5 tips for smooth puppy travel

December 1st, 2008

It’s the holiday season, and for many of us holidays mean travel. There’s absolutely no reason we shouldn’t bring our furry family with us whereever we go. Since many of you will be traveling with your pups throughout December, we’ve invited our friend Janine at Luxury Paw to guest blog with some expert advice on pet travel. For more great tips and resources, see her site at http://www.luxurypaw.com.

It’s time to Strap on Your Doggles and Hit the Road!

I’ve done a fair amount of traveling alone all over the world and I can tell you it is a decidedly different experience when you travel with a dog! Usually, it’s a lot more fun and dogs are universally
such conversation starters that you meet so many more people as you stroll through new and exciting places.

I’ve discovered that really, the trick to traveling with your dog, like most anything else, is planning and anticipating every possible scenario…which can be mind numbing! Well, you don’t have to do
that, Beau and I have experienced most of them and we’re happy to give you the ‘Cliff Notes’ you’ll need for a smooth, fun, safe trip whether it be heading home for the holidays or the vacation of your dreams!

Top 5 MUST haves for a Smooth Trip:

1. Clean up baggies; so many more of them than you think you could possibly ever use! When you are packing for your trip, put a little bio-degradable baggie into the pocket of every pair of pants, every
jacket, sweater, vest, and yes, even bathrobe that you pack. Tie a dispenser to your purse, put one in the glove compartment of the car. There isn’t much worse than not having a baggie when you need one and
you can be assured that the one time you don’t have one…some one will be watching!

2. Your pets favorite toy and treat. It’s helpful to provide as much structure and recognizable routine as possible when you are on the road and their favorite toys will comfort them in the unusual surroundings.

3. Food. It’s so much fun now that many hotels offer pet-room service menus! “Smothered Comfort”, (a pot roast-ish dish for pets) and frozen dog yogurt for dessert all sound very appealing. Be careful though, these foods can be tremendously rich and cause upset for your pup. Always bring plenty of your dogs normal kibble or food and try to utilize the creative efforts of the kitchen as a supplemental treat. I pre-bag Beaus kibble in zip lock baggies and that way it’s easy to grab however many I need for the number of nights at each hotel.

4. Bottled water; two or three small bottles are easy to stash in the car or in my purse and they come in handy every time! For instance, when on a hot day you’re waiting for AAA to arrive for roadside assistance, or when you head out for a ‘quick walk’ and end up on the other end of town because it’s such a gorgeous day and there are so many new and interesting things to see. You’ll be happy, he’ll be happy if you always have a little bottled water on hand.

5. A safety harness for the car. Especially when you are driving in an unfamiliar area and you aren’t exactly sure where you’re going or which direction is the right one a harness/seat belt for the dog is a
must! Imagine how much more horrible and scary an accident would be if you were suddenly in the car with a 65 pound projectile, or when the rescue worker came to assist you, the dog wouldn’t let him near
you or worse jumped out of the car and got hit or caused another accident. Restrain the dog while you’re driving, it’s just the smart thing to do.

Those are our tried and true suggestions to help make your trip safe and enjoyable. The Doggles are not a ‘Must Have’ but if your pup likes to put his head out the window like Beau does, it really does
protect their eyes from street debris and dust, (that’s what I tell
myself, but the truth is they’re just so darn cute!).

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Many thanks to Janine and Luxury Paw for those holiday travel tips!

Speaking of pet travel, whether you’re looking for something to tote her around town or jet-set to Veil, Metro Dog has airline-approved pet carriers for every style and taste.

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