Making Your Pet Comfortable No Matter Where You Are

Most dogs need that secure feeling of home. But to have a truly happy pup you cannot expect them to stay at home for ever. Most dogs love to “go” anywhere! They don’t really care where they go, they just want to go with you.

People who decide to take on the responsibility of a dog because they want the companionship look for ways to keep them happy. Some people get dogs for security reasons. No matter what your reason is, many dogs naturally become very protective of their people. In this day and age, there is nothing wrong with having a dog that doubles as a security alert system!

When it comes to training, you do not want to stop your dog from barking entirely, but training them to stop barking on command can offer a huge piece of mind. I allow my dogs to bark but once they have my attention, I give them the quiet command and the barking ends. I know that the Chihuahua suffers from the little big man syndrome but I would never prohibited him from exercising his duty of protecting me. For that reason I travel almost everywhere with him. True, he cannot inflict much damage on an assailant, but he can alert me so that I may prepare to protect us.

Since he travels with me both by car and by air, I try very hard to provide my dog with a form a security that will keep him happy. Like so many others, what truly makes my pup happy is just being wherever I am. And I love that about him, so I try to provide him with some comforts of home no matter where we go or how we get there.

When we travel by air, I use the same carrier all the time. Once we get to where we are going, the carrier becomes his bed. If the location or environment we are in at the time is one that leaves him with a little anxiety, his carrier bed becomes a little safe haven for him. My knowing that he can find comfort in his bed makes me happy and more agreeable to continue traveling with him. Make no mistake about it, the last thing I want to do is force my dog to go somewhere he does not want to go. I keep some of his favorite toys in his air travel carrier, usually the same toys and bones all the time.

For air travel I use a carrier on wheels. It also contains a pocket for holding supplies such as wet wipes, collapsible water and food bowls, leash and harness etc. It also has three different access points to it. One from above and one from either end. This way when we are not in the travel mode I can zip up the top opening and allow him access through the ends which provides a bit more privacy for my dog as well.

When we travel in the car I use a dog car booster seat. Specifically I use one known as a Lookout Seat. It raises my small dog up so during our road trip he can see out the window and remain in his own seat. I keep his seat equipped with his blanket and favorite chew toy. I purchased a seat with a drawer for storing all the other necessities like food and water dishes, sweaters, leash and harness, doggie duty bags, etc. Besides providing a secure location for him to seat in while traveling, it also is easily removed from the car and taken in the house or hotel to be used a bed. Again, no matter where we are he has a little piece of home with him and I have him with me! It is in my opinion a win-win situation.

The joy I get from taking him with me and the joy he gets from being able to “go” is rewarding and heartwarming for both of us. I don’t think I am the only dog owner who would feel this way. I am sure many people travel with their pet or would love to be able to travel with their pet. I run into a lot of people who do not realize how easy it can be. And how happy it can make your four-legged friend. There will be those dogs that absolutely do NOT like to “go” and for those dogs, it’s ok to leave them behind. But most dogs will want to go wherever you go! So why not take them?