How to Prepare Your Dog for a Vacation
Vacations can be a lot of fun for you and your dog. But they also require some preparation. The first thing to remember is that the entire process will be new to your dog, so it may act differently than normal. There are many things that you need to do before taking a vacation with your pet for them to have an enjoyable time too!
Your Dog for a Walk Before You Leave
Before you head off on your car ride or airplane ride, be sure to take your dog for a walk. A long, vigorous one! This will help them get rid of some pent-up energy and make their travel time much more pleasant.
This will also give your dog an opportunity to relieve themselves before the long car ride. You can also take them to a nearby park if you want to give them an opportunity to interact with other dogs and people outside of your pack!
The idea is that it’s important for their mind as well as their body, so make sure they’re not just sitting in one place all day.
Make Sure They’re Wearing Their Collar with ID Tags and Rabies Tag
Proper ID is critical when traveling with your dog because it helps people know who they are and how to contact you in an emergency.
The ID tags should include your name, address, phone number, the day of the week on which your dog is due back home (or if traveling internationally), and a 24hr emergency hotline for as well as rabies tag with up-to-date information. Safety is a priority when traveling with your dog.
Pack Food, Water bowls, and an Extra Leash
Of course, always pack enough food and water to last for the trip. Pack some extra bowls in case you need them, as well as an extra leash.
The dog’s dish should be washed out after each meal so that it doesn’t get a nasty buildup of bacteria or viruses from leftover remnants on the surface. These familiar objects will also help comfort your dog in a new environment. Another good tip is to bring poop bags along with you in case you need to clean up a mess.
Bring Along a Favorite Toy or Blanket to Make Them Feel at Home
Another way to help your dog feel at home while traveling is to bring along a favorite toy or blanket. This will help them feel more secure and confident in their surroundings when visiting new places.
Your dog’s routine can be easily thrown off by being taken to unfamiliar territory, so try to maintain as many of the same habits that you would have at home while on vacation with your pet. Your dog’s behavior will be improved if you take the time to acclimate them to their new surroundings.
Make Sure All Vaccinations are Updated
When traveling, this step isn’t optional. Your dog should always be updated on their vaccines because when they are in a new place, they may face new, risky situations with other animals or people.
You will need to make sure that your dog’s vaccines are up-to-date before you leave on vacation so that there is no question from authorities whether or not your dog has been vaccinated.
*This is important for all pets, but it’s especially vital when dealing with the rabies vaccine. Rabies vaccinations are required by law in many countries and regions of the world before a pet can be allowed to enter; this includes other parts of North America. So, keep this in mind before you travel.
Practice Basic Obedience Regularly to Avoid Behavior Issues
When untrained dogs come into contact with new situations, they may act in ways that are uncomfortable for other people. This can include jumping up, barking excessively, or becoming aggressive with children and adults.
Regularly practicing basic obedience commands will help your dog stay calm when placed into new situations to avoid these issues.
A few examples of obedience exercises you should start training early on include:
- Sit
- Stay or Heel
- Come
- Down
- Leave It
- Stand on a Mat or Cone
In a risky situation, you want your dog to react properly, so be sure that you have a good foundation of obedience training before introducing your dog to drastically new experiences such as air travel or cross-country trips.