It’s no secret that dogs love new smells to explore. Dogs are all about smells. And the holidays provide your pet many new smells to explore, particularly if you’re going on the road together.
Besides, traveling home for the holidays this month just wouldn’t be the same without faithful Fido by your side: Dogs make the best travel companions because they never object to your restaurant choices, lose the reservations or hog the radio.
And while sniffing out new destinations with your canine sidekick is a fun adventure, worrying about your co-pilot’s well-being the whole time shouldn’t be your main focus. Certainly, travel can cause overwhelming anxiety in inexperienced pets, but a little planning, protecting and poop-proofing will lead to smooth sailing (and many memories) for miles to come. Here’s how.
1. Plan what to bring, to ensure Fido’s road-trip bliss.
Travel, especially in the car, is stressful for many pets, which can become easily confused and frightened. This may mean that you, at the wheel, spend your time being both pet parent and taxi driver, dividing your focus between the road and your fur baby, which is an accident waiting to happen. To prevent any faux-paws, here are a few ways to calm frightened pets on a road trip:
- Invest in an “away toy”– a great way to keep pets distracted for many miles to come
- Bring your dog’s bed with him, and let him lie on it, wherever he’ll be riding. His bed will give him the familiarity that will soothe his nerves. Smells like home . . .
- Collapsible pet bowls are a great way to keep pups full and hydrated during stop and go’s. They fit compactly in a purse or gym bag when not in use, and pop out to become a full-on watering holes for pit stops.
- Bring your furry friend’s regular cuisine, too. The key to comforting pets…