Traveling with your dog
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If you are staying at a hotel then be sure to call in advance and make sure that they allow dogs to stay as guests. Some hotels and motels will not accept you bringing a dog into their room for your short stay, but many do.
Look at your vacation plan – do you plan on spending long evenings out away from the dog? If so then it would be beneficial to have someone that can sit with them to avoid loneness and boredom to set into the dog in such a strange and new environment.
There are certain times, however, when you need to consider both the pros and cons of taking your dog on vacation with you. Some questions that you may want to ask yourself are: Does your dog get sick from traveling in the vehicle? Are you flying and do you feel ok with your dog being put into a crate during the flight? Are you planning on staying out for long periods of times like dinners and other places where you cannot take the dog? If you answered yes to these questions then you may want to consider having your dog stay with a friend or at a decent kennel while you vacation.
If after weighing the pros and cons you do decide to take your dog with you then make sure you are prepared for the type of traveling that you are going to put the dog through. For example when traveling by automobile it is important that your dog is properly restrained. You can use a seat belt that is specifically designed for dogs if you wish or simply get a crate of sorts.
Are you traveling by air instead? Please keep in mind that this is a severely traumatic experience for your dog and this arrangement should be undertaken only if absolutely necessary. If you have a small dog then some airlines will allow the dog to be placed in a crate underneath your seat but most airlines will have the dog placed in the hold of the plane. Be sure to book non-stop flights and travel when it is cooler. It can get very hot in the hold for the dog.
The worst case scenario if your dog is a poor traveler and needs to be calmed down is to administer them tranquilizers. You must have a vet prescribe them and are actually a wonderful answer to a dog's traveling problems if breathing difficulties occur. In addition to this try to get your dog to be extremely active for hours on end before a trip is planned. This will aid in the work of the tranquilizers by making them even more tired and physically sleepy.
Have you ever seen a dog ignore his or her owner when given a command? It's sad and almost painful to watch the person's face redden and the voice progress from one octave to another as he or she yells, sit, Sit,SIT, SIT! Perhaps you know someone like this, maybe it's you. To communicate with y. . .