Dogward Bound! Safe Travel Tips for You and Your Dog

In March of '07, my foster partner and I packed up all of our belongings and traveled nearly 2500 miles - from Estacada, Oregon, to Columbia, Kentucky - in an old transit bus we found on Craigslist. While this in and of itself wasn't all that extraordinary, the rest of the cargo was; in Oregon, I interned with an animal rescue that was host to cats, dogs, goats, chickens, and other assorted furred and feathered creatures both large and small. Sixty-five creatures, to be exact. We spent weeks preparing for the trek, doing our best to minimize the trauma of the move by ensuring that we had the best accommodations, food, and entertainment possible for our budget. When we finally hit the road, we were pleased to realize that all of our planning had served us well: we arrived in Kentucky without incident, and our furry friends were soon comfortable in their new home.

Here are a few of the things we learned along the way:

(1) Don't overfeed. You'll have less mess to clean up along the way, and your pooch will thank you for making the travel time that much more comfortable without a full belly. A good rule of thumb is to give about one-third the usual amount of food, sticking with a pre-made kibble you can make yourself in advance, to avoid messy spills or the need for refrigeration. See the recipe at the end of this post.
(2) Remember cleaning supplies. Even the most travel-savvy pups may feel queasy during a long journey; stay tuned for next Sunday's Dog-Gone! post to get instructions on how to make your own Pet Travel Kit. It's inexpensive, and will do wonders in reducing your stress on the road.
(3) Make sure all vaccinations are up-to-date. With hundreds of strange animals passing through, rest stops are a haven for diseases like parvovirus, distemper, and the flu. If your pups are too young for vaccinations, it's best not to risk it by letting them set foot on foreign soil. You're better off cleaning up a messy crate than seeing your little ones suffer the effects of a deadly virus picked up on the road.
(4) Provide proper containment. Even if your pup loves the feel of the highway, bring along a crate for emergencies. If the car breaks down or there's an accident, your guy will be safely confined while you sort out the mess.
(5) Microchip, microchip, microchip. Particularly when traveling through a strange place, your pooch may become panicked and bolt at a rest area or gas station. Microchipping significantly increases the chances that your pup pal will be returned to you no matter how far you are from home.

Follow these tips and you'll have a great start to a happy life on the road with your favorite canine compadre.

One for the Road: Homemade Kibble to Make Things Simple

4 cups whole wheat flour
1 1/3 cup yellow cornmeal
1 cup shelled, unsalted sunflower seeds
4 table spoons Dream Coat (may substitute corn oil)
1 cup chicken broth
4 eggs
1 cup low-fat milk

Heat oven to 350 degrees. In large bowl, mix together flour, cornmeal, and sunflower seeds. Add oil, broth, and egg mixture, until dough is firm-textured. Let sit for fifteen to twenty minutes, then roll out on a large baking sheet to about 1/4" thick. Bake for approximately half an hour, until golden brown. Remove and cool. Once cooled, it should be the texture of a hard-baked cookie; use a hammer to break into kibble-sized pieces, and store in an airtight container.

If your dog is used to beef marrow bones, it's great to bring one along with you while traveling - they provide much-needed calcium, and will keep your favorite pup occupied for hours.