Golden Retriever Travel Guide
You have to leave on a trip. It’s holiday season, a business trip, a visit to friends or family, a graduation, or a wedding. Maybe it’s just a trip to the store or time to get out of the house. However, you can’t leave without your best friend. As you start to pack, you look into your pal’s pleading eyes. They are almost watering. Your pal knows something is going on. Your loyal golden retriever is worrying that you are going to leave your friend all alone in the house. I can’t cook and wash the dishes! It is then that you realize that golden retriever travel is a very important part of dog ownership.
A golden retriever is your most faithful friend. He or she should not be a ball and chain. You can travel with relative ease with your dog if you learn a few tricks. When traveling with your golden, it is important to prepare ahead of time. You should already know of dog friendly lodging/camping sites before you leave on a long car trip. Also, many hotels these days will allow dogs, even luxury hotels. Make sure you call ahead to verify that your golden will be allowed at a hotel.
The other part of preparing for a long trip is packing. The essential items are food, dog clean-up bags, a leash and a water bowl. I have found that a soft water bowl works fine, and some collapse down to the size of a small wallet. Also, you can use one or two plastic storage containers the size of a water pitcher to store food for trips that are less than a week long. Bring at least one dog towel. The towel will come in handy after your dog plays in various parks that can be muddy at times, or after Goldie jumps in a river or lake. Do not forget to bring your dog’s treats, medications, favorite toy and flea and tick applications on your trip.
Have a large backpack or a medium sized travel bag designated for your dog. All these items, except for the crate, will fit nicely in one bag. It is very convenient and travel friendly to have all your dog items in one place. I highly recommend also bringing a portable dog crate. A portable crate is ideal because it can fold up flat for traveling convenience. Most dogs feel comfortable in small spaces, and having a crate for your dog while traveling to new places and staying with new people is extremely helpful. Furthermore, not everyone loves dogs as much as you do, and being able to crate your dog while visiting a house that is less dog friendly makes things much easier.
It is important to know your golden retriever’s bathroom habits. Most dogs can hold their bladder for a long time. If you take your dog out every three to four hours, then stop every three to four hours. In other words, keep your dog’s normal routine as normal as possible. A puppy is a different story. The younger the puppy, the less bladder control he or she will have. If you are picking up your new puppy from a distant breeder, stop every 45 minutes or even less. Bring a crate, but make sure you sit next to the crate to keep the lonely little guy company. If you don’t have a crate, bring two people so someone can hold the puppy on his or her lap on top of a towel.
Remember when the seat belt law was new? Then they made air bags mandatory in new cars. Today, people are becoming ever more conscious of safety when traveling with their dogs and pets. One option is a dog barrier. It usually extends from the back seat to the roof, so your dog is contained in the back of the SUV, van or station wagon. A second, safer option is a dog seatbelt or harness. This will give your dog more mobility than a crate. However, these devices aren’t perfect and can be chewed through if they are not very durable. The safest option is a crate. The only drawback is a large golden retriever crate can be difficult to fit in some cars and may impede the driver’s vision. However, a crate is the safest bet in an accident because it prevents the dog from being thrown about. Also, a crate prevents a dog from bolting near a freeway and being hit by a speeding vehicle. If you ever stop by the side of a freeway, or a large road, never let your dog out of the car.
Most of us are well aware to never leave your golden in the car on a hot day. On a trip to the store, make sure it is a short trip if you bring your dog. Leave the windows open a crack and always bring water on any trip with your dog. Some people have developed tricks to leave the air conditioner running while managing to lock the doors at the same time. This trick varies according to the model of your car, and try this the first time with a spare set of keys or next to a tow truck! Another good car tip is to have waterproof seat covers.
Most restaurants that allow dogs only allow them in the outside seating area. All you need is your leash and a water bowl. You can bring some treats to reward your dog’s good and calm behavior. Please, on the other hand, be mindful if your dog is bothering other people because one out-of-control dog can ruin privileges for the rest of us. Look for restaurants with outdoor seating, and walk in to ask or call ahead before you bring your golden.
Your faithful golden doesn’t have to tie you down. A few tricks can make travel with your dog a breeze. Besides, your golden retriever will love to travel with you!
By: Laurence Burrows
