Pet Travel Tips-Meet Bella!

It's fun traveling with your family, but sometimes the family member may be a furry, four legged kind.

Bella

Traveling with our fur kids doesn't have to be difficult or bothersome. Simply establishing some rules in the beginning can keep your trip from turning into a nightmare. Of course, if they are as cute, as Bella, who needs rules?  Bella doesn't think rules apply to her!  Quick tip, never and I mean never travel with a small dog with a "prima donna" attitude!

1. Prep your pet by taking them on short trips in the beginning to get them used to the idea of traveling. Short trips are also a good time to discover if your pet can ride without getting car sick or freaking out. Bella was riding just down the road for a test drive and hung her head out the window, then turned around to give me a sweet wink and threw up on me!  Just remember some dogs are just not trainable!

2. If your pet does pass the short trips and is able to now go with you on longer road trips make sure you have a record of all vaccinations in the car. Hint: Bella never made it past short trips, so moral of the story is sometimes travel tips for dogs isn't as easy as the writer wants to make it look like! Some dogs will never learn. My car suddenly stinks. Bella did you just poop in the car?

3. Make sure the crate your pet will be traveling in is well ventilated and is big enough for them to move around. Be sure it is secure and doesn't slide around too much.  If you decide to travel without a carrier, have your pet secure in a harness in the backseat attached to a seat belt. Yes Bella never learned! I placed her in a carrier just the right side.  By the time we made it to our destination, she managed to turn the carrier up side down and got her soft blanket wrapped around her back legs!

4. Bring food, a bowl and water and a familiar toy so your pet will feel comfortable and safe in their new surroundings. Don't feed or water your pet while riding, this could cause stomach upset. Bella can eat 24/7  and somehow while she was out of the carrier she manged to eat two treats and tore a whole in  the feed bag, all this in a matter of 15 mins!  New tip- If your dog gets quite something maybe going on, Be sure to check in on them. Sweet angel is now peeing on the carpet in the back seat.

5. The number one tip is to never leave your pet in the car alone. On a hot day, even with the windows down, a parked car can soon become like a hot furnace in no time. No worries here, Bella's car days are coming to a end!

6. Don't forget to make sure you stop long enough so your pet can have a potty, water and a walk break.  Too late we are back at the house, my sweet angel is sunning her body in the sunshine coming from the back door that is slightly opened.  I have to admit she is cute, she may not be a good travel buddy, but she makes a pretty picture!  Can I help it if I have a doggie beauty queen! 

Have fun making new memories with your fur kid on your next road trip or not!