Let’s face it we are all creatures of habit. Dogs are no different. In fact, dogs thrive on consistency. Does your furry friend wake up one minute before the alarm, freak out that dinner is not on time during daylight saving time changes, and wait at the door for you to come home from work, or in my case, close my laptop and leave the home office? These daily routines help keep the chaos to a minimum, keep potty breaks on a schedule, and help keep your dog happy and calm and aware of what to expect.
Maintaining this routine while traveling with your pup can be daunting. But the more you can keep customary schedules close to normal the happier the whole family will be during travel times. When your routine is altered, you are unexpectedly late or forget an appointment it can cause stress. Dogs feel the same. The change can cause them severe emotional distress, stomach upset, and anxiety. Routine is where our canine friends flourish. Knowing what to expect helps provides a sense of security, creates trusts with their humans, lowers stress, which helps keep biological functions in synch with regular feeding times which helps with digestion and overall health. All these things align with better doggie behavior and a happier home life.
A big issue for most dogs is their food. Keeping mealtimes as consistent as possible while feeding your fur baby their regular food can be huge help. If its feasible use their regular food and water bowls and keep after meal walks to their home schedule as much as possible. Avoiding a big meal right before a car ride is helpful especially if your dog is prone, as many are, to motion sickness. It’s helpful to take along familiar items from home such as favorite blankie, their bed or crate, and some well-loved toys. These things feel familiar and will provide a sense of security in the unusual travel routine. During travel do monitor to ensure you dog is staying hydrated. Remember to take breaks for activity and water to help mimic that normal routine.
Of course, before you leave, it’s a good idea to ensure your pup is not having any health issues and their microchip and ID tags are current and updated. Be very mindful of warm weather and leaving dogs unattended in a parked vehicle as temperature changes can happen quickly in these closed spaces.
If taking your dog along for travel is not the best fit for your family or is just not feasible for some reason, please check out the Peak City Puppy website https://peakcitypuppy.com/ for our many services to assist your family needs.
