If you are heading out on the road to a dog agility competition or simply hitting the open road with your favorite furry friend, car travel with a pooch can be a challenge. We have a few helpful tips that can make traveling easier for you and your dog.
Certainly we’ve all seen dogs sticking their heads out the window and soaking in some rays and enjoy the breeze. However, it is never recommended that you allow your pooch to stick their head out the window, and it is also wise to consider not allowing your dog to have free rein of the car. Keeping a dog secure in a travel crate is the best way to ensure that your dog is safe during the journey and ready to enjoy navigating all of the agility equipment once you reach your destination.
While we don’t sell dog crates along with our many pieces of dog agility equipment, we can provide you with a bit of advice regarding your choice of crate. The dog crate should be large enough for the dog to stand up, turn around and lie down comfortably. There should be plenty of ventilation, as well, and it’s nice to have a soft crate mat at the bottom for comfort. Nothing else needs to be placed in the crate.
If your dog is not crate-trained, you might consider slowly introducing the crate over a period of weeks leading up to the dog agility competition. Take your dog on a few short car rides with them sitting in the crate. Just like you would when introducing a new piece of dog training equipment, provide plenty of praise and perhaps a very small treat to entice them into the crate. Then drive around for a few minutes and maybe head to the park for some fun playtime. This will help your dog associate the crate with a positive experience. Gradually increase your driving times, to help your dog feel comfortable for an extended period of time.
The crate is the safest place for your dog to be if you are traveling by car, and it’s safest for the owners as well. A dog that jumps in your lap or even sits in your lap can make it difficult for the driver to navigate the vehicle. Even if your dog is restricted to the back seat, just having them move around can be very distracting. Most dogs actually feel very secure and safe in a crate once they become used to it, so while it might seem restrictive, your dog actually may be very cozy in their crate. Also, keep in mind, you’d never allow an infant or toddler to lie unrestricted in a vehicle, so keeping a dog secure is just like keep a child secure in a safety seat.
If your dog is very crate-resistant or you don’t wish to use a crate, there are some other options to consider. While these are not as safe as using a crate, they do provide a higher level of safety than simply allowing a dog to roam free in the car. There are many travel harnesses to consider, and a few brands have excellent safety ratings. Be sure the harness fits well and that your dog is able to lie down comfortably while wearing the harness.
If you do use a harness, it is still recommended that you have your dog stay in the back seat of your car. After all, if you get into a crash, the airbag in the front seat could injure or even kill your dog. It can take some time for your dog to get used to this more secure way of travel, but it always takes time to get used to changes. Your dog probably had a few doubts those first few times up and down the teeter-totter or other pieces of dog agility equipment, but after a bit of practice, they enjoy using agility equipment.
Whether you crate or harness your pooch, keep in mind that some dogs do tend to become carsick during long journeys. To help alleviate motion sickness, it is best to not provide the dog with an abundance of food or drink before hitting the road. You might even consider playing around on your dog agility equipment or taking a good long walk prior to starting the journey to tire out your dog a bit.
If your journey will take you on the road for several days, you obviously will be bringing along dog dishes, food, a favorite toy and a variety of other items for your dog. Consider also packing a small bag with a collapsible water bowl, some dog treats, wet wipes and a micro-fiber towel or two. This allows you to provide a small snack and drink or clean up quickly if your dog becomes unwell. It is a good idea to stop several times to offer bathroom breaks and a chance for your dog to stretch his legs a bit during a long car journey. You might even bring along some dog agility equipment, so that you can have an impromptu practice session at any dog parks you pass along the way.
For those who do wish to bring along some agility equipment for practice, we offer a full line of mini dog agility equipment, which can fit more easily into your vehicle. Consider loading up a large plastic bin or an extra-large duffle bag to carry the dog training equipment and keep it from moving around in your vehicle.
Brad Carlson enjoys dog agility training. To find agility equipment or to find more about training equipment for dog agility equipment, please check out the Carlson-Agility.com website today.
