How to Keep Your Dog Happy on a Long Car Journey
90Establish Who Is In Charge Before You Set Off
Dogs in Cars
Dogs in cars isn't a natural state of affairs, so it's no wonder that many dogs don't enjoy car travel. Some show their unhappiness by howling or barking, some chew the seats and others are simply sick. Occasionally dogs love to travel, but get so excited at the prospect of a car journey that they too leap around, chew and bark. None of this behaviour is good for either you or the dog; in fact, it's a distracting and therefore dangerous situation. If your attention is being drawn to your back seat, you aren't giving your full attention to the road, and that could cause an accident.
If you are planning a long journey with your pet, don't assume that he will be a model passenger. It is your job to train him to behave during your journey and to plan your trip taking his needs into account. The result will be a happy dog and a safe journey.
Puppy on a Journey
Dog Travel Tip # 1: Start Early
By making an early start, I don't mean set your alarm clock at 5 am on the day of your trip, I mean start training your dog to love car travel as soon as you get him. You can't expect a dog who has never been in a car, or who has travelled only rarely, to adjust immediately to a long trip. Instead, introduce your puppy to the car and do it regularly.
If you have a nervous puppy who doesn't like loud noises or new situations, try putting him in the car for a really short amount of time without even turning the engine on. Build up the time slowly and when he is happy with that, start the engine. Again, go slowly with a nervy pup. You don't need to go anywhere, just sit on the drive for a while with the engine running. Then graduate to short journeys to the store. Over time your dog will accept car travel and be ready to cope with a long journey.
A Happy Dog in the Back of a Car
Dog Travel Tip # 2: Make the Car a Happy Place
Dogs are creatures of habit and your dog is likely to accept a trip in the car if he finds his surroundings familiar and fun. With this in mind, put a familiar toy or blanket in the car for him. If you use a crate in the house and it will fit in the car, put that in for him to sleep in. Give him a treat to munch when he gets in to the car and praise good behaviour, just as you do around the house.
Don't scold "bad" behaviour like barking. Instead, work on your "quiet!" command when you are in the house, and use it in the car, making sure you follow it up with praise. Try not to get frustrated or annoyed in the car as dogs pick up emotions quickly. If you are happy and confident your dog is likely to be too. Conversely, if you are nervous and anxious, your dog will follow suit.
Dog Travel Tip # 3: A Tired Dog is A Good Dog
If you plan to get up on the day of your journey, breakfast and then set off, think again. Your dog will be a far better passenger if he is not full of energy and consequently bored. Make time to exercise him before you set off, even if that means getting up early. And don't make a half-hearted jog around the block, making it just long enough for him to go to the toilet. Have a proper walk, or better still, run. This will pay off in the long run as your dog will be far more willing to lie down and be quiet on the journey.
Safe in a Harness
More About Dog Safety
Keep your dog safe whatever the weather, plus find out what to keep in a dog's first aid kit in my "Hub of the Day": Winter Dog Walks: Keep Safe and Healthy.
Dog Travel Tip # 4: Safety First
Sometimes you see dogs travelling in the backs of trucks or sticking their heads out of car windows and it does look like they are having a good time. However, you should have your dog restrained properly in the car, just like you have your other passengers safe with seatbelts. If you had to brake suddenly and your dog was not safely restrained, he could hurtle forwards injuring not just himself but anyone he crashed into.
There are three ways to keep your dog safely restrained in the car:
- in the back of the car behind a dog guard
- in a dog crate or carrier
- in a special seat restraint designed for dogs
Whichever method suits you best, make sure that you introduce it to your dog well in advance of your journey. To fail to do so will result in an unhappy dog who will make the journey miserable not only for himself, but for you.
If you are using a dog guard, put a blanket or bed in the back so that your dog feels comfortable. Ensure that the guard is fitted properly and will not collapse if your dog pushes against it.
Crates or carriers can be used in the house for short periods before the journey to let you dog get used to resting in them. Don't ever lock a dog into a crate; the crate should feel like a welcome sanctuary, not a prison. If the dog feels happy in his crate, your journey will run all the more smoothly.
Many dog harnesses are designed to double up as a seat belt harness. Therefore, you can start walking your dog with the harness so that he is accustomed to the feel of it. He should more easily accept being attached to the seat belt if he doesn't mind the feel of the harness. You might consider putting a blanket on the seat to protect your car seats.
Dog Travel # 5: Plan Breaks in Your Journey
Have a look at your route and plan in some stops to allow your dog to stretch his legs, have a drink and a toilet break. This is good practice for drivers too!
Don't stop at the side of the highway or motorway if you can avoid it. An over excited dog and roaring traffic don't mix; accidents happen and you don't want your dog getting loose on a busy road. Instead, plan to pull off into rest areas or away from the highway.
Don't Forget the Water!
Dog Travel Tip # 6: Don't Forget the Basics
When you are packing for a long journey it is easy to forget to pack things. Don't overlook your dog. Remember to pack water, some food and bowls. Take a first aid kit (don't share yours!). If you are planning to stop and do some sightseeing and leave the dog in the car, remember that dogs overheat in cars very quickly; don't let this happen to your dog.
You should have insurance for your dog anyway, but make sure that you have it before you go on a journey. It is when we are out of our regular routine that things are more likely to go wrong, and it is better to have one less thing to worry about.
vote upvote downshareprintflag
- Useful (39)
- Funny (4)
- Awesome (13)
- Beautiful (3)
- Interesting (19)
CommentsLoading...
Great hub for all of us dog lovers! Great pics too! Voted UP and USEFUL!
Wonderfully practical hub, Judi! Our dogs always loved being in the car. You offer good advice here for folks who aren't so lucky! Oh, and the puppy picture is adorable!
Hi Robie2 - I am quite a fan of Bogart, I follow his blog. I have an Airedale myself and I am sure that they would make a lovely couple!
Thanks for your comment, much appreciated :-)
Hi Jrandol62, I am so glad that you enjoyed this hub, and I enjoyed finding the photos too.
I appreciate your comments, thank you :-)
Hi rsusan, my dog is very happy in the car too, it's just a case of keeping her enthusiasm under control! I am quite in love with the puppy too!
Lovely to hear from you, thanks for taking the time to comment :-)
Very useful and sensible advice. It always amazes me that people just let their prized pets and even children ride in a car with no seat belts?
BTW has that dog driving the car got a license. Boom boom!lol
Thank you Michael, and I agree. Having said that, we never wore seatbelts when I was a small child, not until that "Clunk Click, Every Trip" ad campaign with Jimmy Saville in the '70s.
And no, I think you will find that dogs no longer need licences!
Very helpful Hub! One of my dogs hates to trace, the other just sleeps. Thanks for some great tips. Voted up and SHARED.
Hi Rebecca - it's great to hear that you found this useful.
Thanks for SHARING - and for your kind comments :-)
Hmm never taught of this that way. I once have a dog who would jump in the car whenever I leave and she just stayed under the backseat. Guess I should have check if she was comfortable. bad me :( Thanks for sharing.
cebutouristspot - if your dog was happy and safe, there's nothing to worry about!
Thanks for your comments, I appreciate them :-)
Terrific article for dog owners of any breed. My dogs all love to go in the car and it is a battle for which one is riding shotgun! (Seat belts on of course!)
Hi Mardi - our dog loves the car, but is way, way too excitable to be allowed anywhere but in the back, fully restrained, otherwise I would be wearing her as a hat whilst I drove!
Thanks for your comments - so glad you enjoyed this hub, I appreciate your feedback :-)
A brilliant hub which I know will benefit many dog owners.
Great work and an up up and away here I think.
Take care and enjoy your day.
Eddy.
Hi Eddy - thanks for the vote of confidence, lovely to hear from you and take care too.
Excellent tips for all dog owners, Judi Bee! Voted up and very useful.
Hi Cloverleaf - glad you found this useful! Thanks for your comments, much appreciated :-)
Very helpful and great tips for dog owners! I often drive from Sweden to Greece and back. My dog loves it!
I always make sure he wears his car harness. I take frequent stops on the way so he can drink some water and walk around a little bit. I love the adorable puppy in the picture! Voted up and shared.
Hi SanneL - wow, I admire you just for making that journey, I hate driving! I know that you love your dog, so I am not surprised that you take such good care of him on your journeys. Glad you like the puppy photo - I love looking for the photos for my dog hubs.
Thanks for your comments, always happy to hear from you :-)
Loved the photo's, found the enclosed information interesting and useful. Does that Dog driving have a license? :-D Voted up and SHARING.
I too love the puppy photo! Excellent choice. I take my dog with me everywhere - at least all over town. We have yet to make a serious road trip together. Thanks for your suggestions. It will make a future trip together much more enjoyable.
We don’t have dog, but I loved the photo so much I had to come take a look.Congratulations on Hub of the Day!
I wrote a hub about travelling with small children, and some of your advice is similar - tire them out first, take lots of breaks, bring their things with them. :-)
I just have to come back to congratulate you on this
very prestigious " Hub of the Day" award! Judi, You truly deserve this award! Well done!!
Fantastic hub....congrats for the award.
and you helped me to keep my dog happy.
Thanks
Yes, I will remember to read this hub again when taking a dog traveling in the car. Good tips and helpful information about training dogs to get used to just being in a car first.
Great hub! We have to remember our two dogs have different needs when we travel. They are two very opposite dogs. One is an obese Blue Heeler and the other a seven month old bulldog. We got spoiled by the Blue Heeler, the bulldog now needs a bit more attention when we travel.
Congrats on Hub of the Day! I don't have a dog, but was so drawn in by the top picture, I couldn't resist. Up & useful, I will pass tips on to my sister.
My beagle used to love the wind on her face, but I kept her from getting too far out by only letting the window down a few inches and she was thrilled. Only down side was a drooled window! Good hub.
Oh wow I wish I had read this article years and years ago when my dog was a puppy. It took awhile to get her used to the car, but now she's very content to ride for any amount of time! I'm definitely voting this up. Congratulations on being Hub of the Day!
Very good. I only had to transport my two little dogs over a longish distance (2 hours drive)twice now. So before hand I visited my Vet who gave me special tablets for digs to calm them down. It worked very well and there was no side-effects. They even enjoy the journeys.
Good tips Judi. Our pet is part of the family and she always goes with us most of time. The farthest she has traveled by car is 50 miles away from home!
Fantastic tips for doggy travelers! My dog doesn't like car trips so these ideas will come in handy. Congrats on Hub Of The Day Judith!!
These are great tips. My Yorkie gets so excited when we tell her we are going "bye, bye", she can't wait to get into the car, but as soon as we are on the way, she becomes a nervous wreck! However, she is a much better passenger when she is tired. Thanks for sharing!
Congrats on Hub of the day! best tip is to keep them hydrated
Great hub and excellent advice. I have a german shepard that is a pretty good traveler but you mentioned some tips that I have overlooked. Tips like getting in exercise before travel and bringing in toys into the vehicle. I haven't had to take him on a long journey yet but when the time arrives, I will use you advice. Thanks again!
Congrats ! Traveling with dogs is similar to long car trips with young kids! Great hub!
Excellent tips.My dog doesnt like to travel much in cars so this will surely help me.
Excellent advice! My sister-in-law brings her dog with her when she and her family travel 15+ hours to come visit us; the dog crate and a familiar blanket have worked for the dog, along with frequent breaks.
Congrats on the Hub of the Day!
Hi MP50 - I had fun finding the photos, glad you like them! I don't think the dog has got a licence, I think he had a rebellious look!
Thanks for commenting, I appreciate it :-)
H Juliek - a puppy photo is always a winner! I am glad that you found this useful too!
Thanks for taking the time to comment, I appreciate it :-)
Hi Melovy - I read somewhere that people's dogs turn out like their children - well behaved children/well behaved dogs, so I guess there must be some similarities in bringing up either!
Thanks for your comments, as always, much appreciated :-)
Hi Sannel - you are always welcome back!
Thanks very much for your support and kind comments, you know I appreciate them :-)
Hi Deepak - you are very kind, I am glad that you found this useful.
Thanks for taking the time to comment, great to hear from you :-)
Hi starstream - thank you! Bookmark it for later if it will help.
Many thanks for your comments, I appreciate you taking the time :-)
Hi melodylewis80 - it must be awkward having to deal with dogs with different temperaments. Hopefully if you stick with the training, you will have two well behaved pets! (Fingers crossed!)
Great to hear from you, much appreciated :-)
Hi Keri - I think the photo is luring in a few non-dog owners!
Thanks for your kind comments, it's lovely to hear from you :-)
Hi Civil War Bob - I know it's bad, and against Health and Safety, but I can't help but smile when I see dogs with their heads out of the window!
Thanks for your comments, they are appreciated :-)
Hi hisandhers - glad to hear that your dog is happy travelling now.
Thanks for your kind comments, much appreciated :-)
Hi HendrikDB - glad to hear that you were able to work out your dogs' problems. Our dog doesn't like fireworks and I think that we may have to sedate her next time 5 November rolls around.
Thanks for taking the time to comment, much appreciated :-)
Hi the girls - our dog is definitely part of the family too. She would like to be the head of the family, but she is gradually accepting that she isn't!
Great to hear from you, many thanks for your comments :-)
Hi Linda - I hope that you can make some use of this advice, it's nice to be able to travel with a happy dog!
Thanks so much for your support and kind comments :-)
Hi bizzymom - our dog is very energetic and when she was young we lived by the mantra "a tired puppy is a good puppy", so lots of fun and activities, and she didn't have so much energy for mischief!
Thanks for your comments, great to hear from you :-)
Hi McConnell Group - thanks very much! Great to hear from you :-)
Hi jaybird22 - glad that I have been able to useful to you and your dog!
Thanks very much for taking the time to comment, it's appreciated :-)
Hi kelleyward - I agree totally about kids and dogs, there are lots of similarities!
Thanks for your kind comment, much appreciated :-)
Hi snagerries - I hope that you can help your dog feel more comfortable travelling and that this hub will help.
Thanks for your comments, great to hear from you :-)
Hi Marisa - wow, 15 hours is a long trip! Glad to hear that your sister-in-law has it all worked out.
Thanks for your support and kind comments, always appreciated :-)
Hey, Judi Bee, congrats on Hub of the Day! The dog in the first picture looks like mine. She likes to go for rides in the car, but I've never taken her too far from home, yet. I will remember these great tips for our first long journey.
Hi Deborah - glad to hear that your dog is a fan of car travel. My dog looks like the dog on the back seat of the car with the harness on (except that dog is sitting still!). Great to hear that you can make use of these tips.
Thanks for all your support and kind comments, much appreciated :-)
Great hub with some useful information. Love the photos. Congratulations on having the hub of the day!
Hi Tammy - the photos are great, aren't they!
Thanks for your comments and support, always appreciated :-)
I don't have a dog yet but now I'll know what to do! Thanks!
Hi hobbitinspiration - it's always good to be prepared!
Thanks for taking the time to comment, I appreciate it :-)
Great hub. My dogs hate the car... but I seatbelt them as much as possible and they do better. Good advice! No wonder you got hub of the day. 8-)
My pit boxer mix loves the car. When he was a puppy under a year old, I had to take several trips back home which was an 8 hour drive! He slept the whole time and only needed to take a few potty breaks in between despite being an energetic playful dog. I think the key is being on the high way, the smooth ride and vibrations just puts him to sleep. A good run before hand always helps put em to sleep too! I would suggest starting early with anything you plan on doing with your dog!
We do not have a dog now, but with how much my young son loves them, I'm thinking there will be one in our future when he is older. This is very useful information to know as I've never been one to really be around dogs all that much. I did not know that a harness can double as a way to keep them safe with a seat-belt, so thank-you for that and all of the other information you provided. I will keep all this in mind for the future.
Hi Shea duane - the tight belts must make them more secure. Someone did a great hub a while ago about "thunder vests" which you can use if you dog is anxious.
Thanks so much for your kind comments, I appreciate them :-)
Great hub with important information for dog owners so that they can keep their pets safe and content and also help protect their own lives and the lives of their family members by preventing accidents that can be caused by an unruly, unhappy pet.
Congratulations on earning the Hub of the Day Accolade with this worthy hub.
Voted up across the board except for funny.
Hi Jason - I hadn't thought of the movement of the car making a puppy sleepy, again it's very like kids - babies fall asleep in cars so easily.
Thanks for taking the time to comment, I appreciate it :-)
Great tips for dog owners! Congratulations on Hub of the day award. Bookmarked, shared, voted up and useful! Take care.
Hi Moon Willow Lake - we weren't intending to get our dog, but gave in to our daughter. In the event, my husband and I spend far more time with the dog than she does!
I appreciate you comments, thank you very much :-)
Congraulations on Hub of the Day! The pictures and information are great. I think the same tips would apply to traveling with children, as well. : )I've never seen a dog safety harness before. Too adorable!
Congratulations on having the hub of the day, this is a very good hub with many useful tips. I have had several dogs, and some did loved car journeys and some wasn't so eager to jump in so I have tried different ways to make them enjoy it more. You have covered the topic very well, and the pictures are wonderful!
Tina
Congratulations on Hub of the day. The first picture reminds me of a skit on Just For Laughs: Gags in which there was a dog driving a mail truck. What onlookers didn't know is that there was a man controlling it by remote control. One of the actors went up to the dog and gave the dog directions and then the dog "drove" off.
Love this Hub. Congrats on Hub of the Day! My little miniature schnauzer loves to ride in the car. She gets her feelings hurt if I have to leave her behind. Our other dog is getting ready to fly on an airplane for the first time, hope that goes well. I wrote a hub about getting her doggie carrier ready for the trip. Read mine when you have some time, OK? I voted this UP, etc.etc.
Hi Happyboomernurse - thank you very much for your kind comments. I am thrilled to have HOTD.
Great to hear from you, thanks for taking the time to comment :-)
Hi urmilashukla23 - glad that you found this useful and thanks for sharing.
You take care too, thanks for taking the time to comment, it's appreciated :-)
Hi vespawoolf - so true about dogs and children! Yes, Bogart Handsome Devil is an adorable boy. He actually looks just like my dog, which is a shame because she is a girl! It's the beard that lets her down!
Thanks for commenting, much appreciated :-)
Hi thoughforce - I am pleased that you found this hub useful and enjoyed the photos - I enjoyed writing it and choosing pictures.
Thanks very much for your comments, great to hear from you :-)
Hi Flora - that would have been a great skit to see! I do like the photo so much too.
Thanks for your congratulations, and thanks for taking the time to comment :-)
Hi Mary615 - I love schnauzers, I can quite see myself with one in the future. Yes, I will read your hub, I'm hopping over there now :-)
Great hub, I didnt realise that you could buy seat belts for dogs! Safety is important- also if you have a young child it is good to separate the dogs from the child- as you say you need your eyes on the road, not turning around to look for where the noise is coming from.
My nephews dogs are going by air to Cyprus next week to join him and his family- I expect (and hope) that the crating people know what they are doing!
Our black Lab loves the car. So much so that he tries to jump into the boot whenever you open it, even if it's the other car which isn't a hatchback. In fact he's been known to jump into other people's cars in the hope of a trip. Which rather surprised the woman who's car it was as we walked past!
Excellent hub, btw. Well worth Hub of the Day.
Extremely useful and informative hub. voted up.
I don't have a dog (and car) so I voted it up and interesting information. It's a fantastic primer for future dog owners! :)
What useful information! Loved it, I am so lucky that my Daisy loves to go for a car ride. She always picks up all the cues that I am about to be in the car. She is excited at first but quickly calms down. Occasionally, she will see something or one if there is traffic...She was actually my 'sanity' when I got caught 350 miles from home when a freak snowstorm arrived. I had to work at 8am the next day with no-one to cover me. Daisy and I drove for 14 hours on a 6 hour trip. Reassuring Daisy kept me sane.
Wow! Look at all of the comments. Congratulations on being the Hub of the Day. Now that I have read it I can see why.
I thought I had already commented on this hub but turns out otherwise. I found this hub from your facebook and I'm going to share it with friends who have dogs.
Surely there will be a lot of happy pooches secretly thanking you for writing this hub! Nicely done and congratulations for HOTD. You deserve it.
Princesswithapen
Great advice!!! My dog fortunately loves to travel..the insurance is a great idea!!! Thank you for sharing!!
Hi Just History - good point about keeping children and dogs separate. Hope that your nephew's dogs make it safely to Cyprus, I am sure that they will.
Thanks for your comments, appreciated as always :-)
Hi plussize-lingerie - oh, that is funny! Our dog often tries to invite herself into other people's houses, but never a car!
Thanks so much for your kind comments, I appreciate them :-)
Hi idratherbe - thanks for your comments, glad you found this useful.
Great to hear from you :-)
Hi inaniLoquence - I hope that you will be able to make use of this information in future.
Thanks for taking the time to comment :-)
Hi John Redd - you are very kind!
Thank you for your comments, I appreciate them :-)
Hi Dog Advisor - so glad you found this hub informative. You are right, dogs can have a very reassuring presence. Your journey sounds a complete nightmare though.
I appreciate you taking the time to comment, thanks very much :-)
Hi billybuc - yes, there are a lot of comments, it's taking a while to answer them all!
Thanks so much for your support and kind comments, I appreciate it :-)
Hi princesswithapen - glad you found the hub and thanks so much for your support and kind comments, much appreciated :-)
Hi picadilly - glad you found enjoyed this hub.
Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to comment, I appreciate it :-)
Congratulations on hub of the day! Well deserved. These are great tips on traveling with a dog. My dog loves to go places, although he whines the whole way there, probably saying "are we there yet?" He is quiet on the way back though, so it isn't my driving he is complaining about!
What a great hub! Ours is 9 now and loves to go for car rides--
Hi Millionaire Tips - I think that there are lots of dogs like yours, mine does bark a little bit if she knows that we are going somewhere fun.
Thanks for your kind comments and support - much appreciated :-)
Hi Audrey - glad to hear that you dog is still enjoying travelling.
Thanks for taking the time to comment, I appreciate it :-)
So cute :)
Hi Nare Anthony - thanks very much for your comment :-)
That's really interesting hub ..useful tips
Hi htodd - glad you found this interesting and useful! Thanks for taking the time to comment, I appreciate it :-)
Informative, I like the photos. Thanks for the hub
Hi Gracenduta - glad you enjoyed the hub, thanks for commenting :-)
Great traveling tips for taking your dog along. I had never thought of a first aid kit. Thanks. Love the pictures! Thumbs up.
Hi Ruby - glad you found this hub useful, thanks so much for taking the time to comment, I appreciate it :-)
Great tips very usefull info my dog hates car trips I will try your tips. Well put togeather!
Hi jasper420 - I really hope you can help your dog enjoy travelling, it's so much less stress for everyone. Good luck!
Thanks very much for taking the time to comment, I appreciate it :-)
I just realised I never said thanks for answering my question! I'm loving this hub, the photos and all the ideas about how to keep a doggie happy on a long trip. Voted up and shared.
Hi Linda - actually, it's been in the back of my mind that I should have thanked you for a fab question. So, thanks very much and thanks for commenting too :-)
Judi Bee - what a delightful hub and I can clearly see why it was voted "Hub of the Day." I loved the reading but what I love more is your clear-sighted intelligence and wonderful heart! Voted up and across. :)
Hi Suelynn - glad you enjoyed reading this hub, I was delighted that it was a HOTD.
Thanks so much for your very kind comments, very much appreciated :-)
robie2 Level 6 Commenter 3 months ago
wonderful, common-sense tips for car travel with dogs and the pix are fabulous. I love the one of Bogart in his car harness-- Airdale beefcake for sure:-) Voting this up and awesome.