Proper I.D. – Make sure you dog is wearing a tag with your name and phone number (don’t forget the area code so if he is lost far from home they can contact you). A microchip is also a good idea in case he loses his collar while exploring the great outdoors. It is also a good idea to carry colour photos of your pooch, you may need to make up a “have you seen” poster or want to show the pictures to people in the area.
Watch the weather – your dog can overheat quickly so make sure if he is travelling in a crate in the back of the car the A/C is on high or the windows are open. The darker the dog the hotter the dog. Tinted windows are great but if you don’t have them, think of putting up a temporary baby blind so the dog is not got in the hot rays of the sun magnified through the glass. And remember…never leave the dog alone in the car in a hot climate. Even with all the windows rolled down there may not be enough of a breeze to keep him cool.
Ahoy Dog! Have a boat or thinking about taking a trip on one? You have to acclimatize your dog to the boat the same way you did with car. Have him get use to the sound of the motor, just by hanging out the dock for a while, take slow trips to start gradually building up his acceptance to the boat. Not all dogs can swim so make sure your dog has a proper life vest with a handle on the top so you can ‘pluck’ him out of the current if need be. Even dogs that do swim, can drown either from exhaustion or stress if introduced to the water too quickly. Don’t forget about a shady place he can get out of the sun and a half full bucket secured on deck will be great for drinking!
Roughin’ it–If you are thinking about taking your dog camping with you make sure the campsite is dog friendly. New situations cause stress so keep that in mind when introducing the dog to the tent, the campfire and woods! Obedience comes first in the wilderness so always keep him on a leash and a well trained dog is a much better companion than one with no training. One night sleeping in a tent with a dog who barks at every raccoon, squirrel, fox or skunk will drive you crazy and you will be heading back to the concrete jungle
