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Many of us have dogs. Let’s face it, they’re like part of the family for a lot of people. The question arises, “what to do with them when we go on vacation?” Basically, there are 3 options; board them, have a friend take care of them, or take them along. If you and your pet are ready for it, the latter can be the best experience of all.

Many campgrounds allow pets, unfortunately, uncontrolled pets and irresponsible pet owners have contributed to the closing of some campsites to pets, and sometimes unfriendly reactions by fellow campers. Before you decide to pack the pooch, ask yourself some questions. Does your dog bark a lot? Is your pet high strung? If you are camping at crowded campground, you may have fellow campers only 20 or 30 feet away. It's their vacation too. If your pet is not well behaved, it is probably best to leave him behind, for your sanity as well as his.

Okay, so you’ve answered these questions and have determined that Fido is fit to trek into the great outdoors. Now what?

Basically, with a little bit of preparation, traveling with your dog can be an enjoyable experience for the entire family, the dog included. Here are some tips to make traveling with your furry friends more enjoyable.

• If you know where you are traveling, it is a good idea to call ahead for reservations and to check to see whether pets are permitted.

• Make sure your pet has proper I.D., with his name and your address and telephone number on it. There are several options available today; dog tags, pet registries, injectible microchips or tattoos. If you opt for the traditional dog tag, you can use a small key ring to hold tags instead of using “S” hooks, which sometimes fall off. There are also collars that allow tags to be fastened flat against the collar. (Note: If you’ll be staying at one location for an extended period of time, it's probably a good idea to also get temporary tags with the name and phone number of where you are staying on your trip.)

• Take the pet to the vet. There are a few reasons to do this. 1) To make certain that your pet is up-to-date on its vaccinations; rabies, and such. This is important for your dog’s health as well as the health of others. (If you’re traveling to an area where Lyme disease is prevalent, you may want to consider inoculating with the Lyme vaccine. If your dog will be around other dogs, Bordatella vaccine is important. Check with your veterinarian. Tell him when and where you’re going and he should be able to recommend what’s best.) 2) Get a copy of the inoculation record from your vet. 3) Get a Rabies Tag. Many local ordinances require proof of current vaccination to be on the dog’s collar. 4) Just to make sure your pet is in good health in general.

• If your pet has never been in a car, take him on short trips as conditioning for the journey. Remember that traveling can be very stressful for a pet.

• Properly restrain your pet, for the safety of everyone involved. This can be done by using a dog grill to keep the dog in one area of the car, by using a harness (which is similar to a seat belt), or using a crate. If you use a crate, attach bowls for food and water. It is also a good idea to get your pet accustomed to the crate before the trip. You may want to consider window guards that allow you to keep the windows open for ventilation, but prevent your dog from jumping out.

• Bring a couple of jugs of cold water. The water can be used to cool down your pet if your vehicle should break down.

• Take breaks. Plan to make frequent stops for water, stretching and letting your dog relieve itself. Give your dog water and exercise during rest stops, but never let him run loose at rest areas. No matter how well trained an animal is, this is a new experience and an accident could happen.

• Never leave a pet in a parked car. It takes only minutes for an animal to develop heatstroke or freeze.

• When you arrive at your destination, keep your pet in a calm, quiet area and give him plenty of time to adjust to his new surroundings.

• Always pack a spare collar and leash.

• Pick Up the Doo-Doo. Many campgrounds have designated dog-walking areas, but even so, it’s considerate to scoop after your pet. Keep zipper type baggies on hand at all times. For easy pickup, turn the baggie inside out, stick your hand in fully, like in a glove, grasp the gift, and pull the baggie down over your hand. Zip the baggie immediately, and toss it in the nearest frequently emptied outdoor trash container.

• Bring along plenty of your pup’s favorite food, which he is accustomed to. Stresses of travel can have a negative effect on the movement of food through the gastrointestinal tract with resulting diarrhea. One of the best ways to avoid this problem is to keep the food consistent; i.e. same food, same amount, same time each day.

• Stay away from kids. Unless your dog is used to children, vacation is not the time to experiment. Even dogs who are “used to children” may not respond favorably to unfamiliar children. Use caution when mixing any dogs with any children, especially while traveling.

• To keep your dog from barking, train your pet to stop barking on command. One or two watchdog barks are acceptable, but continuous yapping is not. 

The moral of the story, plan ahead. If you do that, you’ll be prepared to have an enjoyable vacation…and so will Fido.

      --- Sandra Lee

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