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5 Tips for Bringing Your Pooch for a Ride

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Posted by: Jim Gorzelany
Date: February 23, 2015

Whether undertaking a short jaunt or a major excursion, family road trips can be hard enough on mom and dad, but adding one or more dogs to the passenger list can prove stressful for both human and canine riders.

Before hitting the highway with dogs in tow, it’s a good idea to consider the following tips, which come courtesy of PAWS (Pets Are Worth Saving) Chicago, the city’s largest no-kill shelter, and Cesar Milan, TV’s “Dog Whisperer” (ceasarsway.com):

• Ensure your dog can handle the trip. If you’ve never taken Fido along for a ride longer than to the vet, take a few practice runs before undertaking a longer journey. Some dogs do better than others in this regard – canines with anxiety issues and/or who bark excessively may be calmed with chew treats, but resist the urge to give him or her a sedative or other medicinal calmative. “You don’t want to start a pattern that ends with a reliance on pills for you or your pet,” says animal expert Milan. “You possess all the tools to keep your pet calm with your voice, attitude, and body language.”
• Properly restrain dogs while the vehicle is moving. Not only is this recommended for their safety and yours, it’s required by law in many states. Depending on the size of the dog and vehicle, use a safety-certified, crash-tested crate or any of a number of products available to comfortably restrain canines in the backseat or hatchback area (never close an animal in a sealed trunk). Especially if you have an older dog and/or a taller vehicle, consider buying an access ramp to help the dog enter it more easily.
• As with small children, don’t let a dog ride up in front because he or she could be injured or killed in a crash by a deploying airbag. And never be foolish enough to let your pooch, however tiny and lovable, ride on your lap while driving.
• Bring along water and a bowl. Even when taking shorter trips, it’s prudent to give your dog access to water in case of a breakdown or other delay. Keep a bottle stored in the trunk as part of an emergency kit.
• Go easy on the dog food before hitting the road. Dogs are often prone to motion sickness. Also, don’t feed Fido while the car is moving. Rather, wait until you’ve stopped and can give him or her a small snack, preferably one that’s rich in protein.
•    •. Switch off the power windows. Use the car’s child-lock function to prevent your pooch from inadvertently lowering a backseat window. Your dog might enjoy sticking his or her head out into the breeze, but overexcited canines have been known to leap out of a moving car. Plus, one misstep and the window could close on a dog’s neck and cause choking or other injuries.
•    • Take a break. As with kids, expect to pull over at a rest stop every two or three hours to let a dog do his or her business and run off some excess energy.
•    •. Never leave a dog alone in a car. On a hot day, even with the windows cracked open, a parked vehicle can become dangerously hot and your pooch can quickly develop heatstroke. In the cold, hypothermia can set in.
•    • Take the dog for a long walk once you reach your destination. Never just open the door and let him or her run freely. “Make sure you keep your dog on a leash while they explore your new destination,” says Joan L. Harris, PAWS Chicago director of training and canine behavior. “Even a well-trained dog may feel out of place until they are comfortable in a new location.”

Tags: pets, car