Thursday, May 19, 2011

Driving Your Mutt without Driving Him Crazy

By Humphrey Smith


There comes a time when we have to take our canine companion out for a ride. Whether you are taking him shopping, visiting that large reservation to let him run around, or dropping by the good vet, you need to consider the a set of smart protocols so that everyone in the car can reach the destination in one piece.

Firstly you must confine your four-legged passenger. A dog needs to be restricted to the seats in the back. This minimises the possibilities of him causing an incident should he suddenly decides to move about, with the end result involving a vehicle claim. You need to train your dog proper car manners by using the "stay" command as he settles in the appropriate position. Should he attempt to move about, assertively recite the command until he gets the idea.

Riding a car can also be tedious process for any pet, so it is up to you to offer some creature comforts. There should be enough area for the dog to spread out his limbs, and you might need to consider a larger transport and look for SUV reviews if you got yourself a sizeable hound. Try and ease his travel anxiety by bringing along his most prized trinket or cloth. Ideally you don't want to have to regularly turn around to calm him down, as this can be dangerous for your driving.

What you also have to watch out for is car sickness. Dogs usually can not grasp the idea of staring into the windscreen to reduce the ailment. Getting sun shadings for your side windows can help. Vets can also provide applicable medication for your traveling hounds if necessary.

On the night before a very long road trip with your pet, cut down his meal size and never offer him any food right before the journey. Doing so can make things easier on his stomach, which is very likely to become agitated as he is travelling. Only give your dog treats inside the car on a seldom basis.

Since a dog is more susceptible to a heat stroke than us, be wary of the air flow issue. Under certain conditions, a vehicle's interior temperature can become twenty degrees hotter than the outdoors. Depending on the weather, this can kill both animals and minors alike. If a dog becomes too restless over an open window however, it might be better to use the air con instead.

If car travel will become a regular occurrence for your canine, you might be interested in searching for some dog seat harness, some of which are constructed to work directly with your car's seat belts. Using a specialised dog seat belt no only keeps him still, but it can also keep him alive if you have an unfortunate vehicle accident.




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