Thinking about hitting the road with man’s best friend? Taking a trip with your dog can be a great way to spend time with your family and create great memories. Before you get going on your trip, here are some tips we learnt from our recent trip with our miniature daschund Frankie.
We did a 7 day trip through Canada and the US from Vancouver, BC to Toronto.
- Plan Your Route. You want to make sure that your driving schedule allows time for regular breaks. You should make sure you are stopping every 4 hours for 15-30 mins so they can relieve themselves and experience the new exciting smells and environments.
Frankie was fantastic in the car and would give us a verbal sign if it was time for us to stop. Make sure you pay attention to the road signs for Rest Areas as you may have to drive an additional 30-45 mins before you hit the next one. Every Rest Area we stopped at had dedicated areas for pets.
- Car Safety. Just like humans, it’s important that dogs are secured safely in the car. There are a number of options you can choose from including crates, booster seats and harnesses that click into a seat belt. For Frankie, we have a leash that attaches to his harness and clicks into the seat belt. He sat in his bed and have room to move around and get comfortable.
- Make sure your pet records are up to date. It’s important to make sure that your pet has the most up-to-date vaccines. You should contact your vet and ask if there are any additional vaccinations needed at your destination. If you are travelling across International borders (US-Canada)- you will need to have proof of your dog’s rabies certificate. Your vet can provide this form on request. We also carried all of Frankie’s vaccination history just in case. We were not asked to show proof when we crossed borders, but it was better to be safe than sorry.
- Book Pet-Friendly Accommodation. It’s safe to assume that you must spend some nights on the road. Not only is it safe for humans to get some rest at the end of each day, but also for your pet. Not all hotels or campsites accept pets. Most online hotel booking sites allow you to filter for hotels that do accept pets. There is usually an additional charge for the room for pets. Check with the hotel you have booked for the current pet rate. When you complete your booking, we recommend that you make a note in the online booking form or call the hotel and inform them that a pet will accompany you on your stay.
- Pack A Bag For Your Dog. Just like us, dogs need essential items on a road trip. Having a separate bag for your pooch will make it easier to access their items while on the road. Here is what we included in Frankies bag:
- Food and Water Bowl
- Water Bottle and Bowl for drinking on car stops
- Treats and food for each night
- Poop Bags
- Doggie First Aid Kit
- Dog Bed
- Blankets
- His favourite toys