Ten Tips for Safe Travel with Your Dog

Dogs are terrific companions who enjoy your company and love to go with you wherever you go. Taking your dog on a vacation getaway is a lot of fun, but does take a little extra planning.

Dogs need to be kept safe, restrained from jumping around in the car, given breaks, get fed and walked along the way. In order to have an enjoyable trip, make advance plans.

It used to be very unusual to find a hotel that allow pets, but hotels are becoming more liberal in allowing "man's best friend" to stay under their roof. Hotel policies can change without notice. Some hotels do not charge an extra fee for bringing your pet, but most of them do charge extra. The extra charges may be in the form of refundable deposits, non-refundable deposits, fees and cleaning fees. Extra fees wary wildly by hotel, usually in line with the hotel room charge. In other words, hotels that charge more for their rooms also tend to charge more for the pet charge.

If you are taking a car trip, plan your route in advance. Make room reservations in advance with pet friendly hotels. Take along a list of pet friendly hotels along with you on the trip, in case you get off schedule and need to make last minute changes.

When you call the hotel for reservations, be prepared to have them ask you what kind of pet you have. Many hotels have size limitations. If your dog exceeds the size, you can ask if they can make an exception, but they are not obligated to do so. The hotel may have designated pet rooms. hopefully the designated pet rooms will be located in the most convenient place to take the dog for a walk.. You can ask for a room convenient to a pet walking area, such as on the first floor with a private entrance. Walk the pet away from foot traffic and other guests and clean up after them.

1. Make sure all vaccinations are up to date and that you have proof of rabies shots and other vaccinations with you. Carry the number of your veterinarian with you in case there are any questions about your dogs health. Make sure to put identifying tags on the dog.

2. Put your dog into a kennel cab or restrain it with harness attached to the seat belt. Many dogs feel safer in a kennel. Restraining your dog will prevent it from jumping into your lap and interfering with your driving.

3. Have the vital supplies handy, including a leash and collar.

4.. Make sure to have bottled water for your dog. Dogs are not able to perspire, So they can get overheated easily. Water helps to keep their system working efficiently and helps to keep the body cool. If your dog does get overheated, try dowsing the dog's feet and nose in water. This helps to cool the dog down.

5. Bring the same dog food that the dog gets fed at home. Avoid an upset stomach by keeping the diet consistent. Bring food and some snacks for the dog to munch on while riding.

6. Take frequent breaks. Experts recommend stopping at least every two hours for a bathroom break. Take frequent breaks and take your dog for a short walk around to stretch its legs. Frequent breaks help to prevent the formation of blood clots for human riders too.. Making the dog wait too long for a bathroom break can cause bladder problems later in life.

7. Bring some chew toys. Bring your dogs favorite toys to keep them occupied while on the road. Dogs can amuse themselves for hours with a nice squeaky toy.

8. Keep your dog on a leash. When you open the car door, make sure that you have the leash on the dog to prevent the chance that they will jump out and run away.

9. Bring your dogs favorite blanket. They enjoy snuggling into a warm place where they feel secure.

10. Don't leave your dog in the car for extended periods. Your car can heat up surprisingly fast in hot weather, or in the sun. Dogs can easily get overheated and get sick. Park the car in the shade to help keep it cool. Even in the shade, don't leave the dog in the car for an extended period.

Enjoy spending vacation with your dog. Dogs take such delight in spending time with you. Traveling with your your pet makes the trip much more fun.