Yes, You Can
March/April 2008

Travel with FIDO

It’s not easy leaving your best friend behind when you head out for adventure. With these tips and some planning, you won’t have to.

By Debra Bokur

In September 1960 author John Steinbeck loaded his poodle into a pickup truck, waved good-bye to his wife, and launched a 10,000-mile expedition through America. This journey provided fodder for one of his best-loved books, Travels with Charley. Perhaps Steinbeck simply treasured Charley’s companionship—or perhaps Charley, like most dogs, was able to inspire that special brand of canine guilt that manifests the moment we drag our suitcases out of the closet. Can’t afford the therapy? With a little planning, it’s possible to bring your four-legged best friend along.

Pre-trip Prep
“These days, when dogs are at long last being recognized as integral members of our family, it’s hard to think of traveling without them,” says Claudia Kawczynska, editor-in-chief of The Bark, a magazine dedicated to the culture of all things dog. “Not only do they give us the excuse (perhaps the imperative) to explore areas far off the beaten tourist tracks, they provide that social bridge that makes pleasantries with total strangers a regular occurrence.” Successfully traveling with your dog, however, depends on the amount of pre-trip planning you’re willing to do. “If your dog isn’t accustomed to riding in the car, take her for short rides, increasing distances in small increments prior to your trip,” advises American Animal Hospital Association Veterinary Adviser Linda Workman, DVM. “This can help lessen the effects of motion sickness and keep your pet from becoming nervous or agitated—especially if your dog’s only travel has been to the veterinarian for medical care. Some drive-through businesses offer treats for dogs, and training for travel can always include dog-friendly areas where you can play, to reinforce the positive experience of traveling in the car.”

Horizon Bound
Ready to hit the road? Dr. Workman offers the following advice:

Use a pet restraint, such as a harness, seat belt attachment, pet car seat, crate, or interior vehicle barrier. This helps protect animals in case of a collision and prevents them from distracting the driver and from escaping. Many states now require that animals be restrained while in a moving vehicle.

Never allow your dog’s head to extend outside the car window. This can lead to dirt particles penetrating the eyes, ears, and nose, causing injury or infections.

Stick to regular feeding routines. Take an adequate supply of food, and be aware of your supply and of store hours when traveling long distances. If your pet is on a special diet, bring along extra in case you can’t find it on the road.

Bring a supply of your own water to avoid possible stomach upset the first day. New areas can have minerals or bacteria in water that pets need time to adjust to.

If your dog takes medication, have a good-sized supply—plus a bit extra. Veterinarians cannot write prescriptions without a prior veterinary/patient relationship.

Be certain you’ve checked with your dog’s health-care provider in plenty of time before your trip to determine if additional vaccines or shots are required for your destination. For instance, if you live at a high altitude or an area of the country where heartworms or fleas are not a problem, taking your dog on a trip to the southern part of the country makes her susceptible to these health concerns and could even endanger her life if precautions are not taken.

Pack your pet’s favorite toys, food and water bowls, and leash. Carry a first-aid kit and know basic pet first aid.

Dogs can suffer from motion sickness. Some current figures suggest about one in six dogs get sick from traveling. Keep your vehicle well ventilated. Decrease amounts fed at breakfast and several hours prior to departure. Some veterinarians recommend giving pets their main meal at the end of the day or when you’ve reached your destination.

If your dog has continued anxiety or vomiting following practice trips, treatments (both pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical) are available.

Know Your Objectives
Happiness on the road also depends on how realistic you are about what the experience will be like, says Kristin Mehus-Roe, author of The Original Dog Bible: The Definitive Source to All Things Dog (BowTie Press, 2005) and Dogs for Kids: Everything You Need to Know About Dogs (BowTie Press, 2007). “It’s important to understand,” says Kristin, “that if you take him along with you, your vacation becomes about your dog. If you want to visit an amazing restaurant or take in an evening show, you won’t be able to unless the venue in question is dog-friendly or you’ve made other arrangements for those times.” That said, Kristin offers the following recommendations for traveling with your pooch.

Make sure your dog is accustomed to being in a pet crate. Many hotels have policies that prohibit leaving a dog alone unless it’s crated. Acclimate him to a crate before traveling so that it doesn’t cause stress. An added advantage of leaving your dog crated while you’re out of your room is that the comfort of the familiar space within the larger, unfamiliar room can be comforting, helping reduce stress and anxiety while you’re away. Leaving your dog alone and loose is likely to cause fear and even panic. And remember—if your dog eats the curtains or empties her bladder on the mattress, you’re paying for the damages.

Choose lodging that is pet-friendly, with size and weight requirements that your dog meets. Plan before you go by checking out www.tripswithpets.com and www.petswelcome.com for hotels, bed-and-breakfast inns, motels, and resorts. For even more information about cafés, restaurants, parks, and other places that will welcome your dog, visit www.dogfriendly.com.

Camping? Verify beforehand that dogs are welcome. Even some national parks prohibit dogs within their boundaries.

Plan to stop every two hours to allow your dog to stretch his legs and go to the bathroom. If your dog is very young, very old, or unused to car travel, you may have to make stops more frequently.

Never, under any circumstances, let your pet run free. Keep him leashed at all times. Even if your dog is good at coming when called, never let him off the leash, especially at rest stops and in unfamiliar surroundings. Regardless of how much your dog loves you, he’s still a dog—and the combination of unknown places, strange sounds, and new scents can be overwhelmingly distracting. Every year pets are lost and left behind at rest stops and parks because they were allowed to run loose and didn’t return when called. Kristin just adopted a dog that was found running along a highway that was most likely lost by travelers.

“We’ve heard from many readers who plan vacations based solely on what they think their dogs would like—so instead of trying to find an airline that they can trust with their precious cargo, they rent RVs and take off on road trips à la Steinbeck and his co-pilot Charley,” adds Claudia. “Even though we might be faced with a certain amount of anxiety when we take our dogs with us to new places, I believe that facing such challenges is a lot easier than having to worry whether our dogs are being well cared for while we are gone. And they don’t ask pestering questions like ‘Are we there yet?’ Being there with you is just where they want to be.”