Road Trip Planning: Tips for Traveling with a Puppy
Are you planning a great road trip with your new best bud, your puppy? Traveling with a puppy can be tough. Read this guide to plan for a safe and fun trip.
Did you know having a pet can boost your health? If you have recently adopted a puppy, you might be noticing those benefits.
Yet, if you have a trip in the next month and aren’t sure how to travel with your puppy, we can help.
In this guide, we’ll go over tips on traveling with a puppy.
Want to learn more? Keep reading.
Make Your Car Pet Ready
Before you travel, you’ll want to make sure your vehicle is safe and secure for your family. Make sure your puppy is protected while you travel.
Harnesses, carriers, and crates can keep your puppy from falling forward from your lap or seat.
Use one of these safety measures to protect your pet in the event of an accident. Make sure you deactivate the airbag in the seat before your pet occupies it.
If you still need to pick up car accessories or a transport box, check out Kleinmetall.
Call Your Pet’s Vet
Before you head out on your trip, you’ll want to call your vet. Confirm that your puppy’s vaccinations are current. Talk to the vet about any health concerns.
Ask for their recommendation on remedies for diarrhea, restlessness, and car sickness.
You should also consider getting your puppy microchipped. Pets can get separated while traveling. You’ll want to make sure you have your pet’s paperwork up to date.
Animal hospitals, vets, and shelters have scanners. They can use the scanner to read the chips and let you know if they have recovered your puppy.
Legally Register Your Pet
It might seem weird, but you need to register your pet legally before traveling. It’s a smart move to make sure they have proper identification, especially if you plan on taking them overseas.
Pets must be at least three months old to be registered. You may need to wait for your pet to grow up before they can legally travel with you, even domestically.
There are a few different ways to register your pet. You can do it through your local animal control, licensing authority, or a private company. Prices and procedures vary depending on where you go, so be sure to do your research ahead of time.
You can also hire the legal team from Sattler Law Group PC to guide you through the process and ensure everything goes smoothly. They have experience with domestic and international pet travel and can help make the process as smooth as possible for you and your pet.
Spend Time Training Your Puppy
Avoid any dangerous situations by making sure your puppy knows common commands. Practice before your trip until your puppy comes and sits at your command.
You should test their progress in an area with a lot of distractions. Go to the dog park or another busy location and try it out. This way, you know your puppy will be able to perform the command while traveling.
Pack and Pick up Vacation Gear
Pets need different things like you do when on vacation. Make sure you pack the right gear for the trip.
Pick up plenty of food and treats. If you’re feeding your puppy canned food, don’t forget your can opener. Make sure you pack their vitamins, supplements, and medications.
Does your puppy’s stomach get irritated easily? Make sure you pack water from home that they are familiar with and bring their bowl.
Pack plenty of toys and their bed. Double-check your puppy’s identification tag. Does it include your current cell phone number?
You’ll want to pack a leash, waste bag, paper towels for messes, and an old towel. Bring proof of their vaccinations, medical records, and a photo. A photo of your puppy will help you find them again if you get separated.
Take the time to prepare for your trip. This way, you won’t have to worry during the trip if anything happens.
Where Will You Go?
Begin to consider where you will go. There are tons of pet-friendly destinations to explore with your furry loved one.
You can explore a new city or hike the mountains or head to a lake. Fill up your itinerary with activities but also give yourself time to relax.
Look for a Hotel
You’ll need to find a hotel or Airbnb that’s pet-friendly. A lot of locations are becoming more open to pets, but some places aren’t accommodating. Ask a few questions before you book with anyone.
First, you’ll want to ask the host or hotel if they accept pets. Some policies will change fast. Make sure you always check with the specific property to see if they welcome pets.
Are there any breed restrictions or weight restrictions? Some hotels will impose weight restrictions.
If you find a great hotel, ask if they might make an exception for your pet. Some hotels will provide a bit of wiggle room in their size limitation.
Next, you’ll want to find out if there’s a limitation with how many pets can be in the room. If you’re traveling with more than one puppy, you need to make sure you find out if there’s a restriction.
Does the hotel charge a pet fee? Some hotel chains will say that pets can stay for free, while others will add hidden fees.
Before booking, make sure you find out what costs get included in your reservation. Find out if the fee is for the entire stay or pet night.
Does Your Pet Travel Well?
Some people’s dogs and cats like to go for a car ride. You’ll see the pet jump into the car excitedly and look out the window.
If your puppy isn’t used to riding in the car, you should try to take a few shorter drives with them beforehand. Going on short car drives will help you get a sense of how they travel in the vehicle.
If your puppy gets car sick, you could get medication from your vet to help with the sickness.
Some medications can cause side effects. Before a big trip, you’ll want to help your puppy relax by bringing them for a long walk. This way, your puppy will feel tired and calm down during the road trip.
Now You Know More About Traveling With a Puppy
We hope this guide on traveling with a puppy was helpful. Make sure you have your puppy’s medical records, food, and toys. Don’t forget to practice bringing your puppy on short drives to get them prepared.
Browse our other helpful resources on health, pets, and more.
