It’s just you and your furry four-legged bestie hitting the open road – it’s nothing but green pastures and rolling hills, and you can’t wait to show them the world. Well, that’s if they don’t claw your new leather seats or vomit up the day’s meal before you get out of town.
Unless you and your dog are avid car-ride buddies, you can probably anticipate a little bit of push back from your hound on your first long road trip together. Resistance to get in the car or misbehaving in the car can come down to a few factors.
Perhaps your dog associates the car with bad memories such as a trip to the vet, or if you have a shelter dog, their last car ride may have been when their old owners dropped them off and disappeared.
Perhaps it was the last time you dropped them at the boarding kennel – never a fun time, we know. Getting in the car could also throw their physical sense of security out of the window, resulting in motion sickness and vomiting, which, as you can imagine, only makes their anxiety worse.
How to road trip with a dog:
You Can Teach an Old Dog New Tricks
If you are the owner of a puppy then the good news is you probably won’t have too much hassle getting them adapted to travelling by car – at such a young age, their willingness to learn and explore is far more malleable than that of an older dog. If you have an older dog or a dog that has come from a previous home, you have a little bit more work to do.
If you have a few weeks before your trip, we suggest starting this process ASAP. Luckily, dogs can learn tricks at any age with enough positive reinforcement and incentive. Start very slowly by allowing positive experiences to happen near or inside the car – this can take place in your driveway for the first few attempts. Make it so that each interaction with the car is concluded with a treat or game that shifts your dog’s associations with the vehicle from negative to positive.
One Small Drive for You, One Giant Drive for Dog-kind
Again, this is one for if you have enough prep time before you embark. Once you’ve gotten your dog to scramble inside the vehicle, you’re going to want to work on getting them used to sitting in the car for extended periods. This is going to require the same patience and protocols as mentioned above – keep treats, good vibes, and soothing comfort items on hand. The destination is what’s important here, like the park, or the beach, or to see their favourite furry friend! Get them excited about what is waiting for them at the end of the journey.
Safety First
Don’t hit the road without protecting your furry friend! Before embarking on a road trip with your dog, make sure you have Oneplan pet insurance in place. Accidents and unexpected illnesses can happen anytime, and having coverage will provide you with peace of mind. Ensure your dog’s health and safety throughout the journey by being prepared with reliable pet insurance.
Preventing The Pukes
Vomit in any form is pretty much the last thing you want in a car full of people and luggage (it’s pretty much the last thing you want in an empty car too). If you think a vomiting dog makes you feel awful, imagine how your dog must be feeling being ill in a stressful environment with no option of escape. Signs of oncoming motion sickness include yawning, lots of drooling, whimpering, and whining or lying inactive.
So, before you start telling Buster to look for the purple giraffe on the horizon, here’s how we manage car sick doggos:
1. Plan the Timing of Their Meal
If you know you’re leaving at the crack of dawn, feed your dog a few hours earlier than you usually do. Or start your trip and feed them once they have settled and you can see all is ok, with a few small meals along the way. Obviously, this means there will be less food to react to any nausea.
2. Crack the Windows
To keep the air pressure equal in the car for your dog’s ears and overall sense of balance, keep the windows cracked a few centimetres. It may go without saying but bear in mind which areas you choose to do this in and opt for blasting the aircon when having open windows isn’t optimal. Avoid opening your windows too wide in case your dog gets a bit too excited and extends themselves too far out of the window.
3. Make Frequent Stops
Make sure you designate plenty of time to stop and let your dog stretch their legs and scan their surroundings. Remember, you know when the trip is going to end but for them, it’s endless hours of waiting until you open the car door. This is also where you’ll save yourself the time and energy of the cleaning up you’ll have to do when your dog thinks the car is also a bathroom.
4. Have a Dog Whisperer
Well, anyone who loves dogs and car trips will probably do the trick! Having somebody in the car will take a lot of pressure off you and create a far calmer environment for your dog. Having somebody on hand to jump in the back to feed, comfort, or manoeuvre will make the whole process significantly easier.
Wherever you go, we wish you health and safety in your home, on the road, and amongst your loved ones (especially the furry members).
Your Pet Insurance Family,
Oneplan
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