By Suzana Mikolova Traveling With Your Pet? No Problem!
Whether visiting my parents at the lake for the weekend or going to the mountains or beach for a week, I always struggled with what to do with my precious dog Taffy. The thought of boarding her brought tears to my eyes and pet sitters are a luxury I just can’t afford. So, my only option was to take her with me.
Luckily, Taffy enjoys riding in the car. We go for rides everyday and she really looks forward to it. For those of you who don’t have a car-loving dog, you will need to take some time to get them used to an automobile. Try taking them for short rides and you may want to have them travel in a crate or carrier. This provides them with a safe and secure place and can help reduce the amount of anxiety they experience. Once your pet is used to the car, you’re ready to hit the road!
Now the first time I took Taffy to my parents’ house, I was extremely nervous. She had never stayed the night anywhere else before and I didn’t know how she would react to my parents’ dog or being in a strange place. Oh well, off to grandmother’s house we go!
As I mentioned before, Taffy loves the car, so the ride was a breeze. It was actually being there that I was afraid of. When we arrived at our destination, I put on her leash and we headed towards the front door. My parents’ beagle, Butch, was already barking up a storm and the fur on Taffy’s back began to rise. Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea after all. My mom came to the door to greet us and settle Butch down a bit. As we entered the house, both dogs were uneasy but began to check each other out by the usual sniffing and a few low growls; so far, so good. Taffy started to familiarize herself with her new surroundings, checking out each room of the house. Butch, of course, was trailing right on her heels every step of the way. This turned out fine, so we all headed out to the backyard.
The dogs began to run and play together which was a good sign. I brought along Taffy’s wireless fence to keep her from wandering off. It works wonderfully at home but I had never tried it in a new environment. I just turned it on, adjusted it to the desired setting, and we were all set! These fences are adjustable from 5 to 90 feet in all directions, so she had plenty of room to roam. When she heard the warning beep, she stopped, just as she did at home. What a relief! We could hang out on the dock by the lake and not have to worry about where Taffy was. Butch could continue to do as he pleased but he tended to stick around closer to home to keep an eye on his “niece”. I could let Taffy out at any time of the day or night without having to accompany her. It worked out perfectly! My parents couldn’t believe how well it worked. They even decided to get one for Butch.
Now Taffy and I are road warriors! We go to the beach, the mountains and visit family and friends. So, if you are thinking of traveling with your dog, go for it! Just be sure to get him or her used to the car before hand and consider whether a wireless fence would make your vacations with your dog(s) more enjoyable. It sure gives me piece of mind when I take Taffy on vacations. It may do the same for you!
Muhammad Aqib