Fall is right around the corner and it is a great time for a road trip, and your dog can be an excellent traveling companion. A little extra planning and being attentive to your dog’s needs during your travels will help ensure that you both have a fantastic time.
Be Mindful About the Sun
In the first half of the fall season, you shouldn’t be surprised to see some warmer temperatures lingering. When you’re walking places with the dog, pay attention to the temperature and the sun. Dogs can burn their paws on hot pavement.
Stay at Well-Known Hotels
It’s a good idea to pick hotels that get a lot of guests who are business travelers but also permit guests to bring dogs. Chains that you’re familiar with tend to have high occupancy rates. In the hospitality industry, leaders are committed to providing travelers with high-quality accommodations and amenities.
One of the most notable advantages of staying at chains is that many of them have good loyalty programs. You can earn loyalty rewards that get you perks such as upgrades or a free night after a certain number of bookings. When you spend a night or two at a Marriott Providence, you can earn points for future stays at a Marriott by the time you reach your next destination in great northeast cities like Boston or New York.
Plan Stops Smartly
If you’ll be hitting the road for an extended period of time and you’ll be staying at hotels, you should identify dog friendly options and make arrangements in advance. When you’re traveling with a pet, it may not be a good idea to pick places to stay that you just happen to pass along your route. There’s no guarantee that you’ll find a hotel that welcomes dogs when you’re ready to get some rest.
It’s hard to know how much ground you’ll cover on a given day, but you can structure in stops that are well within your reach. When you build smartly timed but conservative stops into your trip, you don’t have to worry so much about making good time and you can just focus on enjoying your journey with your furry traveling companion.
Protect Your Dog’s Eyes
Dogs typically love sticking their head out of the car window. When dogs smell everything that you pass by, they take in a huge amount of sensory information. On a highway, your dog’s head should be in the car. At a high speed, any small object like a leaf could cause serious harm to your dog’s eye.
Help Your Dog Stay Hydrated
Hydration is essential to your dog’s health, but being on-the-go all day is probably going to be disruptive to your dog’s typical drinking habits. Encourage your dog to drink frequently. You can get a collapsible travel bowl, and you can also find non-tip bowls if you want to leave water out on a waterproof mat on the floor of your car. Remember that your dog likes cold and fresh water, so keep their water in a cooler with ice or a stainless steel bottle so it stays cold.
Double Check Your Dog’s ID
You’re keeping an eye on your dog all the time. In all the excitement of your trip, however, you could get separated. Make sure that your dog’s ID tag and microchip info is current. Also, you should attach a tracking device to your dog’s collar such as an Airtag.
Lastly, remember to be patient with your pup. It’s understandable if a dog who usually likes car rides gets apprehensive at some point during your journey. Some dogs don’t like when they aren’t able to get their owners’ attention, but you’ll have to keep your focus on the road. Be patient with your pup if it starts to act out or express concern. Giving your dog the chance to get plenty of exercise in the crisp fall air will make it more mellow for some downtime on the road.
photo cred: https://unsplash.com/photos/KsdgjODuJQE
Love our content? Share it with a friend or link it to social media. Like short clips of cute household pets? Training tips? Follow us on instagram @nydognanny or on YouTube at nydognanny. Have some news you needs to get to dog and cat parents stat? Email info@newyorkdognanny.com with your article pitch.
