When you go on a long car trip, you might want to keep your dog with you. It's not as simple as putting your dog in the car and leaving. You should prepare properly to make this process more comfortable for your dog.
The first thing that you have to do is make sure that your dog is comfortable being in the car. Take your dog with you around town more than a few times and see if he or she is comfortable in the car. Can you see any problems with your pet being in the car? If you see some, address these before going on a longer trip.
Have blankets for the dog to lay on. The ride is going to be long and your dog might want to lay down and sleep or at least be comfortable. The more of these you have, the more comfortable you dog can be.
Bring your crate. Your dog can get bored or even irritable at times. If you have the crate, you will be able to keep your dog under control when he or she is jumping around. It's also easier to travel with a crate since you can keep the dog inside it at night.
Have water that the dog can drink. Cars get hot on long rides even with the air conditioning on. Make it easy for your pet to have frequent drinks.
Don't feed your pet before you leave. Dogs can get car sick. The less they eat, the less problems this is going to cause you when on the road. Feed your pet more after you are done driving that day.
Entertain your dog by having plenty of toys to play with. Don't get loud ones else you will be annoyed hearing the same sounds over and over.
Take frequent breaks. The dog will need to get out and walk as well as use the restroom.
Don't ever leave the dog in the car even if you will be gone a few minutes on a stop. This can hurt or even kill your pet. It's also not fair for your pet to have to stay inside the car when he or she wants to get out and stretch.
Christopher has background experience working in the insurance industry for 5 years while in college. He is currently trying to setup sites that help others find cheaper insurance. Visit his newest blog atauto insurance policy.