Most dogs are normally not cooperative when traveling in a car. They usually pace around, jump and bark at passing strangers. They jump from front seat to back seat and back again which may lead to accident.

You can teach your dog to love car travel and will even look forward to enjoying rides with you.

Travel Don’ts

Don’t just form the habit of putting your dog inside your car when you intend to visit the vet or boarding kennel. The reason is that this will make him associate entering the car with the pain of long needle the vet used to give him a shot.

Traveling in a car

When you are traveling with your dog in your car you have to consider the safety of your dogs and passengers. He has to be restrained in one way or the other so as to protect him from being thrown out in the event of an accident or an abrupt stop.

Restraining him equally prevent him from disturbing the driver or even working his way on to the floor where he can get wedged around the brake pedals.

Restraining Your Dog During Car Rides

A. Use of crate (carrier)

A carrier provides safety and security for dogs when traveling. It’s the easiest form of restraint you can give your dog to ensure his safety and yours where traveling in car with him. You have to ensure that the crate or carrier is the right size for him by making sure that these is angle room for him to turn during the travel.

It is better to put this carrier at the back seat of your car where air enters to avoid him suffocating during the travel.

B. Doggy seat belt/leash

You have to create a pleasant area for your dog in the car probably the back or car to area for safety reasons.

Decorate this area with a mat and his favorite toy or bone. Then station him to a point with a special seat belt. This seat belt safety lead is a short lead that fastens onto a seat belt.

Place her preferably at the back seat in a harness or buckle collar.

If you are keeping him in the cargo area of large vehicles secure him to the security clip on the floor with a short cargo lead.

Ensure that this lead is short to prevent him from jumping into the back seat.

C. Car Gates.

You can as well confine your dog to the cargo area with a car gate that can be obtained from pet shops. Make sure you buy the best car gate that cannot collapse during the travel.

Ways to ensure your dog’s comfort during the travel

Allow him to travel on empty stomach
Do not feed your dog 6–8 hours before traveling. Keeping him on an empty stomach will make him less likely to vomit.

Take frequent rests
Some dogs usually get uncomfortable after a few miles and this makes it imperative for you to stop every hour or two to take a quick walk with your dog to straighten his legs. It’s equally advisable to pour a little water on his body to cool him.

Drive carefully
Ensure that you drive carefully avoiding flying around curves.

Keep the windows down
This will allow fresh air to come in case you have no a/c .

Have other ways you can ensure comfort of your dog during travels? Please share with us in the comments box.
Source:http://petsarena.com.ng/2017/05/travel-safely-dog/

Nice article, I will travel with mine next year