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5 Tips for Traveling Safely with Your Pet

posted on 6/2/2021 2:25:18 PM

Pets are part of the family! When it comes to traveling with your fur baby, safety is a top priority. To bring you some top-notch animal-loving expertise, our team sat down with Sherri, Executive Director of the Humane Society of Portage County, and Dolores, former Board President and volunteer. Read on (and Listen our All About The Car Podcast episode at AllAboutTheCarPodcast.com) for helpful tips to keep your four-legged friend happy and safe on the road!

1. Prepare in Advance

There’s more to proper pet travel than just hopping in the car. When taking your pet on the road with you, there are many components to consider. Some of the big ones include:

Your pet’s needs
Restraints such as safety harnesses or car seats
Pet travel gear
Vaccinations and identification
Pre-travel check-up
Protection for the vehicle interior

...and that’s just scratching the surface! As you can see, you don’t want to leave preparation for the last minute. Read on, we’ll dive into tail-wagging details!

2. Make Sure your Pet is Comfortable in a Car Before You Go

Tons of dogs LOVE car rides. But, for those that don’t, travel can be a huge hassle. If your dog falls into the latter category, the first step is to try and identify the cause. For example, your pet might dislike cars because they feel unsteady, suffer from motion sickness, get overstimulated, or have had a previous experience that causes anxiety, like a car accident. By watching your pet closely and paying attention to their behavior, you can begin to identify triggers for your dog.

A great way to help your pup become comfortable around vehicles is to associate the car with positive things. For instance, begin by walking your dog past the car every day on the way out for a stroll. Then, give your dog treats near or inside the car. Once they become comfortable, start out with short rides around the block and gradually increase the distance. Patience is key, especially with adopted animals. There aren’t breeds “better suited for travel” than others, either – ultimately, it comes down to the dog’s personality and experiences. And, as with all training, start your dog out at a young age if possible!

3. Stick to a Normal Feeding Schedule

We humans tend to change our diets quite a bit when on the road. Fast food cheeseburger and fries? Why not! For your pet, though, this definitely shouldn’t be the case. To avoid upset stomachs and *shudder* cleaning up messes in the back seat, be sure to keep your pet on their usual feeding schedule. For instance, if Fido is used to meals in the morning and evening, stick to it! You’ll also want to use the same brand of food they’re accustomed to.

A few pro tips: Never feed your pet in a moving vehicle, and avoid meals right before heading out on the road. Smaller portion sizes can help decrease the chances of nausea, too!

4. Keep Your Pet Safe with Crash-Tested Restraints

One of the most important pieces of pet travel – seriously, read this closely – is properly restraining your pet in the vehicle. Unfortunately, most pet parents let their pets roam freely in the car. This is not only unsafe for your fur baby, but it can be a huge distraction for you as the driver! You wouldn’t let a toddler crawl around the vehicle, so don’t let your pet, either.

There are a many great restraint options out there, but the most popular tend to be harnesses and car seats. We suggest going to a reputable pet store, speaking with the employees, and fitting your dog properly in-store. A safer pup and less stress for you on the road? That’s a definite win-win! For the cat owners out there, keep your cat in a carrier and use a seat belt to secure them while driving. The Center For Pet Safety is a great resource, too! Check out their website for crash-tested and approved harnesses, crates and more.

5. Don’t Forget the Details!

Last but not least, there’s a few important precautionary steps to complete before you head out on the open road:

Practice routine maintenance on your vehicle and get a full tune-up from a reputable shop
Bring your pet in for a check-up from the vet
Be sure they’re up-to-date on vaccinations and gather copies of medical records
Make sure your pet can be identified if lost...tags and microchips are a must!
Research the route for your trip
Create an emergency contact list to keep in your vehicle, and mark any health concerns for yourself and your pet
Keep a pet travel kit in the car at all times
Check out The Complete Guide to Traveling with Your Dog from the American Kennel Club

Don’t forget to listen to our podcast episode at AllAboutTheCarPodcast.com for additional pet travel tips from Sherri and Dolores. Plus, the team takes a Wisconsin Road Trip to the dog-friendly Wisconsin Dells Boat Tours! P.S. - the attraction is rated 5 bones on BringFido.com!

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