Traveling Safely With Your Dog
Keep your pets safe and secure in a well-ventilated crate or carrier. Dogs shouldn't roam in the car!
The safest way for your dog to travel in the car is in a crate that has been anchored to the vehicle using a seatbelt or other secure means. The crate should be large enough for your pet to stand, sit, lie down and turn around in. Secure your pet’s crate so it will not slide or shift in the event of an abrupt stop.
Crates should be crash tested. The crate I have used for many years and which has been crash tested is VARIOCAGE and are the only crates to pass the SAFE PET TRAVEL TEST. These crates come in single or double and have harnesses to attach them and lock them down to your car. There are both front and rear exits in these crates which can also be locked. I purchased one for one of my Border Collies 5 years ago and then purchased a second one recently for my puppy. My 3rd dog wears a seat belt in the passenger seats.
Dog restraints or seat belts are useful for preventing your dog from roaming around the car and being a distraction to the driver, but they haven't been reliably shown to protect dogs during a crash. If you are going to use a seat belt, research the safest ones. Usually the seat belt for dogs hooks into the passenger seat belt.
If you decide to forgo the crate, don't allow your pet to ride with his head outside the window. Pets who are allowed to stick their heads out the window can be injured by particles of debris or made sick by having cold air forced into their lungs.
Never transport a pet in the back of an open pickup truck!!!!!
CRATES.. MANNERS AND CAUTION.
Encourage dogs to enjoy their crates by spending a short time in your house offering a special treat inside the crate. Every time the dog goes in the crate he gets a treat. Open the door and play this game for a short time. Always remembering to provide a treat when the dog goes into the crate, including in the car. I highly recommend Susan Garret’s DVD, CRATE GAMES.
The next game is to have your dog sit and wait quietly until you give a release word so either they can come out on their own or you lift them out of your car. This is demonstrated and practiced as a fun games in Crate Games by Susan Garrett.
DON’T LET YOUR DOG JUMP out of your car, especially a SUV. Shoulder injuries are often a result of having your dog jump out of the crate. I lift all my dogs out of the car. No one is allowed to get out and especially jump until I take them out.
For older dogs who have trouble getting in a car use a step stool which you can buy at any hardware store. The doggie ramps that are sold seem to be very heavy, cumbersome and my dogs have never liked using them.
Don't ever leave your pet alone in a carA quick pit stop may feel like no time at all to you, but it's too long to leave your pet in a car by themselves. Heat is a serious hazard: when it's 72 degrees Fahrenheit outside, the temperature inside your car can heat up to 116 degrees within an hour. On an 85-degree day, even with the windows slightly open, the temperature inside your car can reach 102 degrees in just 10 minutes. Even if you’re certain of your timing, you can get held up — in just 30 minutes, you could return to a 120 degree car and a pet suffering irreversible organ damage or death.
Prep your pet for a long trip. Get your pet geared up by taking him on a series of short drives first, gradually lengthening time spent in the car. If you’re traveling across state lines, bring along your pet's rabies vaccination record. While this generally isn't a problem, some states require this proof at certain interstate crossings.
Prep a pet-friendly travel kit. Bring food, a bowl, leash, a waste scoop, plastic bags, grooming supplies, medication and first-aid, and any travel documents. Pack a favorite toy or pillow to give your pet a sense of familiarity. Be sure to pack plenty of water, and avoid feeding your pet in a moving vehicle. Your pet's travel-feeding schedule should start with a light meal three to four hours prior to departure, and always opt for bottled water. Drinking water from an area he or she isn’t used to could result in stomach discomfort.
When it comes to H2O, bring your own water. Opt for bottled water or tap water stored in plastic jugs. Drinking water from an area he’s not used to could result in tummy upset for your pet. When you stop, offer your pet a drink of water.
Be Sure You Have Identification on Your Dog and Crate
Make sure your pet wears a collar with a tag imprinted with your home address, as well as a temporary travel tag with your cell phone, destination phone number and any other relevant contact information. Canines should wear flat (never choke!) collars, please.
Having your dog microchiped is an excellent way to ensure his identification.
Pictures of our crates and ID on back of crate
EXCELLENT RESOURCE: "MUST HAVE TIPS WHEN TRAVELING WITH DOGS"
https://www.thezebra.com/insurance-news/5628/traveling-with-pets/
RESOURCES
EXAMPLE OF THE CRATE IDENTIFICATION THAT I HAVE ON THE BACK OF EACH CRATE. Additionally each dog has his own flat buckle collar with and ID tag.
The safest way for your dog to travel in the car is in a crate that has been anchored to the vehicle using a seatbelt or other secure means. The crate should be large enough for your pet to stand, sit, lie down and turn around in. Secure your pet’s crate so it will not slide or shift in the event of an abrupt stop.
Crates should be crash tested. The crate I have used for many years and which has been crash tested is VARIOCAGE and are the only crates to pass the SAFE PET TRAVEL TEST. These crates come in single or double and have harnesses to attach them and lock them down to your car. There are both front and rear exits in these crates which can also be locked. I purchased one for one of my Border Collies 5 years ago and then purchased a second one recently for my puppy. My 3rd dog wears a seat belt in the passenger seats.
Dog restraints or seat belts are useful for preventing your dog from roaming around the car and being a distraction to the driver, but they haven't been reliably shown to protect dogs during a crash. If you are going to use a seat belt, research the safest ones. Usually the seat belt for dogs hooks into the passenger seat belt.
If you decide to forgo the crate, don't allow your pet to ride with his head outside the window. Pets who are allowed to stick their heads out the window can be injured by particles of debris or made sick by having cold air forced into their lungs.
Never transport a pet in the back of an open pickup truck!!!!!
CRATES.. MANNERS AND CAUTION.
Encourage dogs to enjoy their crates by spending a short time in your house offering a special treat inside the crate. Every time the dog goes in the crate he gets a treat. Open the door and play this game for a short time. Always remembering to provide a treat when the dog goes into the crate, including in the car. I highly recommend Susan Garret’s DVD, CRATE GAMES.
The next game is to have your dog sit and wait quietly until you give a release word so either they can come out on their own or you lift them out of your car. This is demonstrated and practiced as a fun games in Crate Games by Susan Garrett.
DON’T LET YOUR DOG JUMP out of your car, especially a SUV. Shoulder injuries are often a result of having your dog jump out of the crate. I lift all my dogs out of the car. No one is allowed to get out and especially jump until I take them out.
For older dogs who have trouble getting in a car use a step stool which you can buy at any hardware store. The doggie ramps that are sold seem to be very heavy, cumbersome and my dogs have never liked using them.
Don't ever leave your pet alone in a carA quick pit stop may feel like no time at all to you, but it's too long to leave your pet in a car by themselves. Heat is a serious hazard: when it's 72 degrees Fahrenheit outside, the temperature inside your car can heat up to 116 degrees within an hour. On an 85-degree day, even with the windows slightly open, the temperature inside your car can reach 102 degrees in just 10 minutes. Even if you’re certain of your timing, you can get held up — in just 30 minutes, you could return to a 120 degree car and a pet suffering irreversible organ damage or death.
Prep your pet for a long trip. Get your pet geared up by taking him on a series of short drives first, gradually lengthening time spent in the car. If you’re traveling across state lines, bring along your pet's rabies vaccination record. While this generally isn't a problem, some states require this proof at certain interstate crossings.
Prep a pet-friendly travel kit. Bring food, a bowl, leash, a waste scoop, plastic bags, grooming supplies, medication and first-aid, and any travel documents. Pack a favorite toy or pillow to give your pet a sense of familiarity. Be sure to pack plenty of water, and avoid feeding your pet in a moving vehicle. Your pet's travel-feeding schedule should start with a light meal three to four hours prior to departure, and always opt for bottled water. Drinking water from an area he or she isn’t used to could result in stomach discomfort.
When it comes to H2O, bring your own water. Opt for bottled water or tap water stored in plastic jugs. Drinking water from an area he’s not used to could result in tummy upset for your pet. When you stop, offer your pet a drink of water.
Be Sure You Have Identification on Your Dog and Crate
Make sure your pet wears a collar with a tag imprinted with your home address, as well as a temporary travel tag with your cell phone, destination phone number and any other relevant contact information. Canines should wear flat (never choke!) collars, please.
Having your dog microchiped is an excellent way to ensure his identification.
Pictures of our crates and ID on back of crate
EXCELLENT RESOURCE: "MUST HAVE TIPS WHEN TRAVELING WITH DOGS"
https://www.thezebra.com/insurance-news/5628/traveling-with-pets/
RESOURCES
- Humane Society of U.S.
http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources - ASPCA
EXAMPLE OF THE CRATE IDENTIFICATION THAT I HAVE ON THE BACK OF EACH CRATE. Additionally each dog has his own flat buckle collar with and ID tag.