Traveling With Your Dog
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Sam Basso
PHOENIX , AZ AREA: (602) 708-4531
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Here’s a challenge: I recommend you plan a road trip with your dog, whether just a day trip or something overnight. I have found all dogs benefit from traveling with their owners. With some dogs, you need more preparation, such as if your dog is fearful of strangers or has medical needs. It also gives you an opportunity to practice what you have learned and to see what areas we should improve upon in the future. Plus, it is just fun to go places with your dog!
ROAD TRIPS
It used to be our extended family plan to go on a yearly family road trip. With COVID and because the kids have all grown up, we don’t travel like we used to. I have also traveled countless miles alone with my dogs, mostly for work and education purposes. Because of all that experience. I don’t want to bore you with all the details of where we’ve been and what I’ve have done, but I will give you some pointers to make this adventure something you and your dog can also enjoy. It is my philosophy that I want to make every day a good day for my dog, whether on vacation or not. Every trip is planned in such a way that my dog gets to do things along the way that will be enjoyable for him. Hikes, city walks, exercise/ play sessions, and personal time are all included.
I have been to the mountains. I’ve been on beaches. In forests, deserts, big cities, and hiking trails. I’ve encountered small (chipmunks) to large (mature Bull Elk) animals on trips. I’ve been in small motels and fancy resorts with my dogs. I’ve been in lakes and waded streams. On patios, in restaurants, in other people’s homes, in public parks, high rise buildings, fairgrounds, office complexes, parking garages, and on Canadian super ferries. Dogs can go most places if you prepare in advance and use some smarts. I’ve been in cars, U-Hauls, minivans and SUVs with dogs. As an adult, I’ve been as far north as Edmonton, Alberta Canada; south to San Diego; west to the Pacific Ocean; and east to the Dakotas.
I am NOT a believer in flying dogs unless you are very careful about it. It is risky. If your dog gets lost along the way, say the airline puts the dog on the wrong flight, or gets stuck on some 100-degree runway, your dog will die. They will even shoot a dog that escapes onto a runway if they can’t get it back. I would consider flying if I had one of the miniature breeds that can fly in the passenger compartment in one of those tiny carry-on fabric crates, or if I took a midnight non-stop flight to my destination.
PREPARATORY TRAINING
Of course, I also brush up on my dog’s training and manners before I leave town. There is a serious risk that something bad can happen while on the road, since you and your dog are in unfamiliar situations! I tell this to people all the time. Unfortunately, some don’t believe me, and don’t take their training as seriously as I recommend. When your dog gets loose in a strange place, they can become so afraid they won’t trust you, and they will run away. Other dogs, if they get loose, will openly defy you and run away for the sport of it. You must plan for the possibility that your dog will get away from you. I always train for off leash control in the event my dog get loose from me. I’ve been fortunate that nothing serious has ever happened, but I will say it is embarrassing for your dog to get out of your room, in a 4 star hotel, to then run up and down the hallways with you chasing them… just sayin’…
I remember one customer, while we were halfway into the obedience training classes, saying “Well, I really didn’t want my dog to obey; I just wanted to give him an activity to do, so I signed up for lessons.” I remember thinking to myself, “HUH?! You paid all that money just to go through the motions? Don’t you realize that every dog eventually gets away from the owner? Don’t you love your dog enough to protect him through training?” I tried to explain the dangers to them, but they didn’t believe me. (Hmm, no wonder they only put in a halfhearted effort on the daily homework) For me, I want INSTANT responses in dangerous situations, and I don’t want to have any hassles on trails, in the city, in the car, in the hotel room, elevators, hallways, or anywhere else! My dog’s training was useful in 2001 at the beach in Carmel, CA. It is an off-leash beach (ever wonder why we can’t do that everywhere?!) Dillon was having a grand old time with me, and at the same time visiting with other dogs. However, from time to time, I needed to call him back to me since he occasionally intimidated shy dogs because he was so confident and friendly. I called and he’d come back to me and walk with me until I released him to go and play with another dog.
DON’T DRIVE LIKE IT IS A RACE
Do you want your dog throwing up the whole way? Then drive like you are on a racetrack, and all that movement will cause your dog to regularly vomit in your car. What I do is drive very smoothly and safely as if I had a small child in the car.
OPTIONAL BOARDING OR DAYCARE
In 2001, we were living in Seattle and went on a road trip to California. Of course, we brought the dogs, too! Taking your dog on a summer vacation with you requires some advance preparation. Since we were going to go to San Diego to see the Zoo, I used a professional kennel for one day while there. I knew that the parking lot wasn’t shady, and it was predicted to be hot and sunny. So, before I left town, I asked around for referrals. I located an air-conditioned veterinarian operated kennel in San Diego. I made reservations there before I left, and everything worked out great that day. I dropped him off in the morning and picked him up before they closed. I knew Dillon was safe, and therefore I could relax and have fun at the park. These days, I would opt for a doggie daycare instead of a kennel. If your dog is acclimated to the daycare environment, I think it is much less stressful for the dog.
PLAN FOR THE WEATHER
It is worth considering the weather. Spring and fall are the best times to do a road trip with a dog, unless you are going to a destination with milder weather or a day trip so you can manage your dog’s temperatures using the vehicle and room air conditioning or heater. Some dog breeds don’t do well in extreme temperatures. So, you must know your breed and figure out what kind of trips you can take together.
I’ve traveled in the Southwest with dogs in the summer. It’s possible to do if you are careful in picking the season, parking locations, and so long as you have a supervision plan. But truthfully, if it is going to be too hot, then leave your dog at a daycare while you are out of town and not take the risk. A similar problem is if you expect your dog to go on that summer hike with you. I’ve seen way too many dogs overheating on hiking trails with an owner who ran out of water. Plan accordingly.
I have also traveled with dogs in the winter. In those cases, I had to make sure my dogs didn’t get too cold. I pack extra bath towels to dry them off, for example. Some dogs need a jacket of some sort. I wrapped my plastic dog crate with blankets as insulation. I kept the heater running if left in the car, with someone, so the dog wouldn’t get too cold. And I was careful not to let the dog get too cold when outside the vehicle. I made a mistake once with my Doberman, Dillon. He got too cold in the vehicle as it was parked. I came back to the vehicle, and he was shivering. I felt awful. Dobermans just don’t have enough insulation to handle cold weather. I was used to my previous dog, Kate, a Bouvier, being impervious to cold weather. He was not. He was never in any real danger, but I never did that again.
I am especially careful in where I park the vehicle. I look for safe, shady spots, places where the dog can walk on grass instead of hot pavement, covered parking garages, shady sides of buildings, and other sheltered areas. You must know how well your dog can handle both cold and hot weather, and how fast your car heats up and cools down to do this properly. You will read that you shouldn’t ever leave your dog in a parked car, but that’s not accurate. Really it is no different than what a police, military, search and rescue, etc. dog goes through. You just must be smart about it. When I lived in Seattle, my dog went everywhere with me, and was in the vehicle during every appointment, throughout the year, regardless of the weather. Once I moved to Phoenix, that became impossible. It just gets too hot here. Just remember, you should never leave a dog unattended in a car unless you have made plans to make sure the dog is going to be 100% safe. There are also thieves and bad people who might either steal or harm your dog if left unattended.
Stay out of the direct sunlight when parking the vehicle. If the vehicle is in direct sunlight, say at a restaurant, put all the windows down, park in a space where you can see the car from inside the restaurant, and check on your dog after 15 minutes, right after you order your meal, and again during the meal, or if you are concerned, just to see how things are going. I am a fan of owning a minivan when traveling with a dog. You can keep the windows up but flip open all the side windows to get a side breeze. That way, someone can’t easily reach into the vehicle, your dog can’t jump out of the vehicle, and you can keep the inside temperatures the same as the outside temperatures.
Put a thermometer in the car. You can buy them at pet stores in the reptile section. The programmable ones will record high and low temperatures, plus humidity. This is invaluable for determining your dog’s comfort and safety. I stick them to the outside of the crate.
EXERCISE
I also take extra pains to get my dog in excellent shape before I leave town. A dog in good shape can handle hot or cold weather better than one that is flabby and out of shape. They also handle the stresses of a trip better when they are in shape.
Along the way, I also exercise my dog, so they rest in the hotel and in the car, don’t get out of shape, don’t get restless, and don’t get constipated. I pull over every 2 hours to exercise my dog. About 15 minutes the first stop, 30 minutes the second stop. And then repeat this pattern all day. I map out expected pull over stops before I leave town. Yeah, I’m that prepared.
I am always concerned that my dog gets enough exercise. When you are on a road trip, there are often days when you are just blowing by a lot of miles just to get to your next destination. So, for hours on end, your dog is laying there in the car doing nothing. If you have an active dog, s/he is going to be bouncing off the walls for lack of exercise when you get settled into your hotel room at night. That’s why it pays to teach your dog to play fetch and tug of war. Then, you can find a small patch of grass somewhere nearby and burn off all that “steam” before bedtime.
It is important to consider potty stops, constipation, and water requirements when on a road trip. Younger dogs, under 1 1/2 years old, might not be truly trustworthy when in the hotel room, so you must exercise greater supervision and bring along your clean up materials. Older dogs might have to urinate more frequently, so you must plan on making extra potty stops along the way for your dog. With the relative lack of normal exercise on a road trip, plus the fact that your dog will probably be slightly dehydrated (from dry air, plus dogs will eat and drink less on vacation) on a long road trip, your dog will become somewhat constipated. I encourage my dog to drink water at every potty stop. Exercise will help the dog to eliminate normally during the trip, as well. Sometimes a restless dog in a hotel room just has to potty.
AFFECTION
I find dogs need and give extra affection on trips. Don’t ignore them. This should be a mutually fun trip.
HEALTH
Health considerations should also be factored in. If your dog is elderly or requires special medical attention, you need to consider if it is safe for the dog to travel at all. You also need to make plans to address the dog’s health issues when you might be hours from the nearest veterinarian’s office. I bring a first aid book (yes, I have already read it!) and kit on every trip. I also make sure my dog’s vaccinations are up to date, have my dog microchipped and bring photos (.jpg format) on a thumb drive or DVD in case my dog ever escaped or was stolen so I could make up lost dog posters.
I’ve traveled with an old sick dog. It was better for her to be with me than stuck at home.
CONTAINMENT
I always bring along a dog crate. Use a crate so that s/he can’t tear up the car or escape or damage the hotel room. I made the mistake, many years ago in Canada, to leave my dog in the room while I went to breakfast. She did some minor damage to the wall and bed, which I was able to repair. But lesson learned. It was an unfamiliar place, and I hadn’t prepared her in advance for that kind of thing. Furthermore, some hotels, if they find you left your dog alone in the room, will call animal control and have your dog taken away! Learn about the hotel policies before you experience something awful like that.
FEEDING AND WATER
I buy hanging stainless steel water and food bowls that can be attached to the inside of the crate in the vehicle. They don’t spill, they don’t crowd the dog, are easy to clean, and all the necessary food and water can be provided while you are driving.
I bring gallons of fresh water in the vehicle. I also think you should bring your own food, unless you are SURE that you can buy the same brand and type along the way. An abrupt change in diet will often lead to diarrhea. I have my dog on a premium dog food that is hard to find. So, I fill up lots of Ziploc baggies with fresh kibble and stuff them under the seats to keep them cool. I bring more food than I know that I will need just in case some of it is lost or destroyed, or in case the trip is unexpectedly lengthened.
TOYS
Every trip, I always bring along chew toys and play toys. Dogs get bored, and if you have them in the habit of chewing a toy when they are bored, then that goes a long way towards keeping them out of trouble in the car and in the hotel room. I bring a small variety so that I can rotate toys from day to day.
LOTS OF TOWELS AND EVERYTHING ELSE
Bring lots of old bath towels. They absorb a lot of dirt that would otherwise end up in your car, they provide padding in the crate, and are necessary in case of a major mess (like vomit). I also have dog shampoo, brushes, nail clippers, etc. in case I must groom my dog on the road. I will also pack an extra leash, collar and other training aids.
GOOFY PEOPLE AND THEIR GOOFY DOGS
Kids, relatives, and other dogs… don’t let your dog become the punching bag when visiting other’s homes or if they are riding with you. Also, don’t endanger others with your dog. I had a call from someone the other day that wanted me to work with their dog, to make him not growl at children even when the children were abusing the dog! She went on to describe how her 2 1/2-year-old nephew had poked her dog in the eye, pulled on its tail, yanked its ears, and did other things that caused the dog pain, which then caused the dog to growl. I’m sure she was offended by what I had to say, since I told her that children needed to be supervised and corrected when they were hurting a dog. You can’t expect a dog to be in constant pain through abuse, regardless of the age of the abuser, and to not eventually defend themselves! This isn’t the same as having a dog that is tolerant of the normal roughhousing that all dogs get when around small children. It is important to choose a dog that is tolerant of children. But even the most tolerant dogs can’t take abuse and will eventually defend themselves.
I’ve also had customers that put their dogs in with relative’s dogs, without a proper greeting, with dogs that weren’t normally good with other dogs and a major dog fight broke out. In one instance, the daughter’s mixed bred Bulldog got in a fight with the mother’s two Chow Chows. The mother reached in to stop the fight and was dragged down into the turmoil by her own dogs and was severely bitten about her inside thighs and groin. What makes this even more troubling was that both people KNEW that their dogs were dog fighters, but they still put them all in together and assumed that everything would be just fine.
I have also had calls from people with dogs that didn’t like children or strangers, but they brought their dogs along on vacation, and without warning or protecting their relatives, put the dogs down amid everyone, only to have someone get bitten. It would have been better to just board the dog at home, or to keep it in a crate while visiting, instead of endangering others.
AVOID PREDATORS
If you go to places where you might encounter dangerous predators, I recommend taking some precautions. There are 2 types of predators to avoid: animal and human.
For example, I was taking my dog for a walk late one night in Montana. I got about a mile from the motel, and across the street was a bull Elk. He saw me but didn’t approach. I quietly walked the other way and all turned out well. But, what if that Elk had charged me or my dog? I had no defense and never even considered that might be necessary. I should have had a cannister of something like bear spray on me (yes, it was bear country). What if it had been a grizzly?
Several years ago one of my students told me a disturbing story. He was taking his dog for a walk in a mountain area with his dog. As he was approaching home, his dog started acting weird and he felt the hair go up on the back of his neck. So he hurried back inside. About 15 minutes later, a woman walked by the same location with her dog. The dog was never seen again. A black bear boiled out of the bushes, attacked her and got the dog. She died 2 weeks later. Bears, and other animals, see dogs as a threat and can provoke an attack.
I made another mistake years ago. It was the first time I drove through Las Vegas. I got a room a block or so east of the strip in one of those 2 story hotels. I remember it was on a street corner. As I passed through the lobby with my dog, to take a late night walk before bed, the manager told me it was safe for me to walk west, but to not cross the street and walk east. He said it was too dangerous to walk east. I walked west, but what I should have done is not taken that walk at all. I was clearly right on the line of a crime zone. Many cities have informally demarcated areas that are controlled by organized gangs. What if I had been confronted by a bad group? And it is important to remember some dogs are targets for being stolen, and people have been seriously injured, and worse, in the process. Not every city is safe.
My point isn’t to scare you, but to let you know that just because you have a dog with you on vacation, doesn’t mean you are going to be safe and overlooked by predators, animal or human. Let the buyer beware.
HOTELS
When you are in your hotel rooms, and while visiting friends and relatives, be sure to supervise your dog. I take extra precautions to keep my dog out of my suitcase since I have medicines and things in there that could be harmful if swallowed. I also don’t want my dog destroying anything in the room. Further, the person who was in the room before you might have dropped pills that bounced under a bed or into a closet, and your dog will find them and eat them. And, when you are visiting people, you can’t expect that harmful things aren’t lying around for your dog to get into or eat. I don’t let my guard down, just as if I was babysitting a 3-year-old. I also teach my dog not to go into hotel bathrooms as an added safety precaution.
SUPERVISION
Man Burned Trying To Save Dog; July 27, 2001; By KOMO Staff & News Services
YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK – “He gave it his all to try to save his faithful family friend. A Shoreline man was treated for burns after he tried to rescue the family dog from a thermal pool in Yellowstone National Park. Thirty-nine-year-old Donald Hansen was taken to the University of Utah’s Intermountain Burn Center in Salt Lake City after the incident Thursday afternoon. Hansen was treated for first- and second-degree burns from his elbows down and for first-degree burns to his knees. He was released Friday. The Labrador, named Mocha, didn’t survive. Mocha had jumped into the nearly 200-degree pool in the Lower Geyser Basin after bolting from the family’s motor home. Park officials say Hansen was able to grab the dog but couldn’t hang on because of the heat.”
BRING YOUR PAPERWORK
I bring my pet ID, licensing and vaccination records on a road trip. You will need additional paperwork if you go into another country. Do your research in advance. Make sure all vaccinations are current and all documentation for all medicines.
HAVE FUN
One of the main benefits of taking your dog on a trip is that you will improve your relationship with your dog. I can’t describe it very well, but I have noticed that every time I have taken one of my dogs on vacation with me, they came back a better dog. I noticed more attentiveness, more affection, better obedience, a happier attitude, more trust… just an all-around better relationship. And it is good for me, too. I get to unwind and just be my dog’s friend and pal for a few uninterrupted days.
NOW is the time to start planning for your road trip. Train your dog. Make detailed plans. Do a few short road trips for practice, and then you’re going to have a great time together when the big event happens! Happy Traveling!
Written in the Spring of 2001; Updated 2023