Doggie Road Trip: Guide to Car or RV Travel for Dog Owners

If you're getting ready to hit the road, RV style or by car and you're thinking of taking the dog, there are few things you should learn first. Taking a road trip with your dog can be a memorable experience for the whole family. Who wouldn't want to share the finest moments in life with their dog? You'll need to prepare ahead in order to make the trip as safe and comfortable as possible for Fido. Here are some road tested tips to help you and your dog travel the open road.

Many places across the US and Canada allow pets and their owners to lodge, eat, and play in harmony with other guests. Of course, each establishment will have their own guidelines for dogs but generally speaking your pet should be well behaved, supervised, and leashed most of the time. Plan a route that includes dog friendly stops every 2-3 hours for extended trips.

The Internet is a useful tool when researching dog friendly travel and there are several websites that can help you find lodging and activities. When planning your road trip log onto petfriendlytravel.com to search the US and Canada for lodging, campgrounds, beaches, parks, shopping, restaurants, rentals, and entertainment. Pet Friendly Travel is a great website for dog owners looking for things to do while on vacation with the dog.

When looking for lodging make sure that your dog is actually welcome first. If possible ask other dog owners if they have traveled with their dog and where they stayed. Getting an opinion from a friend or neighbor can be a great help in your search for a hotel or campground. Often on family vacations it is customary to stop by a family members home while in town.

Make sure that Fido is welcome before barging in with the dog, especially if he or she is not friendly with strangers or easily excited by children. If you are traveling by RV you will find it easy to road trip with the dog. Many hotels and inns will not let you leave your dog unattended either so this may be something you want to consider before booking a room.

Choose your destinations wisely because the overall health and happiness of your dog is at stake when on the road. There are lots of places you can bring your dog to exercise, go to the bathroom, and just hang out. If your trip is longer than 2 hours you should stop to let the dog stretch and be a dog before getting back on the road for the long haul. Offer plenty of fresh water during these stops and encourage your dog to run and play. The whole family could get involved in a game of Frisbee or fetch with the dog and get plenty of chances for bonding. That's what vacations are really for anyway, so why not share it with the dog too?

Sharing your vacation with the family pet can be a wonderful experience, especially for children. You want the memories to good ones so it is important to plan ahead in case of an emergency. Before hitting the road with Fido you need to be sure he or she is healthy enough for road travel. Some dogs are just not suited for travel by car or RV and will become listless, sick, or nervous because of it. If you dog does not enjoy road trips you should think of getting a sitter or letting the dog stay at a kennel.

If your dog is excited to go for a ride the first leg of the trip should be to the vet, and this should be done a few weeks in advance. While you are at the vet make sure to get copies of all your dogs health records including vaccinations and medications. At this time your dog should get a complete checkup to make sure they are healthy enough for road travel. The eyes, ears, and reflexes should all be tested as well as the heart and lungs.

Before packing the RV and leaving make sure that your dogs ID is up to date with the correct information. If possible, put two phone numbers on the ID tag where you can be reached and make sure the rabies tag is updated and attached to the collar. If your dog has a microchip make sure you know the identification number. Keep it in a safe place (in the car or RV) along with the veterinarians phone number and your dogs medical records. Search the Internet for emergency doctors and animal hospitals along the route in case of emergencies. Several days before you plan to travel avoid letting the dog get stressed out.

Pack in stages so you don't upset the dog and place his/her crate and blanket out so they can get comfortable with it. In the days before travel make sure your dog gets plenty of exercise to help them stay calm and relaxed.

While traveling to certain states and outside of the US, you may be required to register your dog with the municipality, state, or country to which you are traveling. Check with local government offices to see if you are required to hold any permits or certificates in order to travel or stay with your dog while on vacation. If your dog were to get lost on vacation, especially on a road trip hundreds of miles from home would you know what to do? The best way not to loose your pet is to keep him/her leashed at all times.

Most dogs get lost when they are off leash in unknown territory. There are a few companies that can assist you with pet recovery, one of them is Home Again. Home Again will provide you with a doggie ID card, a mobile pet recovery network consisting of veterinarians, hospitals, and shelters, and more than 5 million people are enrolled. For more information on Home Again's pet recovery system call 1-888-HOMEAGAIN or log onto www.homeagainid.com. For about $25 you can enroll your pet and should they become lost Home Again will help you find them with the help of microchip technologies.

If an emergency with your dog, while on a road trip vacation may send you into financial distress you may want to consider dog health insurance. The Pet Care program can help offset the cost of emergency care, help in the recovery of your lost dog, and some plans also cover accidents. For more information on the Pet Care programs call 1-866-275-PETS or log onto www.petcareinsurance.com. By planning ahead and taking care to make sure your dog is safe and comfortable it can be easy to travel the open road with your dog. On the day of travel feed your dog a normal amount of food (preferably their favorite dish) 2-3 hours before your departure. It is likely your dog will not want to eat while driving but you can offer fresh water from time to time, and always at stops.

While on the road, try to maintain the normal routine including your pets favorite toys, bedding, exercise, and play. Never leave your dog in the car alone. Instead nosh at outdoor eateries or plan picnics and barbeque's in outdoor areas. As mentioned, there are plenty of activities that the whole family can enjoy with the dog from boating to hiking and even shopping. When stopping for the night to get some shut eye, offer your dog some food and fresh water so they can eat if they are hungry. Don't be surprised if Fido doesn't want any right away because it's likely he/she will eat it before the morning comes. By planning ahead your road trip with your dog can be safe, memorable, and fun for everyone!