Continental Kennel Club

Vacationing safety and your dog

Many will be taking family vacations this summer, and some will want to bring their favorite canine along for the trip. You will have much less to worry about as you travel if you follow these safety tips. First, make sure that you pack everything
that your dog may need for the trip: a few favorite toys, grooming tools, familiar bedding, an animal first-aid kit (these usually can be purchased from a pet store), and any medication you give to your dog. These will help to keep your dog comfortable on the trip, and will remind him of home.

You will also want to bring copies of shot records and any other medical records that you might need (including allergies,
medications, etc.). Another good idea when deciding to bring your dog on a trip is to have your dog micro-chipped.
 

Microchipping a dog is becoming more and more popular. A veterinarian inserts a small microchip (about the size of a grain of rice) under your dog’s skin. If a dog is lost, most shelters have scanners that read the number from the chip, the shelter then contacts the microchip manufacturer, and the microchip manufacturer will make sure you are contacted. Microchips
can be purchased from Continental Kennel Club; call 1-800-952-3376 for more information.

You may also want to bring along a couple of pictures of your dog. One will need to have you in it as well. If your dog is brought to a shelter, the picture of the both of you together will be proof that you actually owned the dog before it was lost. Have a tag made with the address and contact information of your vacation destination. Any local resident finding your dog may be more likely to call a local number rather than a number that is long distance. You could also include a cell phone number as well. Keeping your dog on a leash when you are out is also very important.

You will have less to worry about if you have control over your dog. You might also want to crate your dog if you have to leave it during the day. It is not a good idea to keep a dog crated for long periods of time, so if you plan on being gone all day everyday during your stay, you might want to reconsider bringing along your canine. Vacationing with your dog can be a lot of fun, just remember that you need to plan ahead. Hopefully, these ideas will help to create a happy, safe vacation experience with your favorite pal.