According to recent surveys, more than 65 million homes in America include at least one dog. An estimated 78 percent of pet parents routinely travel with their fur babies. They don’t want to leave their pets home alone, board them in kennels, or leave them with strangers when traveling. Besides that, they enjoy going on trips with their four-legged companions.
Traveling with your dog can be a rewarding experience, but it requires careful planning and preparation. If you’re heading out of town and your dog isn’t joining, ensuring they have a comfortable and safe place to stay is essential. For those in need of reliable care, dog boarding Naples offers a great solution, providing a secure and caring environment for your furry friend while you’re away.
Still, traveling with a pet can be stressful. Some dogs don’t handle loud noises and new environments very well. Others suffer from motion sickness. In some cases, dogs simply get anxious in the car or pick up on their humans’ nervousness and frustration. All these issues can cause stress, stomach upset, and other issues for a dog. Even those that love riding in a car can leave behind mud, fur, and other messes to clean up after the fact. If you like to take your fur baby along when you travel, use the following tips to reduce stress for both of you.
Install Car Seat Covers
One of the easiest things you can do to simplify cleanup and reduce stress is to install car seat covers like those available from 4Knines (https://4knines.com/collections/dog-seat-covers). Seat covers catch all the messes your dog leaves behind, so they don’t take a toll on your vehicle’s upholstery. They can be removed as needed, washed, and put back into place. On top of that, they can provide extra padding to make your dog more comfortable when traveling, and they may help to keep your dog safer while you’re on the road. Not having to worry about stains, odors, and other problems alone will make traveling with your dog more fun and less stressful.
Familiarize Your Dog with Vehicles
If your four-legged friend isn’t accustomed to riding in a vehicle, consider familiarizing him or her with the process before taking a trip. Start by sitting in the car with your dog and letting him or her explore the vehicle while it’s still parked in the driveway. From there, move on to short trips, like driving around the block. Then, you can progress to slightly longer drives with your dog restrained as he or she will be when you go on an actual outing. That’ll help your dog get comfortable with road trips and prevent excessive stress.
Plan Frequent Stops
Another essential measure when traveling with a dog is to plan frequent rest stops. This is important for several reasons. For one, it’ll give your dog breaks from being confined in the car. It’ll also allow him or her to burn off energy, which may help to keep your dog calmer while you’re on the road. Beyond that, frequent stops allow dogs to relieve themselves, which will minimize accidents in the car. Consider planning your route ahead of time so you can choose one that offers plenty of places to stop for breaks.
Take Along Your Dog’s Favorite Items
Bringing along some of your dog’s favorite items when traveling is also a good idea. If your dog has a favorite blanket or stuffed animal, having it close at hand may help make him or her more comfortable. It’s a familiar item that could provide extra security in unfamiliar environments. You can bring a few of your dog’s favorite chew toys as well. They’ll keep your fur baby occupied and give him or her something to chew on besides your vehicle’s seats, console, door handles, and other interior components.
Having a Happy Trip with Your Dog
Traveling with a dog can be a fun experience, but it can also be stressful. That’s the case for you as well as your four-legged family member. Use the advice provided here to take much of the stress out of the experience and make your trips more enjoyable for you and your dog.