Monday, June 2, 2008

20 Tip Travel with your dog

If you wanna enjoying travel with your dog, this is 2 tips that can make your travel more enjoyable:
  1. You may want to consider a permanent form of ID (such as a microchip or tattoo) that can increase the likelihood of reuniting you with your dog if it gets lost far from home.
  2. Carry recent pictures of your dog with you. If you are accidentally separated, these pictures will help local authorities find your dog.
  3. Take the phone number of your veterinarian and any special medication your dog needs. Some dogs can't adjust to abrupt changes in diet, so pack your dog's regular food, bowls and a cooler of water.
  4. If you think you might need to board your dog at some point during your travels, be sure to bring your dog's complete vaccination records.
  5. Start your trip with a healthy pet. Check in with your veterinarian at least one week before you begin your trip to be sure your pet is healthy and all vaccinations are current. Your vet can also alert you to any special problems that may exist in the area you are planning to visit.
  6. Be sure to pack all the paperwork. Be sure to have a current health certificate, license and proof of all vaccinations. I also bring along my vet's phone numberÑI've found it's a lot easier (and cheaper) to call my vet with a non-emergency concern than to try to find a local vet who doesn't know my dogs.
  7. Have your pet wear identification at all times.
  8. Your pet's I.D. tags should include your name, address, and phone number, and if you are staying somewhere for a while, add a local phone number where you can be reached in case you are separated from your pooch. Pack a recent photo of your dog too, just in case.
  9. Make sure your dog is travel-worthy. Not all dogs are natural-born travelers. It's best to get your dog accustomed to riding in a car at a very young age, but even older dogs can adapt. Take them on short trips (10-15 minutes) to the store or to a park for a game of fetch. Make it fun and part of your usual routine. Gradually lengthen the drives so your dog is in the car for a few hours. Try very hard to avoid having your dog's first car adventure be a trip to the vet! keep your dog cool and comfortable. If you are traveling by car, always keep a car window open so your pet has fresh air and when you park, try to find a nice patch of shade and don't leave your dog in the car unattended for long periods of time.
  10. Plan ahead for all travel accommodations. This is especially important during peak travel times when motels, hotels, and campgrounds fill up quickly. Many accommodations do not accept pets and some that do have only a limited number of rooms available to pet owners. If you are planning to fly with your pet, you should make reservations at least 3 months prior to your journey since many airlines limit the number of pets flying on each plane (both in the cabin and in the hold).
  11. Make sure your dog is well-trained before taking her/him on the road. Please be sure your dog has learned the basic obedience commands such as sit, stay, come, and quiet before you embark on a trip of any length. This is necessary for your dog's safety and for your own sanity.
  12. Keep your dog leashed whenever possible. Many places require this anyway, but keeping your pet on a leash is the best way to prevent runaway dogs. In fact, even before you get your dog out of the car, it's best put him on a leash so he doesn't leap out of the vehicle ahead of you and dash off to investigate some tantalizing aroma.
  13. Clean up after your dog, please! No one actually likes this task but it is necessary. The more people pick up after their dogs, the more welcome all dogs will in public places. Tip: I always travel with a 4-1 mix of water and white vinegar in a spray bottle to remove traces of any indoor accidents or lingering doggy smell.
  14. Try to create a traveling environment that is as close to "home" as possible. This means trying to feed your dog the same food at the same time you feed her at home. Also if your pet sleeps in a crate at home, bring it along. If he doesn't have a crate, bring an old blanket or large towel to create a designated pet area in your sleeping quarters. "Taking your dog with you provides you with a great conversational ice-breaker," says Hunsicker. "When you travel with your dog, the journey often becomes more important than the destination."
  15. Bag Balm or Vaseline. These are good for soothing dog paws after hiking in the country or on city streets. Beware of hot pavement, which can injure your dogs paws.
  16. Bring a crate. Folding crates are most convenient, although some folks prefer airline crates for certain situations. Even if your dog behaves beautifully at home, he may be nervous in a new place and cause damage. Another advantage of a crate is that the dog typically will feel more secure in it. If you have not used a crate before, gradually accustom your dog to the crate at home, well before your trip. See the Tips on the PAW website about using crates. For cats, use carriers.
  17. Practice crating your dog before leaving on your trip. Crate at family members house, then at a friends house, then other places, so your dog learns to be calm when youre visiting other places.A few cities and counties in the U.S. have dog breed restrictions, such as those aimed at pit bulls, Rottweilers and other breeds, so check before you visit a destination. Usually, you can do this by doing a web search with a combination of key words such as the breed name and city or county.
  18. If you are traveling across the nation's borders, you typically need a health certificate, so make plans in advance of your trip.
  19. A few places may require proof of a rabies vaccination within the past 12 months, so check with the health department at your destination city. You can usually get the info by doing a web search.
  20. When traveling, bring along Rescue Remedy, which is a Bach flower essence available in most health food stores. This gentle, natural stress reducing liquid can often help both people and animals recover from injury, fright, illness, travel fatigue and irritation. Put a drop in your water bottle and in their water. To help prevent travel sickness, a common dosage is four drops in the mouth about ten hours before the trip, repeating every four hours as needed. For stressed or injured animals, rub a drop on their ear or put a drop on the towel in their crate or carrier. Flower essences can be used along with conventional medicines.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Aduh, sudah repot ngurusin anak, ngapain bawa-bawa anjing!

Salam kenal.

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