is nothing short of spectacular. If you leave them behind they may even feel abandoned. While dogs love car trips, long or short, it's also a fact that some dogs will get motion sickness and that is certainly not much fun for anyone so dog car seat covers are a great option. You can find motion illness medication for your pet, or you can use herbal medications that are recommended by holistic vets for use with your dog.

Safety is another consideration for travel with your furkids. Before you head out, even the most well behaved and well trained dog should be equipped with a tag that offers information about how to reach you and what to do if your dog is found. Dogs can become confused and even escape the car so have them on their fancy dog leashes for when you open the door. While your dog may be well trained and well capable of finding you from your home, that isn't always true on the road.

When or if your dog is separated from you, making sure that you have adequate identification to assure their safe return is important.

Don't let your dog run loose in the car. He or she may be well trained, may even sit idly as you drive. That doesn't mean they are safe. Putting them in some type of restraint is in order. Your dog can be a flying projectile even as a child may be if they are not properly restrained. The best method of doing this is with a harness and a dog seat belt but if you're not in possession of those, then a crate that is belted in the back seat is also a reasonable method.

When you exit the car with your dog, leash him or her. The change in your environment will be a stimulation to the dog. That will make them want to explore the new area more fully. Without the proper restraint your dog could wander away and that could end up tragically.

Unless you're on the road for more than a day, feeding the dog in the car isn't in your best interests or his either. They do however need more than the normal amount of water. If that means you have to stop more often then so be it. The interior of a car can be hot. The sun coming in the windows can cause your dog to overheat in some cases. Take along extra water in bottles for your dog.

Don't leave your dog in the car. If you don't have any option then one of you should wait in the car with the dog. When you exit your car, the dog does too, unless your exit will be for less than five minutes to use a restroom. Inside a car can become nothing short of an oven.

Your dog could literally suffocate or have heatstroke. Neither of these are options that you want for your dog. If you must leave the car, leave a window cracked and never be gone for more than a moment or two without taking the dog with you.