Williams: Let dog be your co-pilot

Our appearance on “Greatest American Dog” afforded Andrew and me a lot of travel opportunities. During the past year, Andrew and I have traveled through most of the east coast, mid-atlantic region, and across country and back at least several times. Many of our trips have been by car, but quite a few have been by plane. No matter the mode of transportation, Andrew has become quite the traveling companion. In fact, whenever I travel without him, I feel like I’m missing something. There’s nothing like seeing the bright, wide-eyed wonderment of “where are we going this time?” all over his face. So, even though I’m in the business of caring for other people’s dogs, I think we should take our dogs with us on trips whenever possible.

Firstly, always start by making sure your pet has proper identification on him at all times. His collar should have your local, most immediate contact information, such as your cell phone number, not just your home information. If your dog gets lost in another state, you’d want the finder to be able to reach you immediately. A microchip can also provide additional security. Be sure to have copies of your dog’s current health and immunization records as well. You should always have a copy of your dog’s shot records and a health certificate in your car’s glove box, wallet, purse, and/or suitcase. All trips with your dog should be planned well in advance. Though more and more hotels have become dog friendly, you want to make sure you don’t get caught without a welcoming reservation. And be sure to read the fine print of the hotel’s pet policy. Some hotels charge additional pet fees and deposits, some refundable, some not. Make sure you know exactly what you’re getting into.

Early basic obedience training and socialization will greatly impact your dog’s travel behavior. Remember the old saying, “children should be seen and not heard?” Well, the same goes for dogs. When traveling with a dog, he should be your companion and responsibility, not everyone else’s! A dog that is quiet, calm, well-behaved, and not a nuisance, is not only a welcome visitor, but is a great ambassador for all dogs. Does your dog know how to potty on leash? This may seem like a strange question, but the fact is, a lot of dogs who are usually let out in the back yard to do their business wherever they want are sometimes uncomfortable when on leash. So, just like any other behavior, this should be taught and practiced as much as possible. Further, a dog knowing how to “go” on cue is a big plus! That’s right, if you’re under time constraints, such as having 30 minutes in between changing flights at an international airport, there’s no time for Rocky to start tracking chipmunks! When your dog really understands the purpose of potty breaks, it’s much easier to stay on schedule.

Traveling with your dog is so much easier today than ever before. Proper planning, forethought and preparation, can make it a pleasurable trip for both of you!

Laurie Williams is a Stafford resident and business owner. She appeared last year on the television show, “Greatest American Dog.”