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Travelling with your dog
Travelling with your dog on vacation can help make the family vacation more fun for everyone if you plan it carefully. Below are some tips to make travelling with your dog enjoyable for the family.
Health And Safety are a must when Traveling with your Dog
- Health Checks are a must to ensure Safety. Carry your Labradoodle Puppies to the veterinarian and contact them for a checkup before going on an extended trip. Please ensure vaccinations are up-to-date; take health records with you. Certifications are required for airline travel.
- To keep your dog healthy as you travel, bring a supply of his healthy food. We recommend Royal Canin, as they offer dry and wet food options that are carefully formulated to ensure nutrition and taste for everyday excellence and are the kibble. Don’t forget bottled water and medications needed.
- Be prepared for emergencies and find a number for a 24-hour veterinary emergency hospital. Save it on your cell phone, along with the veterinarian’s number. If your dog needs medical attention, you are prepared with the necessary information on hand.
Crates
Crates are an absolute must when Traveling with your dog in the car and are required for travel. A crate can also support your pet from getting hurt. Crates are available from all pet supply stores, so look for these features when purchasing:
- Large enough to allow comfort for the dog to stand, turn, and lie down.
- Intense, with handles and grips, and free of interior protrusions.
- Leak-proof bottom covered with absorbent material.
- To prevent blocked airflow, ventilation on opposing sides, with exterior rims or knobs.
- “Live Animal” label, arrows should be in an upright position with the owner’s name, address, and phone number.
- Place a comfortable mat, your dog’s favourite toy, and a water bottle; your dog is ready to go.
The same can do the same for any new situation your puppy or young Labradoodle Puppy may encounter over their lives. Gannon recommends slowly introducing dogs to being in the car, going on a train, or staying at home or a hotel. Start by practicing short sessions and then gradually increase the time.
Tips on Traveling with your dog
- Having Control
- Being Consistent
- Introducing your puppy to as many new things as you can and being safe
- Start Traveling with your Dog when they are young, and even with puppies, carry them in the car and expose them to loud trucks, sights & sounds.
- Try practicing in a pet-friendly hotel lobby ahead of booking a room. Have the puppy walk in, sit, and walk in, and praise their good behaviour.
Start with Small Steps
Take time before Traveling with your Dog, and practice before your trip by taking your dog and a crate to a friend’s home. Leave your pet in another room, and even set up a tablet to Skype to see how things are going and if he feels comfortable. If he is sitting there quietly, you can say over Skype, “quiet, good quiet,” so that, even though they can’t see you, you can check to ensure they are safe.
When you are on your trip, your dog has already practiced. “I do it as often as I can. Mix it up when possible as well.”
- If you’re doing crate training, keep doing the same things you’re doing at home while on the go.
- Bring familiar items like your dog’s towel or blanket.
Travelling with your dog tips
- Open the two back doors of the car.
- Put two leashes on your dog.
- With two adults present, walk your dog to the car, with one adult standing next to one of the open back doors and another on the opposite side.
- Have one person practice getting your dog in and out from one side of the car.
- Finally, practice having your dog get in and out of the car from the other side.
This exercise aims to have the dog accomplish the task while maintaining a calm demeanour. Once your puppy graduates, you can have a friend to practice driving with your dog and the two of you in the back seat.
Encourage Positive Behavior
Our dog’s actions may not seem a big deal, but something like sitting in a new house or hotel lobby may make it feel like a significant accomplishment.
Things you can do when travelling is to ensure your puppy will feel safe and comfortable. “The more praise we can give, the more confidence becomes.
Keep Up Good Routines in a Calm Tone
When travelling with our dog, we think we want to give them a great vacation, but we often think about the trip through the lens of the human experience. Some people may feel their dog doesn’t need them because they don’t like rules on vacation. It is a mistake as dogs thrive on routines.
Tips to Enforce
- Leadership and being calm.
- Reinforce rules.
- Help your dog be calm, relaxed, and happy.
Be Aware of Stressful Elements of Traveling with your Dog
Even dogs that act calm and obedient at home may be startled or act differently in situations that frighten or stress them out. Things like crowds and loud noises may be problematic.
Redirect Issues As They Arise
Instead of correcting, it’s best to walk away or redirect when your dog begins having challenges. If needed, put your dog in a crate or keep them on a leash to maintain control over the situation.
Keep Your Dog Occupied With Toys
Your dog may need to blow off a little steam or focus on something different other than all the new stimuli involved with travelling. Having a couple of toys around can help give your pup something else to help keep occupied.
Don’t Set Expectations You Can’t Maintain
For instance, sitting next to your dog and petting them while travelling in the car may seem like a good idea. But doing so early may establish a routine wherein dogs think they’ll get comforted every time may lead to issues when you cannot fulfill that expectation.
Don’t Encourage Troubling Behaviors
Every moment you spend with your dog, you’re teaching them something. Some of that includes the things you may not want to be teaching. If you allow or encourage things like panting at the window or circling in the backseat of the car, you’re letting your dog think those things are acceptable.
Tips on Traveling with your dog
- Never take your dog out of the car when they’re jumping around.
- Don’t introduce your dog to new situations in an excitable way, as this may make them overly animated.
- Establishing expectations for travel in the car with the puppy is a time for him to relax and take a nap than move around.
- Never Leave your dog in the car alone.
Don’t Praise A Fearful or Anxious Dog
The biggest mistake owners make is to give dogs sympathy and empathy in a way that comes across as praising a negative behaviour. Saying “it’s okay, can be harmful. While you think you’re calming your dog down with a voice, it may translate to them as praise for fearful behaviour. Don’t try saying “leave it” when a dog is anxious or giving them a command they can be praised for, such as “sit.”
Travelling with your dog Labradoodle Puppy is exciting when on vacation; as with any aspect of travel, good preparation is vital, so ensure you establish good behaviour from your dog to maximize enjoyment.
