Comments on: Tips for Taking your Dog on Holiday this Summer

By: jaysblueaus

jaysblueaus — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 14:59:01 +0000

I have a cute and adorable maltese shitzu male cross 3 year old. I suggest if a person is going on holidays and especially in tick infested areas, that it would be a good idea to buy some electronic clippers or to take your dog into get clipped, makes it less favorable for ticks, and makes it easier to check for ticks, but still use a product for extra protection.

By: Dachie Mum

Dachie Mum — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 01:03:27 +0000

Hi, I am very grateful to both Rozalinda and Sandra for their words of wisdom to help my dachie Marty enjoy his car trips. We have been taking him on relatively short trips whenever applicable and he seems to be settling. I have taken one of his beds and he seems to relax on it. So here’s hoping that he will enjoy the trip to Queensland (from NSW). We will be stopping along the way both for toilet stops for him and us and food etc stops. As well we will be visiting friends along the way. Does anyone know of motels along the way to the Queensland border that we can take Marty. He is a very laid back doggie and no trouble and of course, house trained.

By: Valerie

Valerie — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 11:16:32 +0000

I have just been reading about travelling with dogs in cars. I have a Shih Tzu cross who shakes and pants the whole drive time. I have tried the Bach flowers which did not seem to help him, I shall definately try the lavender. Any advice for storm fear, besides shaking and panting he scratches desperately at the door to escape. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

By: Rosalinda

Rosalinda — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 02:18:48 +0000

He probably needs little trips to fun places on a regular basis to allay his fear (& help him retrain his tummy). Lots of affection/support (but not on your lap if you’re driving) while in the car. Don’t feed him just before leaving but do give him some rescue remedy (Bach Flower remedy from chemists & health food shops)… < 1/2 a dropperful will do. He will need a favourite blanket & toy to be with him in the car (& you might want to spread some preferrably-elderly newspaper about underneath just in case). (Older newspaper doesn’t give off nauseating fumes for his delicate sense of smell).
Don’t use deodorising stuff in the car if he’s going to be travelling & don’t give him any dairy-based treats in the 12hrs before even a short jaunt.
Do keep talking to him as you go; notice whether he’s uncomfortable with fast cornering, sudden stops, rapid accelleration etc & adjust your driving accordingly. This isn’t permanent; just another way to help him feel safer. If there’s some way (later on when he’s past the terrified stage) you can allow him access to outside air (a vent closeby perhaps?) so he can sniff it if he wants to; he will find it entertaining (it seems to be the doggy equivalent of reading the local newspapers) sometimes. But he needs to be able to get away from it & have a snooze when he wants to.
On a long trip he’ll probably need to stretch his legs every couple of hours. It would be neat if you could get him to pee on command… The way to do this (if you have the patience) is to go with him when he goes outside & say the word of you choice (pee, piddle, tinkle; whatever) while he’s doing it in a light happy voice then make a huge fuss of him (a treat would be appropriate too) saying (use your chosen word) “What a good boy; you had a pee!”. If this is repeated often enuff he’ll reckon he’s found a really easy way of pleasing you; just pee whenever you ask! (Be sure to use a word you aren’t likely to use in regular conversation or accidents will happen).
This probably all sounds like a lot of work & perhaps it is. But the reward will be worth it; a dog you can take anywhere; no problem. My dog passionately adores going for a drive; any excuse will do. She now recognises when I’m telling her there’s something worth seeing out the window & tells me when she wants to ‘go’ so I can drive for many hours uninterrupted (other than a side conversation) if I want to. A fabulous travelling companion!

By: Sandra

Sandra — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 01:41:18 +0000

For Valerie,

We travel with our German Shepherd who can get car sick. We’ve worked out the following to make him comfortable, the trip fun for him and us, and to avoid his car sickness on our trips to QLD:
- feed him the night before by at 8pm;
- no food and a little bit of water the morning we depart;
- plenty of water in bottles and a water bowl;
- plenty of room in the backseat so he has room to move around get comfy; suitcases in the boot;
- restrained safely but comfortable;
- his blanket and his lead in the back; always pop the lead on and have it secured in your hand before the door is opened and safety harness detached;
- aircon or window down a bit for air and temperature control; but don’t put the window too far in case he thinks its an invitation to leap out!
- stop every two hours for some fresh air, a quick walk and play with his favourite toy, toilet stop and a little bit of water but no food or treats as it could upset his stomach; this is good for humans too!
- playing with him on the way or letting him sleep as needed; keep a watchful eye on his behaviour – lots of moving around could signal the need to have a break;
- good food, water, a brush and big belly scatch as a treat when we arrive!
Hope this helps and safe, happy travels. I’ll also try the lavender oil!!

By: Valerie

Valerie — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 23:58:54 +0000

Hi, I have a min. L.H. Dachshund who does not like traveling in the car and quite often will vomit, as we would love to take him with us in March when we visit friends in Queensland, would someone please tell me what I can do to make the trip pleasurable for him and to relax him in the car.

By: karen Green

karen Green — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 23:20:19 +0000

take twice as much water for your dag as you do for yourself, dark coloured dogs are likely to feel the heat more and all dog can burn their feet on hot roads and hot sand, so protect those delicate pads