Jade Theater

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The old saying goes, “A dog is a man’s best friend.” So why does our best friend get pawned off on a friend or relative or sent off to be boarded at the vet’s office when we go on vacation. No more! You do not have to leave your precious dog at home when you travel. With a little bit of planning, your dog can go with you on your next road trip.

If this is your first road trip with your dog, I recommend keeping the trip fairly short. I would not try to make a 18-hour car ride your dogs first introduction to car travel. You should also make sure that your dog has a little experience riding in the car. Just like people, some dogs get carsick, so make sure to introduce your pup to car rides early on and make sure that you know in advance if your dog is a good candidate for car travel.

Just like when you go on a trip, you pack your bags and get your vehicle ready to go, the same goes for traveling with your dog. You need to make a little extra room in your car that is going to be home base for your pooch for the duration of your trip. You should put your dog’s bed in your car, or just give him his very own blanket to curl up on. If you are using a new blanket, put it down near your dogs bed for a few days before you plan to leave so your dogs sleeping area in the car has all of the scents of home. If your dog is small enough and your car is big enough, it is also a good idea to take your dogs crate with you. The crate will make your dog feel right at home in the car. That would be the equivalent of us taking our entire bedroom with us when we travel.

You also need to pack your dogs necessities to take with you. The key things to remember are enough food for the duration of the trip along with any treats you normally give him or her. You will also need to pack up a food and water bowl. Remember that your pup will need to at least have some water while you are on the road so bring some water with you or make sure you plan your stops somewhere where you can fill up your dog’s water bowl for a quick drink during a bathroom break. You will also need to bring your dog’s leash and harness if you use one. It is very important to respect leash laws, especially when you are away from home, so make sure that you keep your dog’s leash with you at all times.

Before you get on the road, make sure that you map out your route and have stops designated where you can let your dog out and use the bathroom and run off some energy if need be. Rest stops usually have plenty of room for little Fido to roam around. Be sure to always clean up after your pup when he does his business. If you plan on staying at a hotel, be sure to make reservations ahead of time and call ahead to double check their pet policy. A large number of hotels are very pet friendly these days, so finding a place to stay should be easy and affordable.

With a little planning and some thoughtful packing, you can easily take your best four-legged friend on your next road trip, and really take all of the comforts of home right along with you.