Traveling with your dog can be a delightful experience. But transporting your furry companion can be quite… unpredictable. Let’s be honest, not all dogs are fans of the road. But don’t get discouraged, because proper preparation and training can make all the difference! A well-behaved dog is an ideal travel companion. Teach your pup a few simple skills, and you’re on your way to having exciting adventures with your best buddy hassle-free.
Before jumping right into actual training, you must first know how to set up a successful training session. Keep in mind that putting too much pressure on your pup would not yield your desired results.
Make learning fun for both you and your dog and see to it that he enjoys the entire process.
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You can follow these tips to get the most of your training sessions:
Now that you know the basics let’s move on to training. We’ve put together three handy commands every traveling dog must learn before hitting the road.
On vacation, your dog will be experiencing many new things. And this means your pup will have twice as many reasons to bark. Dog barks are not exactly easy on the ears; they might even cause inconvenience and annoyance to your travel mates or hotel neighbors. A hush command can help keep noise problems under control.
Start by giving a command and getting your pup’s full attention. Maintain eye contact with your dog and hold their attention. If they stay quiet during the entire time, reward them with a small treat. Gradually lengthen the wait time before giving your dog the treat, and remember to throw in an enthusiastic “Atta boy.”
When you’re traveling, it’s essential to train your dog to relieve himself on cue. Not only will this behavior avert embarrassing “accidents, but” it will also help prevent your pup from randomly wandering off to find a comfy “toilet.”
Teaching your dog to go potty is relatively simple. It only requires a leash and a handful of patience. First, observe what time your dog usually does his “business.” Get him on a leash once you know his pattern and take him to the area where you want him to “go.” Say your command word and patiently wait for your dog to finish. When he’s done, give him a handsome reward. Do this a couple of times, and you’ll earn your freedom in no time.
Crate training is critical if you intend to travel with your dog — especially if you’re traveling by plane or any other public transport.
Crate training can be tricky, and it may take up some time and encouragement. The key to introducing your dog to a crate is to make him think of it as a safe and happy place where he can relax comfortably.
Create happy associations to the dog crate, take it slow, and celebrate small wins.
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Once your dog is comfortable using his crate, introduce a command to enter, such as “go inside.” Entice him by pointing inside of the container with a treat in hand. Once your dog enters, reward him with praises and a treat and then close the door. Repeat this process several times a day and gradually increase the length of time you leave him in the crate and the length of time you’re away.
Nicely done! Now your pooch is ready to conquer the outside world!
Before taking your dog out of his comfort zone, make sure you acclimate them to travel environments. Practice socialization — hearing, seeing, smelling new people can help your pup get ready for travel. It can also decrease their anxiety about social interactions.
Finally, try to exercise your pet before transport. A quick trip to the park or a long walk might calm him down. He might even sleep through the road!
A good travel companion is a well-rested one.
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