Car Travel Safety & Training Tips!

Car travel safety tips:

​ A lot of people let their dogs ride loose in the car with the wind in their ears but in case of an accident it's much safer to have your dog contained so that there is not injury to them or your passengers.  

These are 3 safe riding options when traveling in the car with your dog-

Crates-

​Crates is a great way to safely transport your dog, while they feel safe and secure in their man made den. You can use crate training at home as well as in many other training scenarios.  

Seat belts-

Seat belts are another safe way to travel with your dogs while still giving them a window view without the bulk of the crate.  It may take some getting used to for your dog to wear the harness but with small steps you can easily condition your dog to wearing a doggy seat belt and keep everyone in the car safe and happy.

Barriers-

​If you have a car with a build for a dog barrier gate you can put this up as a safe option to keep you and your dog separated in case of an accident but one of the draw backs is that your dog still has a lot of room to slip and slide around.

A helpful car training tip:

Load up:

​Does your dog love to jump out of the car before you even get a chance to open the door or get a leash on them?  Or does your dog get so excited he jumps into the car taking you with him?  A great solution for this dilemma is using a training command we call "load up".  Keeping your dog in a sit until you are ready and then say "load up" when you are ready for them to jump in!  When you open the door you use the door as a barrier and say "load up", keeping them in the car, then you do not let them out until they are waiting with the door opened and you say "free" to release them from the car.

Dog Travel Supplies:

Having the right supplies on hand while you travel will make your trip that much easier.  Keep an air tight container for your food, measure out ahead of time the amount you'll need for the trip. Bring plenty of water, collapsible bowls, waste bags, leashes/collars, brush for the shedding, a pet first aid kit, a soft bed for your destination and treats with an interactive toy that you can use in the crate during the trip and also at your destination!

Motion sickness-

​Dogs can be prone to motion sickness, don't feed or water your dog a lot before the trip or while they are in a moving car.

Austin is heating up!

-Be sure to keep your dogs out of the hot car and use plenty of air conditioner while driving on these hot summer days.

-Always have plenty of water when out and about

-Avoid the hottest part of the day when exercising with your dog between the hours of 12-4.

Look for signs of heatstroke in your dog, panting hard, staggering, rapid heartbeat, delirious demeanour, restlessness, dark purple or red gums or tongue and vomiting. If you see any of these symptoms gradually lower their body temperature by moving them into the shade or air conditioning. Wet lower body with cool water, use cold packs on their belly, small amounts of water to drink or ice cubes to lick and then immediately transport them to the vet.