When I owned a kennel and trained professionally, there were certain events or times of year that demanded I travel extensively with my dogs. When moving multiple dogs, air travel was never an option. Big trials especially required that I load up a bunch of spaniels and hit the road, usually for days at a time. Many Pros have to follow the trial circuit and the weather, and therefore have to take their whole dog string on the road for weeks or months. Even the amateur trainer or handler with only a single dog or two will likely have to travel at some point and will have to work through the challenges of an extended road trip with dogs on board. In this installment of The Flush, I will dig into a few suggestions that will help you ensure that traveling with your dog is safe, comfortable, and relatively easy.

Safely Traveling with a Dog

When traveling with a dog, safety must remain the primary consideration. Travel by car is dangerous; be certain that you as the driver attend to your own safety, and that you as a dog owner attend to theirs. Vehicle accidents can be catastrophic for both humans and dogs, and just as humans take the precaution of wearing a seatbelt, dogs should be properly contained in the vehicle for safety reasons. Many dog owners have permanent dog kennel crates or trailers, which enable them to contain their dogs in small, secure spaces. In the event of a collision, dogs in boxes can’t tumble too much, hit a windshield, etc. Moreover, contained dogs can’t slip out at a gas station or rest stop and get into traffic.

Not all dog owners have permanent boxes or trailers. If you use crates to transport your dogs, make sure the crates are secured in the truck bed or back of the vehicle. Use ratchet straps or other tie-downs to keep the crates from shifting, rolling, or toppling in the event of an abrupt stop or accident.

Generally speaking, dogs are far safer in the event of a collision if they are traveling in crates or boxes than they would be riding free in a vehicle. Moreover, dogs that are loose in a car or truck can be a real distraction to the driver. In some cases, dogs can physically get in the driver’s way, or can obstruct a driver’s view of the road, creating an unsafe driving scenario. Bottom line: crate or securely box your dogs while traveling any distance.

Keeping Dogs Comfortable while Traveling

My greatest fear while traveling with dogs is exposing them to unsafe heat inside a vehicle. A vehicle in the sunshine can get hot incredibly quickly, and exposure to high temperatures for even a short period can kill a dog. Extreme heat in a vehicle sounds like an easy threat to avoid, but conditions can change quickly, and even the most attentive dog owners can lose dogs when conditions and circumstances change quickly.

Similarly, a dog that is put up wet or exposed to cold wind in a freezing vehicle can struggle to keep warm and may succumb to hypothermia. It is vital that you consider the conditions inside and outside of the vehicle when transporting a dog by car.

In hot temperatures, I never leave my dogs in a vehicle for any time. If I must leave them, I open windows and park my vehicle in full shade. Remember, over the course of a morning a vehicle can absorb an incredible amount of sunlight, converting that radiation to heat in a confined car. Even if the weather outside is relatively moderate, the temperature in a vehicle canrise drastically, and quickly. When you leave the vehicle to go grab breakfast, the sun may be low and the ambient temperature quite cool; a half-hour later, that vehicle may be in full sun, quickly becoming an oven. Remember, the sun moves as the day progresses; don’t assume that a patch of shade will stay a patch of shade all day long.

Cold is somewhat less of an issue when road-tripping, simply because you will likely be in the vehicle with your dogs and will therefore attend to your comfort temperature-wise. If you travel with crated dogs in a truck bed, however, they can get exposed to significant cold. Consider using crate covers, crate pads, insulated boxes, etc. to provide some insulation, and be VERY cautious about the effects of cold air blowing over a dog for extended periods, especially if the dog was crated when wet.

A good rule of thumb is to attend to your dog’s comfort as you’d attend to your own. If you would be uncomfortably hot or cold in a certain circumstance while traveling by vehicle, your dog would likely be the same. Make changes accordingly, and don’t push the limits, particularly around high temps; hot vehicles and dogs just don’t mix.

When to Feed and Water Dogs while Traveling

When I travel with dogs, I try to keep most factors/routines as consistent as possible. Travel can be stressful for dogs, so, I don’t make unnecessary changes to the feed or feeding schedule while road-tripping. I will, however, reduce the quantity of food a bit per meal, simply because the caloric needs of the crated, traveling dog will be less than usual. I also try to add a powdered probiotic to the food to maintain gut health and offset some of the impacts of stress.

Water and regular hydration are key considerations on a road trip, particularly if the dogs only have access to water at exercise stops. I don’t like to leave any water in the crate or box with my dogs while traveling because it will undoubtedly spill or be dumped out, creating a wet environment that the dog must sit or lie in. Instead, I try to get my dogs out for air every 3 hours or so, and I give them water at that time. Often, dogs will not eat or drink very much while traveling, and that is ok. It is vital, however, that they have access to clean water at every air-out. I use a multi-gallon jug and simply refill a common water bowl at each stop, making sure to allow the dogs plenty of time to drink.

Note that on long trips in hot weather I occasionally will put ice cubes in a water bowl in the crate or box with each dog. Some dogs will eat the ice, some will drink the meltwater, and others will ignore the ice altogether.

Take Time to Air Dogs Out when Traveling

Sporting dogs are canine athletes who require regular exercise. While traveling, these dogs will be confined for longer periods than usual in a crate or dog box. For this reason, you must plan out regular periods of exercise throughout the course of travel. Though some of this exercise may simply be a quick leg stretch and air-out, where possible, I also like to plan a slightly longer run or swim along the day’s route.

Throughout the day, I try to stop every three or four hours to get the dogs out for a quick air-out. I typically take them one by one on a lead or check cord in a grassy area at a rest stop. I’m always careful that collars are tight, and the lead is secure, and I rarely trust even the most mannered dog to go off-leash in a busy rest area. These places are stimulating and unpredictable, and I want to ensure that my dog is absolutely under my control.

On longer trips, I like to plan a stop at a park or piece of public land where I can let the dogs run or swim a bit bigger. This gives them a chance to exercise as they are accustomed to, and sometimes I can even do a bit of training. In rare circumstances, we might even find some wild birds. I try to plan this longer break for 45 minutes or so, as I like to get a walk in too. Especially if I am tired, I find that moving my body helps my mind, and I think the dogs feel the same.

Shipping Dogs with a Transport Service

As a final note, remember that these days there are many dog transport services that are dedicated to moving dogs in security and comfort. If I had a few dogs that I wanted to, say, hunt in the southeast in wintertime, I’d certainly consider having them shipped, and then picking them up after I flew to their destination. These services are not wildly expensive, and they can save you considerable time and worry.

Traveling with dogs is a necessary evil for most, and though it requires some preparation and patience, it can be done quite easily. Recognize that safety must come first, and that the pace of traveling with dogs is somewhat slow, but otherwise enjoy the experience of adventuring far and wide with your flushing dogs.