It’s holiday-time and you know what that means… road trip! Time to pack your bags, get your playlist ready, put your sunnies on, and hit the road with your family – including your pets.
Here a few top tips you should know before you travel with your furry friends.
Tips for Driving With Pets in the Car
1. Familiarise Your Pets With the Car
If your pets aren’t used to traveling in the car, before any trips it’s a good idea to start off by familiarising them with it. Getting them used to hopping in and out of the car, as well as the feeling of a moving car, will help them feel more at ease when the day of your trip arrives.
Start by taking them on short trips around town, and to places they love like the park or the beach. Remember to bring along some treats to reward them for their good behaviour, and give them plenty of positive reinforcement to reduce their stress levels. Once they see it as a fun and rewarding activity, you can gradually extend the distance you drive until your pets are relaxed whenever they’re in the car.
2. Pack Your Pet’s Essentials
It’s always best to be prepared, so you should keep a pet emergency kit in your car. Paper towels, wet wipes, carpet cleaner and plastic bags will come in handy to help you clean your car if your pet has an accident in the back seat.
Pack some of your pet’s favourite items like their blankets and toys, so they can get cozy and entertain themselves while you focus on the road. Bring along some food and water, but avoid feeding them until you get to your destination as they can get motion sickness, and you know what that means - a big mess you have to clean up.
If you’ve got small or energetic pets that can’t keep still, pick up a can of pheromone spray. Whether it’s cats or dogs, the spray can keep both of them calm so you can have a stress-free journey.
3. Safety Restraints
While your pet doesn’t legally need to be secured when driving, having some sort of safety restraint is a good idea and will stop them from moving around the car. A pet safety harness or a cage are both reliable options for keeping them secured in one place so that you can focus on the road.
You could also opt to use a cargo barrier, which comes in handy if you’ve got large or highly energetic pets. They help by splitting up the front and back seats into 2 separate compartments preventing your pets from jumping to the front and distracting you.
4. Protect Your Car
Your kids and pets are pretty similar in the sense they’ll naturally make a mess of your car! Cargo mats and seat covers are your go-to solutions to place over your interior. They help to protect your carpets and upholstery from any messy incidents your pet makes, and will make clean-up so much easier.
5. Don’t Leave Them in the Car Unattended
This one is pretty simple - don’t leave your pet in your car if you are not in it! It doesn’t matter if you’re just nipping into the store for a few minutes, your car can turn into a hot furnace and pose a danger to your pet’s life, especially during summer.
If you need to run to the store for a few things or drop by a cafe for a coffee, take them outside and tie them to a pole. This way, you both can enjoy the fresh air while you keep an eye on them and they’ll love the attention and pats from people walking by.
6. Take Regular Stops
Long trips being cooped up in the car can make you feel cramped, which is why you should break up your journey into small chunks. Taking a regular stop every hour or so lets you and your pet get out for some fresh air and stretch your legs. With all the water you and your pets are drinking, it’s also a good time to use the toilet so they don’t end up making a mess in the car.
7. Don’t Let Them Stick Their Head Out the Window
We’ve all seen pets sticking their head out of the car windows and loving the fresh breeze on their face, but this can be dangerous. Your pets could get hurt from the dust, dirt, rock and debris floating in the air, and you could end up with a trip to the vet on your agenda.
Instead of winding down the entire window, just lower it down so that there is a good flow of fresh air, but not enough for them to stick their whole head outside.
8. Make Sure Your Pet is Microchipped
Pets are curious creatures and they can disappear in an instant following the whiff of an interesting scent. Make sure your pets are micro-chipped and have an ID tag with contact information on who to call, so you can easily track and find them if they do end up getting lost.
9. Consistent Health Checks
Before you hit the road with your pets, it’s important to check that they’re in good shape. A regular trip to the vet lets you check that they’re all up to date with their flea treatments and vaccinations, so you can travel with a healthy, happy pet.
With these handy tips your next trip with your pets will be a walk in the park. If you’re on the lookout for a new car that works for both you and your fur babies, download our Complete Guide to Buying a New Car today!
