Wouldn’t it be great to go take a road trip with your loved one? There is something especially appealing about the open road this time of year. However, long road trips with your dog can also prove to be challenging, even though they are fun and exciting at the same time.
When we are driving at highway speeds, our dogs can be restless. They may act in ways that we don’t want them to, like hanging out the window or jumping in our laps. It would appear that a leisurely road trip begins to sound just a bit stressful once concerns regarding the Coronavirus pandemic are added to the mix.
If you also would want to get a dog that is calm and not jumping and hanging out the window, basically the most well-behaved dog there is, wouldn’t you want that. If so, try this training to get the best dog you ever wanted.
Are you planning on getting away from the city but are not sure whether you can bring your dog with you? There is nothing wrong with taking your dog on a road trip as long as you prepare properly. Plus, they are a great way for best friends to spend some quality time together. Here is an article about pet-friendly hotels, which can be useful in your planning.
Here are some other helpful articles about the same subject!
- Dog Car Seats – Pet Car Seats
- Dog Car Bed- 3 Rules to Follow
- How to Protect Car Door From Dog Scratches
Plan practice trips in advance.
If for any reason your dog is exceptionally anxious about car rides, you may consider using behavioral training techniques in order to help it be more relaxed during its journeys. Before bringing your dog on a long journey with you.
Take a short practice trip with your dog. If you do this, your pet will have a positive experience on the trip. You can form good associations between driving and your dogs by taking them to a dog park or pet store, for example. (Don’t just ride in the car to the vet!)
Prepare Your Dog for Car Rides
As with anything related to dogs, raising a dog who is capable of riding in a car with calmness is going to be easier if you start introducing him to it at an early stage in his life.
As puppies grow, they move through an active socialization phase in which they absorb various ideas, and learn where they belong. They also adapt to new environments and kid rides are no different from learning not to be afraid of loud noises.
In order to get started, you might want to enlist the help of a friend to drive you around the block a couple of times. This will help you pat your puppy, cradling it in your arms. The right way to make the dog feel positive reinforcement is to give him treats and praise for appropriate behavior.
Try to ride your pup for, say, five minutes at a time after you find that he is able to ride calmly. If this doesn’t work, try a longer ride.
It is easy to understand the connection between positive reinforcement and an experience with puppies since they are difficult to resist. Older dogs have a few issues that they encounter when it comes to learning brand-new things. However, the method that works for them remains the same, regardless of how long it takes to become accustomed to them.
A copy of your dog’s vaccination record is required
You’ll need a copy of your dog’s vaccination records if your dog gets sick or needs to be boarded while you’re on your road trip. You can keep a copy in your glove compartment for added security, but a copy on your phone will usually be sufficient.
Bathroom breaks are necessary.
At least once every hour, a puppy needs to go potty. Some older dogs can go four hours or more without having to go potty. All those walks you give your dog most likely give you an idea of how frequently it needs to be walked.
Click here for some easy potty training for puppies!
You should be aware that even the most regular dog can become unpredictable in unfamiliar environments. Therefore, you should pay attention to signs such as excessive panting and whining that indicate a need to visit a roadside bush.
Make sure you bring the essentials.
Make sure your pet has the necessities when you travel, especially now. If you pack your pet’s food, water, treats, medicines, toys, feeding bowls, and other supplies, you’ll be less likely to end up in stores or vets’ offices.
These are usually crowded places where you run a higher risk of getting sick. For pets’ fur and paws, use pet grooming wipes.
Check out the best pet toys here on Amazon
Give treats to your dog as a form of positive reinforcement
With a well-trained dog, a road trip is less stressful than one with a misbehaving pet. The positive reinforcement method is what we use to train our dogs. In other words, when they do what we tell them to do, they are rewarded with a treat.
You can reward your pup with a treat when he gets up in the van for the first time. This shows him that getting in the van on his own is what he’s supposed to do. We also treat him when he goes to the bathroom at a gas station.
As soon as he steps back into the car, we reward him with another treat. If we’re eating lunch in the car and he’s not begging, we’ll give him a treat if he sits quietly in the back.
Positive reinforcement with treats is helpful when you are first starting out on a road trip with your dog. However, they eventually learn to do that desired behavior with or without treats.
On a trip, you can get toys.
Dog road trip tips often overlook the importance of quality toys. Playing with toys provides mental stimulation for your dog as well as keeps him occupied while on the road. In some cases, if a dog’s habits are bad, it is likely that he or she will destroy a toy very quickly.
You don’t have to clean up the mess after they tore them apart and spread the stuffing all over. Take durable toys when you’re on a road trip so they don’t fall apart one day.
If you stop at night, keep a glow-in-the-dark toy, a frisbee, or a ball on hand. When it comes to fetching, chuck-it ball throwers are a great way for your dog to get lots of exercises. Your dog will run a lot further in a shorter amount of time if the ball is thrown much farther than you can with your arms.
Furthermore, since the chuck-it doesn’t require touching the slobbery ball directly, your hands won’t get dirty.
