Tomorrow, Stranger and I are traveling to California, land of the towering redwoods, the majestic pacific, and all the “dude” you’ll ever need. We’ve traveled quite a bit with him, and we’ve learned some important things to keep in mind while roadtripping with a dog, especially in the summertime.

1) (and probably the most important) Don’t leave your dog in the car while you’re running an errand. Summer temperatures inside the car can get up to 120 degrees, and dogs don’t sweat. They can only release heat by the soles of their paws and panting. During food stops, either my boyfriend or me will stay in the car with Stranger and keep the AC running.

2) Make sure to allow your pet plenty of exercise. Play fetch at a rest stop, or take a walk around the gas station. (I can’t wait to run on the beach with him!)

3) Keep a toy with him in the back seat to occupy him during the long hours of driving. Anything filled with peanut butter can keep Stranger busy for at least 600 miles.

4) Keep your dog close and on leash when you take him to public places. I know you’re thinking, duh, but! Travel does interrupt your dog’s routine, and even a well behaved dog can become anxious or disoriented and snap and growl at strangers.

5) Don’t over feed them. Try feeding them several small meals to avoid car sickness.

6) Make sure their tags are up to date.

7) And most importantly, use the time together to explore, bond, and strengthen your trust.

I’ll take lots of pictures and be back soon. : )

This entry was posted on Thursday, June 12th, 2008 at 4:33 am and is filed under K9 Care. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.