Alleviating Travel Anxiety in Your Dog

For train or plane travel, you will need to have your dog become familiar with unfamiliar noises, large crowds, and the movement of luggage. So try and be upbeat with your dog, offer rewards, and lots of fuss, and have your dog get used to components of the travel scenario long before you leave, for example, getting your dog used to being social with people, children, strangers, and other dogs, and used to being on the lead or in busy places like towns.

Safe spaces and positive associations can also be created by playing soothing, classical music in the house and in the car, opening the window of the car or sitting near an open window on a bus or train so that your dog has fresh, cool air.

Even if your dog doesn’t get anxious or travel sick, it’s a good idea to put together a travel kit for the car or to take with you, that includes dog poo bags, puppy pads, and wet wipes. We all get sick from time to time, and cleaning up any mess will be a lot easier and nicer for the family if you are prepared. If your dog does make a mess, don’t tell them off. They will likely feel terrible about doing something they are normally not allowed to do, and this could make them more anxious still. Reassure them, and let them know that sometimes accidents just happen, we’ve all been there at some point in our life, especially when feeling sick.

And finally, make sure that your dog gets plenty of exercise before your journey, if nothing else they will be exhausted and more likely to fall asleep for the journey, and be sure to check your own anxiety at the door. Your dog will look to you as the leader, if he or she senses that you are anxious, then this will make their anxiety worse.

Happy travels

Written by Sarah Weldon

Sarah is a British explorer and ice swimmer, who loves nothing more than hikes in the mountain with her Italian Greyhound and cosy nights by the fire with her three devious cats.

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