Traveling with dog – your 5 tips to a pleasant journey

Traveling with dog…

“How does it work?” “Can I travel with my dog?” “What’s the best thing to do when traveling with my dog?”

Your dog doesn’t know why you’re going on a journey

You can’t tell your dog, why or where you’re going.

What you can do, however, is to create the best conditions for your dog, so it wont become stressed during the journey.

Here are 5 tips to how you create a more pleasant journey for you and your four-legged friend.

5 tips to create a good experience for both you and your dog when traveling:

1. Don’t look at your dog, when you’re at the train station, in the train, before “loading” your dog into the aircraft etc.
2. Don’t give your dog food, when traveling. Don’t worry about getting your dog to eat. It has plenty to deal with, handling all the impressions of the journey.
3. Don’t tire your dog before the journey. Instead, make sure that you’re dog is rested. Don’t think that your dog needs to be “exhausted”. If your dog feels stressed during the journey, it doesn’t help that it’s physically exhausted – on the contrary.
4. Don’t let other people pet, talk or greet your dog. You have a dog for your sake, and your dog’s job isn’t to take care of and consider other people’s needs during the journey. Protect your dog and yourself.
5. Take care of yourself. Check into yourself and notice how you’re feeling. Do you feel like talking to other people? Listen to soothing music or something similar. And enjoy the journey. Imagine the best scenario. The way you think and how you’re doing help your dog feeling safe.

Two video examples

On the first video, we’re at the ferry in Denmark. I allow the dogs to come out to look, sniff and take in where we are – what’s going on.

They don’t know that we’re going sailing. The only thing they react to is how I am in relation to them.

I am calm when I lead them out of the car, I’m not looking at them. I pick up the dog leash.

I use my body language to show the dogs how I want things to be. I don’t give the command to them. We’re just walking together looking around.

If they’re pulling the leash, I change direction. I communicate with my body – the silent language.

The natural language of the dog.

Remember: How you’re feeling is affecting your dog.

In the other video, we have arrived on the ferry. Weird surface to walk on, and the stairs feel weird…

I give the dogs time. I don’t look at them. I wait for them. I show them the direction, and that I have control over the situation. I let them examine the surface and follow me afterwards.

The dog knows what to do

We get up on the ferry. I don’t make a big deal out of it. No commands. I’m leading one of the dogs down under the table, still holding the leash, until she has laid down. She’s used to travel by train and immediately recognizes what to do. Lay down and relax.

The other dog is not so used to traveling. I hold her by my side, where there’s more room. This way, she doesn’t feel cramped.

After a while, she is grounded. She decides to lay down. Relax.

People pass and walk over the dogs without any problems. I look at the dogs out of the corner of my eye. I notice that they’re doing well – for now.