Taking Your Dog On Vacation: The Basics Of The Crate

Using a crate is a safe way to transport your dog when you take him on vacation with you. If your dog is properly crate trained, he will be happy to spend time there and will feel safe in it. Before traveling with your dog, if you are using a crate, it is essential that you make sure your dog feels comfortable in the crate a couple of months before your planned vacation. If your dog sleeps and rests in the crate, then it won't be stressful for him to be there during a long trip.

You can choose from a wide variety of crates, including plastic ones (often called "flight kennels") and collapsible metal pens. They come in a variety of sizes and can be purchased at most pet supply stores or online. Your dog should be able to stand up and move around a little in the crate. If your dog is not full grown yet, the crate size should accommodate his adult size. The excess crate space should be blocked off so that your dog cannot go to the bathroom at one end and sleep at the other end.

If you purchase a new crate, start training immediately after getting it home. Place it in an area of your house where the family spends a lot of time. Placing a soft blanket or flat dog mat or even a dog bed in it will make it more comfortable and inviting. Encourage your dog to enter the crate by dropping dog treats nearby, then just inside the door and then all the way inside the crate. If your dog refuses to walk into the crate, don't force him but continue working with him, either with treats or dog toys, until he feels comfortable and will walk into the crate calmly. This may take minutes or days, depending on your dog's temperament and personality.

After being introduced to his crate, feeding regular meals near the crate will create a pleasant association with it. Gradually start feeding his meals inside the crate, starting near the door and working your way to the back of the crate, until he is comfortably standing in the crate to eat his meals. Then you can try closing the door while he eats but open the door as soon as he is finished when you do this for the first time. Gradually work your way up to leaving the door closed for 10 minutes or so after he has finished eating and then for longer periods of time until you feel that the training has been successful.

Once your dog has been effectively crate trained and considers the crate as his "safe haven," you may also want to take a drive with your dog in the crate several times to get him used to being transported in the crate before taking your dog on vacation. This will eliminate the stress that your dog may feel when being in new surroundings and will help him to feel safer while traveling.

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