1. The last thing you want to do is have to clean up the nasty mess of diarrhea inside your car. And your puppy or dog can easily give you this headache when you do not stick to his regular feeding times and with his normal food. It is very easy to feed your dog inconsistently when you are making a long trip by car. However, it will be best for both of you if you bring along bags of his normal food and only feed him at the same time you would at home.

2. Although it is obvious that you do not plan on ever losing sight of your dog during your travels, you should still make sure that his collar is secured tightly and that he has updated identification tags. If for some reason you’re making a temporary stay for more than a day at a location until you arrive at your final destination, add an additional identification tag that has the address and phone number of that temporary location.

3. When you make a pit stop along the way, always leash your dog before he gets out of the car and keep a tight grip on him. Because he is in unfamiliar territory and may scare easily, the instinct to dart and run off may be strong. Keeping him tightly leashed will prevent this nightmare from happening.

4. Try to avoid traveling by car during weather periods of extreme heat and high levels of humidity. Dogs do not do well in this type of climate and if you must travel when it’s hot then be sure your vehicle is equipped with a dependable air-conditioning system.

5. Every time you stop for a break during the trip, make sure you give your dog a few moments to exercise. Take your dog for a short walk or run him around the block. This will help get his blood flowing so that he can relax better for the next few hours of the ride.

6. Last but not least, as much as it is common sense, do not keep your dog in your car with the doors locked and windows rolled up. This is just basic safety advice that every person should know already, but unfortunately there are many accidents where dog’s die from heat stroke while sitting in a car during boiling hot weather.

For starters, do your best to pack all of the items necessary in which your dog may need. Some overnight stays with pets in another person’s home can be quite troublesome when important doggy items are left behind. For example, it is imperative that you bring a crate that properly fits the size of your dog. Be sure to take along plenty of dog treats as well as his standard food for feeding times.

Bringing a doggy bed is also an integral part of making your dog feel comfortable while sleeping in a strange place. It will also make your host feel more comfortable knowing that your dog or puppy will not be shedding and slobbering all over the furniture when he sleeps.

Chew toys are also a good idea to carry along when traveling with your dog and staying at a friend’s house. Remember that everything in the new location will be up for grabs to your dog’s mouth. In your home, rules have been established and your dog or puppy knows what to chew and what not chew. The last thing you want to see happen is your friend or family’s expensive couch being torn up by your dog. Having chew toys along will give him an alternative and save you and your host a large headache!

Does the home you are staying at have children?

Kids are not nearly as cautious as we would like them to be. When you arrive at your destination and they have small children in the house, be sure to introduce your dog to the family as carefully as possible.

Even though your pet is probably very tame around other people and loves children, these kids may be overly excited and startle the dog. Such surprises could lead to aggressive behavior and possibly nipping or biting. If you suspect that your dog will have aggressive behavior then the best thing to do is take him to a kennel or leave him at home to be watched by pet sitter.