How to travel with your dog

If you are planning to travel with your dog, you need to plan ahead. Actually, traveling with your dog can be as challenging, if not more so, than traveling with a youngster under the age of five! Read on to discover the best and safest ways to accomplish your goal: arriving safely and problem free at your destination!

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• fold-up dog crate or vehicle barrier
• first aid kit for your dog
• dog
• plastic bags for poop pickup and extra garbage bags for major cleanups
• vehicle with enough space for a dog crate OR a barrier if at all possible, otherwise a safety harness and seat belt clip
• bottled water
• dog water bucket with crate clip and food pan
• baby wipes
• soft towels
• bunjy cords for packing
• water
• pre packaged dog food packed in individual servings
• paper towels
• air freshener spray for the vehicle
• several bath towels for emergency cleanup
• ID tags on your dog
• list of veterinary services along the way
• papers and vet information card and instructions in your glove compartment
• numerous other items you will discover that you wish you had remembered to pack!

1. Pack your vehicle with all of the items mentioned in the included list. Be sure that the crate itself has an easily accessible entrance for your dog to get into and out of in comfort and safety. If your vehicle will not accomodate a crate then a barrier is the next best thing to use. If that is also not possible then a safety harness is the answer.
2. http://astore.amazon.com/crates-20 Place a non skid rug into the crate first and then on top of that place your dog bed or soft pad. Make sure that there is a water bucket clipped to the crate but filled only to the point where it will not splash out if possible. If using a barrier the water bucket should still be accessible to the dog and clipped if possible to something to avoid spillage.
3. Pack all the rest of the items into your vehicle. Bunjy cords are a necessity for this step! Pack so that items that need to be reached are handy to get to. Your own luggage and larger items can be packed on top of the dog's crate. Any items that a puppy could reach through and pull into the crate, such as a paper towel roll or clothing and blankets should be stored out of reach! It is best to place a large piece of cardboard on top of the crate before packing anything up above on top of the crate. If using a barrier then if at all possible all items should be packed on the other side of the barrier (the side AWAY from the dog!)
4. When packing up, check off all of the items mentioned in the list and any others that you may have added. When preparing your "papers and instructions" be sure you include your present Vet's phone number and that you have included instructions for when to do in case your dog should suffer a serious injury during travel. It goes without saying that your dog should be identifiable with a collar and tag and also should be microchipped for his safety.
5. Phoenix the newfy is loaded but mom has to finish getting the van packed right! Load in your dog and go! Traveling with a pet can be fun and easy when these steps are followed.

Tips & Warnings

• store all items that you need to get to in places that are easy to get to!
• check off from a list as you pack so you won't forget ANYTHING!
• It's easy to stop and take a break even in hot weather when your dog is crated in the vehicle. You can leave the windows rolled down or the door open. If possible use a vehicle that has a turn off switch so you don't waste battery power when the doors are opened. When you are at dog shows or other places where dog people congregate it is usually fairly safe to leave your vehicle unlocked and the windows rolled down. A vehicle with an open up back door is great, usually you can pack it so that no one can possible climb through to get into the interior of the vehicle, your dog can get plenty of air, and you can always padlock his crate for safety.
• don't pack so well that you cover up the access door to your tire changing equipment!
• make sure that you have included ALL supplies,but especially bottled water.
• Always make sure that your dog's crate is padlocked if you leave him in the vehicle opened up outside a restaurant or other area.
• do not leave your car running with your dog inside, especially if the exhaust will be entering his area.
• NEVER leave your dog in an enclosed vehicle except in cold weather. In hot weather it is much better to simply open up your vehicle rather than leaving him shut up inside with the air conditioner on. Your vehicle can possibly overheat or something could go wrong with the air conditioner and your dog could die from the heat.
• An adult dog will safely travel for four to six hours without stopping for a "rest area" break and it will be easier to make fewer stops and more productive than stopping too many times!