We will never post without your permission, and we'll always keep your information private.
Psst Are you a brand, artist, shelter, or dog looking to get on Dogly?
Click Here:
Traveling with Dogs
Whether you are spending a night in a hotel, taking a month long road trip, camping or moving the family to a new city - traveling with your dog can be a fun and exciting event but it can also be stressful and even dangerous if you don’t prepare properly. I’ve camped with my dogs, stayed in hotels, Airbnb’s and just recently relocated from California to Colorado with my pups. I thought I’d share some of the things I’ve learned along the way to help you prepare for all of your adventures.
I challenge you to follow along whether you have a trip planned for next week or next year. There is no such thing as preparing too much!
Depending on where you are going, and for how long, your “must pack” list will, but I consider traveling with dogs to be a lot like traveling with small children - better to be over prepared, especially if its your first time. If you know you will be near stores where you can easily access items you may forget or not have room for then you may not need to be so strict, but if you are planning to camp in the wilderness be sure you are well prepared.
Packing for the Dog
***This list is not all inclusive, but here are some things you will likely need no matter where you are headed**
Did I forget anything crucial? Comment and let me know what you would bring?
Important Skills
What life skills should your dog know before hitting the road?
Training your dog is a lifelong journey - especially if you plan to take adventures! Using reward based, force free methods we can teach our dogs to safely enjoy life side be side with us. Here are the skills I think all dogs should know well before heading out on any trip.
Riding Comfortably in the Car:
This may seem obvious, but it's a big one that can be overlooked! My dog Rodger used to suffer from some car frustration and anxiety and I worked on it for about 6 months before we relocated to Colorado from California. The last thing I wanted to deal with on a 3 day road trip was an anxious, barking, whining dog in the car for 10 hours a day!
First, using classical conditioning (learning by emotional association) Rodger learned that good things happened when he was in the car. He would get small bits of tasty treats just for being in the car. Then in time I began to teach him that good things happened when he behaved a certain way in the car (operant learning). This was laying or sitting calmly for just short periods of time while we drove. Seconds at first. Then minutes, then eventually the food came less and less frequently - but this took place every single time we were in the car for 6 months. Several times a week. The work paid off! Our trip to Colorado was a breeze for Rodger! He as calm, cool, collected and has shown none of his former car related behaviors on the road trip or since we arrived in Colorado.
Reliable Recall
While come when called is always something we should be working on, if you plan to take your dogs to a new place and even consider letting them off leash, their recall should be close to perfect. Dogs need time to gain reliability in new places, even the most well trained dog may decide that the smell of a new animal is distracting and reinforcing enough to chase after in a new setting. I recommend practicing recall on a long line before allowing off leash access in any new environment that is uncontrolled (not fenced in). Here are my top tips for teaching a reliable come when called
Check out this post for more
Loose Leash Walking
When walking in new places, many dogs forget their previous skills for a bit - this can be especially true for walking in leash. If you are in a new busy town, on a trail or trying to walk to a hotel room it will be extremely helpful if your dog has a solid base of walking nicely on a leash.
Need help with this skill? Join my advocate community and we can work together!
Hand Target / Touch
I believe this is one of the most useful behaviors any dog can learn. It is the foundation for many other skills and can help in so many situations! How does it relate to travel?
The list goes on and on!
Check out my post here and here on how to teach your dog the hand target
DISCLAIMER: The content of this website and community is based on the research, expertise, and views of each respective author. Information here is not intended to replace your one-on-one relationship with your veterinarian, but as a sharing of information and knowledge to help arm dog parents to make more informed choices. We encourage you to make health care decisions based on your research and in partnership with your vet. In cases of distress, medical issues, or emergency, always consult your veterinarian.