Do you like to travel? Do you have a dog? Check out our tips for traveling with your dog!

The first order of business is to never travel with a sick dog. If your dog is ill, take them to the vet and then hire a dogsitter or find a place to board your pup if you’re going away for a longer amount of time.

Next, when you’re on the road you should make sure that your dog has plenty of water to drink. It should be filtered/distilled or tap water from your home, because dogs have very sensitive GI tracts and don’t do well with a sudden change of water.

If you travel with your dog in a crate, make sure that crate is large enough for your dog to stand up, sit down, turn around, and lie down inside of. Put down some soft towels or blankets on the floor of the crate for comfort and maybe toss in a favorite toy or two.

Should your dog not be the crate type, get a harness tie-down for your dog so that they don’t wander around the inside of the car when you’re driving and hurt themselves. Don’t let your dog ride on your lap – they can impede your driving and even cause an accident.

Letting your dog stick their head out the window is also not a great idea. Debris like dust, small rocks, bugs, and other unsavory elements can get into your dog’s eyes and ears and cause injury.

Above all, stop frequently for potty and exercise breaks! Not only does your dog need to get out and stretch its legs, but you could probably do with a bit of exercise yourself!