Traveling with your pet can be both wonderful and disastrous. But with carefully planning and following simple rules you and your pet can enjoy being together on many trips. Below are a few things that can help you when traveling and the reasons why.
1) Always carry small plastic bags for picking up poop...these bags can be sandwich bags, newspaper bags, or anything that is plastic that you can zip or tie close to dispose in garbage pails. Almost every state requires that you pick up after your pooch and if you disobey, fines can be issued. When you are at hotels, beaches, public parks, or even at a friends house pick up after your dog! Many hotels are starting to turn away people who have dogs because many people do not pick up the poop which makes it annoying when guests step in them. Not a pretty picture!
2) Bring crates to put dogs in when you are not in your hotel room. It is not advised to leave dogs loose in the hotel room....many times they will destroy something out of boredom or nervousness. Also, dogs who are away from home tend to become stressed and when this happens they often drink more water and have loose stools which may cause them to eliminate in the room. Also, when you are asleep confining a dog will prevent accidents from happening on the carpet during the night!
3) Do not allow your dogs to bark excessively when you are out in public or in a hotel. Many people truly do not like dogs barking their heads off. Be sensitive on how much your dog is barking and try not to let them bark during the sleeping hours. If you have trouble keeping your dog quiet teach it how to be quiet at home this way you can remind them that the same rules apply on the road. Get professional advice if you have trouble training it how to be quiet. DO NOT leave your dog in the car at the hotel overnight because of it's barking!!! Even that is considered unruly!
4) Curb your dog where signs are posted or where you see beautiful flower gardens. People have spent hours preparing the plant beddings and spent money buying plants to beautify the area...a dogs urine can ruin all this work! And when there is poop, one would not like to find it where they are working with their hands when weeding or tilling the soil! Keep your dogs from eliminating near entrances of buildings, especially in public places and hotels...no one likes the smell of dog urine when entering or exiting these buildings!
5) Bring extra bed sheets to cover your bed(s) at the hotel if you allow your dog to sleep or lay with you. Dog hair can be kept to a minimum this way and you can always shake it outside before you leave.
6) DO NOT BATHE your dog in the bath tub! Hotels are very strict about this. Dog hair can clog up drains causing many thousands of dollars in repairs. Also, grooming your dog in the hotel is not advised...If you MUST groom try and make sure hair is kept under control and thrown in garbage pail. Do not use hair dryers to dry your dog as hair will go flying all over the place!Clean up all hair that falls on floor. Better yet, use a tarp, plastic bag or towel under dog to catch loose hair. This will keep the room from getting so hairy. Ask hotel if there is a place where you can bathe and blow dry your dog. Some do have a place!
7) DO NOT throw dog poop in toilets! This pertains to EVERY TOILET! Dog poop does not get soft like human poop does thus it clogs the drains. Take all waste to outdoor trash bins in plastic bags.
A few things you should take with you when on the road
Baby Asprin- Some dogs might come up lame...soft tissue injury. This will help make them feel comfortable till you see the vet. Baby asprin can be in form of Ascriptin, Tylenol, or coated childrens asprin. Ask your vet for correct dosage!
Immodium (liquid or pill) or Pepto Bismol for upset stomachs or loose stools. Ask vet for proper dosage for your dog.
Plastic bags for poop
Plastic liner for under crates
Bottled water- Water not from home is not the same and strange water can cause dogs to have loose stools or upset stomachs. Humans can tolerate many different things but dogs cannot.
Paper towels and clean up detergent such as clorox clean up, ordormute, or Natures Miracle to clean up any mistakes your dog makes, whether it is in car, hotel or a public place. have a plastic bag to put these mistakes in to throw outside in garbage pail.
Flashlight for taking your dog out at night so you can find their poop to pick up and dispose. I always keep one in my car and one in my suitcase!
