Traveling With Your Dog: 3 Things You Need To Know
Want to Travel with Your Dog or Puppy? 3 Things to Do NOW
Do you love to travel? If you hope to include your dog or puppy on your adventures—whether short day-trips, hour-long hikes, or extended visits to friends across the country—pay close attention to this blog. Experiencing life with a dog at your side is a thrill ride, but I know that for some, the realities of caring for a dog or puppy can be a bit of a buzzkill. As you gear up for your next adventure, I’m here to keep you focused on your goal: To raise and train your dog to be your well-mannered, take-me-anywhere companion. Dare I say that the process of conditioning good manners is an adventure in itself? I dare!
To raise a constant companion who is eager to join you on all of your journeys, follow these three tips. Keep in mind that you can work with most of these exercises within days of adopting a puppy or dog. Starting early when they are young and impressionable can make all the difference between travelling with a calm and curious pal or a hooligan who interrupts every get-together.
#1: Socialize, socialize, socialize.
Did I say socialize? For all of life’s adventures, the most important thing to guarantee happiness isn’t training. It’s socialization. Even if your puppy gets along with your other dog or is a living-room champion who aces trick after trick at home, if they haven’t been socialized to the sights, sounds, and smells of the outside world, that training will go out the window the minute they get startled.
The reason why is interesting in and of itself: Most puppies come home at 8 weeks old, but their brains aren’t completely developed until 4 months. During this in-between time, random sounds, strange occurrences, and new stimuli can get imprinted on their brain as “normal”—as long as you display calm, “been there, seen that'' confidence for your puppy to model. If a puppy is cocooned from the world during this critical period, however, they may become traumatized by a loud truck, barky dog, or train whistle later in life.
During the 2020 pandemic, I started an imprinting program in which I invite one puppy to live with me and my pack for a week or two at a time. This program has been a life-saver for some clients, especially those who lack the time or skills to hyper-expose their puppies to all the world has to offer. When a pup lives with me, I bring them out into the world AND invite the world into my home so that they grow accustomed to crowded environments, trains and cars, dogs of all sizes, etc. Most importantly, I mindfully pair all of these new experiences with freedom, food, and fun. I urge all loving parents to imprint and socialize their maturing puppies with rewards and positive reinforcement. Need some ideas on how to do this? Check out my puppy ebook to learn about two great traveling and socialization aids—puppy slings and pup tents. You can also get in touch for in-person or virtual help, and learn more about imprinting and its importance for all of your vacations, day-trips, and even daily life by reading this blog.
#2: Teach your puppy good manners.
Puppies and dogs want to know two things: Where do I go? and What do I do? When you’re getting in the car, watching a movie, eating with company, going out to a new part of town—where should your dog go and what should they do? They won’t understand how to handle different situations until you direct them. Set yourself up for success by instilling good manners from day one with these three basics:
“Sit to Say Please”
“Go to Your Place” or “On Your Mat.”
“Go Get Your Toy!”
To start, teach your dog or puppy that “Sit” means “Please.” Every time you approach your puppy, ask them to “Sit.” Think of yourself as an animated pez dispenser and strap on a treat pouch or stuff your pockets with snacks and kibble. As soon as your puppy sits, reward them with a treat. Next, ask your puppy to sit before you approach their crate or gated area, and only proceed towards them when they do. Sometimes this takes a little time. Encourage your puppy to sit before offering them food or a toy, before they go out or come in, and to be greeted by family or friends.
Another must-learn is “Go to Your Place” or “On Your Mat.” Before heading out on vacation, position mats in strategic locations around your home, and place your puppy’s favorite toys and bones on their mats for easy access. I encourage my puppies to go to their mats before freedom (i.e. letting them outside), food, and fun. Watch this video on how to teach yours to do the same. Now, when you go out to a new place, these mats, toys, and bones will act as transitional objects and help your puppy find something familiar in new environments. If they already know “On Your Mat,” you’ll have an easy way to redirect them when the hustle and bustle of travel becomes too much. If possible, try to set up your new environment to match your home, and of course, make sure that wherever you are visiting is pet-friendly.
#3: Leash control.
Funnily enough, most people don’t insist on good leash manners before bringing their dogs out in public. I see this as a big mistake. Leash training doesn’t have to be hard to be effective, but it is a process and one you need to do mindfully. First, consider bodywear. I refer to front-clip harnesses and head collars as “cruise control.” They eliminate pulling just by the nature of where the leash puts pressure on your puppy. That said, some dogs don’t like them, and some find them cumbersome. Other bodywear options include martingale collars or back-clip harnesses. These can work fine, although powerful dogs will often strain which results in oppositional defiance. If this happens, don’t take it personally. Your dog is just feeling trapped and trying to break away from the tether.
While at home, associate your chosen bodywear with freedom, food, and fun. Once your puppy is accustomed to it, get them used to dragging a leash behind them. Place a leash on them before meals and when playing with them so they associate the leash with interaction, not isolation. After your puppy seems used to this, take a treat cup, pick up their leash, and go for a walk—letting them lead. Follow your puppy around, putting light pressure on the leash and periodically shaking the treat cup and calling them back to you. Got that? Now take this exercise outside your puppy’s den and into their territory: think, the hallway of your apartment or your yard. Use toys like licky mats and play poles to link leash time with interaction and fun.
Now it’s time to add some words. Shake your treat cup, say “Follow,” and urge your puppy to follow you. (Keep in mind that leash training at this point is still just a game.) Next, slow down, either guiding your puppy with a treat or shaking your cup. Say “Wait,” and place a treat by your feet. This is based on the ‘Find It’ game which you can check out in this video. Practice this Follow-Wait-Find It game 2-3 times a day for five minutes, gradually lengthening your walks and using higher-value rewards as you navigate away from your house. If you see a distraction or something that might frighten your dog, resist the impulse to tighten up on the leash or demand that your puppy give you their complete attention. That’s as silly as asking a person to stare at you when a parade goes by. If there is something your puppy should avoid, run past it,urging your puppy to run by quickly by saying a fun word like “scurry, scurry,” a silly game you can play at home. Do not stop until you’re well past the distraction if at all: reward your puppy with a toy, snack or happy talk!
Once you’ve mastered socialization, good manners, and leash control, it’s travel time! Just remember: When traveling with your puppy, you’ll be taking them away from everything that makes them feel safe. Puppies and dogs don’t think of traveling the same way as humans. We can plan ahead, look forward to what might happen, and anticipate the people we will meet. Dogs can’t. Anytime your puppy moves beyond their den and territory into the world beyond, they’re going to feel a surge of emotion. With these three essentials in your toolkit, though, you can help direct or redirect your puppy to the cool and comfortable. Model calmness, let your puppy know that everything’s okay, and use these foundational words and experiences to help them sort themselves out. Above all, traveling should be fun! By planning with your puppy in mind, you’ll have all of your lives to explore the world together.