How to prepare your dog for a long road trip
You’re planning an awesome holiday – and your dog is coming too! But what if it’s his first time? Don’t get so excited that you forget to prepare – that is the key to ensuring that a good time is had by all.
What is a holiday? You vs your dog
We live so closely with our dogs that, sometimes, we forget that they are animals. For you, the human, a holiday is a time to get away from it all. A break from your busy routine, to relax at a destination with different sights, sounds and smells. This, to us, sounds blissful. To a dog who is not used to going on holiday with you, this is simply a list of scary things. Dogs thrive on routine. There is safety in routine, as it allows us to know what to expect from life.
Technically, preparing your dog to go on holiday with you should already start in puppyhood. Having positive holiday experiences during the socialisation period will prepare your pup for a lifetime of happy adventures. But we don’t live in a perfect world. You might not have realised back then how important socialisation is, or perhaps you have adopted a dog whose past you don’t know much about. It can be a special experience to have your dog with you on holiday, but make sure you make it special for both of you. To do that, follow our advice in this article.
However, if your dog seems very afraid, you’ll have to get professional help, or perhaps rather opt not to take him with you – provided that he will be properly cared for while you are away, of course. If you know your dog is scared of riding in the car, or if he tends to get carsick (often the result of fear), then rather don’t make any travel plans with him.
Never force your dog into something that scares him, you will only succeed in worsening his fear. Training, in this case preparing your dog for the holiday, should always be fun for your dog – otherwise it won’t work, as learning simply cannot happen in a stressed mind.
Before you leave
So, your dog is not used to being in a car very often, but he seems okay when you have to go to the vet. Please don’t take this as a sign that all is well and just put him in the car on the day that you leave, thinking you can easily do a few hundred kilometres with him. That’s quite a few hours during which things can go wrong.
Start as early as possible, and teach your dog to associate the car with things that he finds wonderful. We all know what that is to a dog: food! Practice getting into the car with your dog and, every single time, offer him one of his favourite treats. Getting into the car needs to become an enormous highlight in your dog’s life! This will also go a long way in ensuring that your dog doesn’t refuse to get back into the car when you stop for a break.
Also, practice going on drives, just for fun. Try to drive longer distances than just around the block. This gives you a good opportunity to see how your dog responds.
Another handy tip would be to help your dog with noises that could potentially scare him on the road, for example, bikes, which could give your dog a fright on the road and that, in turn, could possibly distract the driver. Find a sound clip of a bike online, and start playing it to your dog at a low volume, always pairing it with a treat. Gradually increase the volume, but always at a pace that the dog can cope with. Do this as often as you can.
On the road
Most dogs will curiously look out of the window and try to take in as many smells as they can, after which they tend to settle for a snooze. You can take something along for him to chew on. He might not be interested in chewing if he is too excited, but you can just try to offer it again later. It is recommended that the driver takes a break every two hours or 200km – this should be fine for an adult dog.
Your dog needs to be on lead when you stop and take him out of the car – it does not matter where you are or how well trained he is. Anything can happen, especially at a busy rest-stop. Allow your dog enough time to walk around and stretch his legs, and to do his toileting. Remember to offer water. Do not allow your dog out of your sight for a second – nothing will spoil your holiday as much as your best friend running off and disappearing. And this goes for the duration of the holiday – rather safe than sorry.
