If you're a dog owner, the thought of heading on holiday and having to leave your pet behind for the whole time can be enough to put you off the idea of hitting the road. While pet sitters can often help ease the guilt of leaving them alone, it's not easy being away from your four-legged furry friend—after all, they're part of the family!
Should that be the case, then taking your dog with you on your road trip might just be the best option for you. We've put together some handy advice on travelling with dogs for the first time to help you plan and make your travels as fun (and easy) as possible!
Make sure every pup is on board
Before you hit the road, it's important to ask yourself if you're sure your pet really wants to travel on the road. While some of us may think our furry family members are great travel companions, there are occasions that an animal would much prefer being home, away from strangers and new (noisy) places.
Think about your pet's personality and keep in mind that travelling always involves exposure to new environments, people, and sometimes, loud noises.
Read also: The best dog-friendly G'day Parks
Get familiar with the rules and regulations
While it is not mandatory to have your dog restrained in the car, it is highly recommended, so that they don't move around too much and distract you. Using a pet harness seat belt or a pet carrier (with your own doggy bedding) are some options available to secure your dog. It is also worth noting that it is strictly against the law for your dog to be sitting on the lap of the driver.
Make sure you're aware of where dogs can and can't go, and if they need to be on a leash. Dogs are not allowed in most national parks around Australia, so check with each specific park before planning on a long stroll!
Bring along registration, vet, and vaccination records
It's important to stay up to date with all of their vaccinations, flea and tick prevention, and deworming, so that your dog can stay in tip-top shape on your travels.
You should also have their microchip number on record, in case your dog gives you the slip and the local vet or council need to identify your lost dog and contact you.
Practise car travel
Some dogs don't enjoy the process of going on car rides, so it's a good idea to prepare your dog by going on shorter car trips in the weeks before you embark on a long journey. To help your dog feel their best in the car, avoid feeding them for at least two hours before starting your drive.
Make sure your dog has a comfy place to travel—most dogs like to be able to see out of the window so they can keep an eye on what's going on. If your dog enjoys chew toys (such as a Kong, for example), this could help to keep them occupied and happy while on a car ride.
Pack your dog’s suitcase
Don't forget to pack your dog's suitcase! You'll need the essentials, like their collar and lead, food and water bowls, bedding, food, fresh water, toys, treats, and doggy poo bags. It's a good idea to get a personalised dog tag with your contact details for your dog's collar (an ID tag), so people can easily contact you if your dog goes for a solo wander.
Take along some doggy towels and a brush, too, so you can make sure your dog is as clean as possible after any adventures before hopping back into the car!
Find pet-friendly accommodation
Stacks of our G'day Parks have great pet-friendly facilities and caravan and camping sites, with some even featuring dog-friendly cabins so your fur baby can sleep inside with you!
Most parks will have their own pet policy and rules, so make sure you're across these before arriving—standard things include not leaving your dog unattended at any time, keeping your dog on a leash in common areas, and always cleaning up after your dog.
Bring along familiar comforts
It's always worth packing some familiar items like their bedding, blankets, and favourite toys are great to bring along with you, even when living in pet-friendly accommodation.
New surroundings may cause some unease, so having familiar smells around will help your furry friend settle calmly in their new environment.
Stay on schedule
Try to carry out the same schedule of feeding your pet on your road trip as you would at home. Our pets get some of sense of safety and security from the boundaries of a routine. As much as possible, stick to the same feeding, exercise, and toilet times. This leads us to our next tip ...
Plan your journey
Be ready to change your travel arrangements when you have dogs travelling along with you, especially if you'll be covering long distances. Boredom and restlessness will happen even to your dog!
Break up your car travel by factoring in pit stops, so they can go to the bathroom and stretch their legs (and yours too!). You can also opt to occasionally detour to off-leash dog parks (fully fenced), so you can let your dog play and run freely to burn off some energy.
Always make sure to offer them plenty of fresh drinking water throughout the day and never, ever leave your dog in a hot vehicle.
Above all, make sure you're always a kind and considerate traveller—remember that not everyone is a dog-loving individual and might not be keen to make acquaintance with Fido!
