Traveling Man!

So I had someone ask about traveling tips with your Dane and I thought that was a great question, so here's the post about traveling!

Most of these tips will go for just about any breed, but have been modified to fit the needs of your big puppy!

1. First of all, and this is an obvious one, make sure your vehicle is large enough for your Great Dane to be comfortable on a long drive. They should be able to completely stand up, turn around, and lay stretched out if they are going to be in a car for longer than an hour or so. The more comfortable your Dane is the better he/she will ride. If you don't have the space needed, you will need to plan on making more frequent stops so your Dane can get up, walk around and stretch.

2. If you haven't already had your Dane riding around town with you frequently to get used to the car, make sure you try to do this often before you leave on a long trip. Some dogs get car sick, and others get very anxious. It's good to have your pooch figured out and know what his/her needs are going to be on a trip. So if you haven't already adjusted your dog to riding in the car, take some time to do this before your journey. It is for both of your benefits!

3. Make sure you have all of your supplies for your Dane's trip handy. The obvious bowl for water, a gallon container of water, a leash, and a towel for cleaning up any messes or heavy drooling should be handy, so you are ready at your stops to give your Dane a short walk and some water. Giving food should be avoided, as it might upset your Danes tummy and then you'll be sorry later! LOL...if you are traveling for a few days, plan to feed your dog when you arrive at your destination for the night, and feed again in the morning a good hour or so before you plan on heading out again.

4. Pack for your dog like you would your child. Make sure you have his/her favorite toys, chews, and blankets/bed, so they can feel at home. My puppy Diesel loves his stuffed rabbit, so we take that with us when we head out for the weekend, and also his favorite rawhides to keep him busy. He tends to get anxious after about an hour or so, so I will switch out his rawhide and toy, to distract him just a little longer until our next stop.

5. Never leave your Dane in the car! You need to plan around your dog when you are traveling, so eating in a restaurant while on your road trop is out unless it's dog friendly. Danes do not cool off very easily and are extremely prone to overheating. Even with the car windows cracked your dog could be in serious trouble if you leave him/her in the car. So don't take the risk and plan on hitting the drive through, or packing food with you in the car.

6. If your dog has bad anxiety or gets car sick, make sure to talk to your vet before a long road trip as there are several options in medication to help ease your Dane and make his/her trip more enjoyable. Most of these medications need to be given and hour or so before you leave and then on a regular basis. So make sure you understand the instructions on the label before you leave so they work as they should. I worked for a vet and was surprised how many owners failed to give the medication properly and then were disappointed when it didn't work! LOL :P

These are just some of the basic tips that I use and we would recommend at the vet's office. Not all dogs are the same, so you will need to adapt them to fit your pooch. Use common sense and always try to plan for everything, so you aren't caught off guard! Have fun out there and be safe this summer!