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Tips on traveling with your dog<p></p>

 
Published July 21, 2014

Summer is a popular time for travel, and many people take the family dog along for the fun. Whether you're traveling by car or plane, a little extra planning will make your experience with your dog a happy and stress-free one. Here are some tips from the American Kennel Club:

Practice makes perfect: Dogs can have anxiety when it comes to traveling in the car, and that can lead to motion sickness. Take your dog on frequent, short trips in the car to get him used to it before you go on a long road trip. Take him to fun places like the dog park so he associates the car with good things instead of just going to the veterinarian or groomer.

Figure out feeding: Before you take a long car trip, experiment with feeding your dog before short rides. Some dogs do better in the car not having eaten for several hours before while others need to have a small meal.

Be prepared: Make sure you bring bags, paper towels, cleaning supplies and deodorizing spray to clean up after your dog.

Go for nonstop: If you're flying with your dog, try to get nonstop flights rather than layovers. Pets remain in the plane's hold while it's stopped on the ground.

Invest in a crate: Buy a crate instead of renting one from the airline. That way, your dog can get used to it before the actual flight.

Have identification: It's extremely important to have identification for your dog, including a collar and microchip should he get lost. Make sure his tag has your cellphone number on it and check with your recovery service provider to ensure your contact information is up to date. To enroll your dog in a 24-hour recovery service, visit akcreunite.org.

For more travel tips, visit the AKC at akc.org/travel.