KEEP YOUR DOG ‘AT HOME’ ON THE ROAD
Planning, precautions help canine companions enjoy the trip
As any road-tripper has noticed, more and more of us are traveling with our dogs these days, a trend reflected in the number of hotels, restaurants, campsites and other venues that are “pet-friendly.” Bringing a dog takes some planning, of course, but most of us just bumble through mistakes and vow to do better next time.
That’s not so easy when you’re traveling with a pack of five. Joyce Fay, who heads the rescue group Bro & Tracy in Corrales, regularly travels with her five border collies, mostly because she doesn’t like being away from them. “It seriously interferes with my having a good time,” she says.
Dog trainer Cricket Mara, of Pawsitive Dog, travels with her whippet for a different reason: They compete in lure coursing, a sport for sight hounds that keeps the family hustling to weekend competitions around the Southwest.
These experts have learned from experience that taking certain precautions can keep the stress of traveling with dogs to a minimum.
The first consideration is the animals themselves. Do they travel well? Do they get along? Are they in good health and able to adapt to new situations? “You don’t want to take them if they’re not 100 percent compatible or have health problems, like being inclined to have seizures,” says Fay.
The next consideration is where you’re going, and the potential risks posed by unfamiliar environments. Fay recently took her dogs to Alabama for a month, where she knew to watch for hazards including a thorny vine that hides in bushes, high steps to the house where they were staying, a fast road near the house, and water on two sides — all unfamiliar to her dogs in Corrales.
“For the first two weeks, the dogs never went outside without a leash,” she says. Wildlife such as common tree squirrels can turn an uninitiated dog into a barking lunatic the minute you stop at an inviting park, so it’s a good idea to keep them restrained.
Mara travels with a leash that has extra rings, so she can clip it to her waist or shoulder while they eat in a park, for example. She also carries a long line, so the dog can wander without disappearing.
En route, she looks for rest stops that will be quiet and empty, such as parks next to public libraries, or office complexes after hours. Even so, it’s a good idea to make sure the dogs are wearing tags, and that you have their microchip information and a recent photo in case they go missing. Keep a copy of their shot records in the car while you’re at it — they will be needed if you have to board the dogs for any reason. Fay has learned the hard way that it’s worth her peace of mind to research beforehand for emergency veterinarians and acceptable boarding kennels along the route. Mara travels with a first-aid kit to handle small problems that can grow large, such as ticks, cactus thorns, car sickness, or a muzzle needed to prevent licking wounds. Both women say they will never leave a dog alone in a motel room or unfamiliar residence. Dogs can be unpredictable in strange surroundings, and destroy (or try to) crates and pens in their panic. At the least, they can bark incessantly or make a mess. “That makes it harder for everybody with a dog to travel, because the places don’t want you to come,” Mara says.
“If the weather is appropriate, he can stay in the car,” she adds. “Even when I was with my mom, having breakfast in the hotel, we put him in the car.” Of course, even mild weather can turn deadly for dogs in cars, so Fay makes it a point not to travel with them in summer, unless she knows that shade can be found. “If there’s no safe shade, I go to the drive-through and eat with the A/C running.” Both women will call for takeout if restaurant parking does not look safe. Campers and RVs can be a godsend in these situations, once dogs come to recognize the vehicle as home. For the same reason, Mara travels with her dog’s crate and favorite blanket, so he has a reassuring haven wherever they go. Making the effort to keep dogs calm, well-exercised and sufficiently entertained goes a long way toward helping them behave as you wish.
“Of course, having dogs along places some limitations on activities,” Fay admits. But she believes traveling is good for dogs, strengthening your bond with them while expanding their social skills. “Everyone wanted to touch them and hug them,” she said of her recent trip to Alabama, where her border collies were a novelty. “And I enjoy meeting people like that. Most were local, some had dogs and some didn’t, but they wanted to talk about the dogs. “That doesn’t happen when we go walking on the Corrales ditch,” she noted. “I would just rather go to places where I can take them.”