When you travel, your dog will naturally want to accompany you. He wants to remain by your side, even if that means being in unfamiliar territory. If you decide to take him with you, the challenge is to make sure his needs are met while you're on the road. His safety and comfort are entirely dictated by the decisions you make for him. Here are four smart tips that will help you navigate the often choppy waters of traveling with your canine.

Tip 1 - Make An Appointment With The Vet

Before hitting the road, take your pooch to the veterinarian for a check-up. Make sure that he has received all of his vaccinations and that his certifications are updated. You'll be required to show them not only when you board a plane, but when you check into pet-friendly hotels. Also, be sure to pack any medications that your dog needs while you're away from home.

Tip 2 - Call The Airline Prior To Your Trip

Pet travel is not entirely standardized across all airlines. Each airline has their own set of rules. Call ahead to make sure that you meet any requirements they have. Ask about the certifications they need to see and the type of crate you should put your dog in prior to arriving.

Tip 3 - Make Your Pooch Easily Identifiable

Pets and their owners often become separated while traveling. This can happen just as easily when you travel by plane as by car. Make sure you've placed a collar on him with his identification tags securely fastened to it. The tags should list your name and contact information, your pooch's name, and information regarding his rabies shots. Also, consider having him microchipped as a secondary form of identification. It's a good idea to carry a picture of him with you that you can show people in the event you're separated.

Tip 4 - When Traveling By Car...

Traveling with your dog by car requires a few extra precautions. Take plenty of drinking water for him and try not to drive long distances if he hasn't had anything to eat. Don't allow him to ride with his head hanging out the window; it's far too easy for debris to harm his eyes. Also, keep in mind that your canine will need restroom breaks, even if you don't. Stop often and have the resources handy to clean up after him.

If you're traveling with young kids, make sure they understand that it's unacceptable to tease or taunt the dog while he's in his crate (road trips can be boring). Finally, don't ever leave him in the car with the windows up. If possible, don't leave him in the car by himself at all.

While traveling, your dog is dependent upon you in ways that are easy to neglect. Use the four tips above to ensure that you both enjoy the time spent together away from home.

• Why I Still Grieve The Death Of My Dog Thor by Rick London I had just started my very first online offbeat cartoons and funny gifts venture, and stopped immediately my daily creative routine. Having grown up in rural Mississippi, I was used to the hot muggy afternoons which often brought tornadoes and rain. Thor was about twelve years old......
• Discover The Right Way Of Potty Training Dogs by Geraldine Dimarco Sure, we all love our dogs. The indoor poop and the pee spots are unfortunate incidents that happen to come with the package. Wouldn't it be great though to not have to deal with cleaning up his mess anymore? With your patience and these tips on potty......
• The By-Product Debate in Dog Food by Michael Considine I started to get serious about health issues for dogs once mine started having them at the age of six. Instead of wasting time watching TV, lately, I have been studying ways to ensure my dogs have the longest lives possible. For the ones that are familiar......
• Easy Dog Tricks That Will Shock Your Friends by Riche Goldmann There are many ways that you can use your knowledge of animals to impress your friends. There are lots of great dog tricks that you can teach your dog quickly and easily that will be sure to impress. When you are looking at the various types of......

• Kids and savings Getting my son to develop a regular savings habit is important to me. If you start out with good habits, chances are you will continue them, because habits are hard to break. Now, I already give my son an allowance. He gets $15 twice a month, plus lunch money every......
• Ian Poulter Earns #5 World Ranking On Sunday in Marana, Arizona, Ian Poulter won the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship, giving him his first US victory, and moving him to number 5 in the world, a career-high for Poulter. Often more well-known for his colorful clothing line and the precise ironing of his pants than his golf,......
• Too early for lessons on delayed gratification and financial education for my 2-year old? I've never really known how to teach a child about delayed gratification. I guess we have tried to teach Ryan about this in a subconscious manner where we ask of him to save or postpone something for later. But I do not expect a child of 2 years to......
• Your favorite romantic story name ... ... ... ? Do you like to read romantic story ... ... ... ??? Your favorite romantic story name ... ... ... ??? Do you like this moral romantic story ... ... ... ??? A CUTE LOVE STORY- A BOY HAD CANCER AND HE HAD ONE MONTH TO LIVE. HE LIKED A GIRL......

The Association of Pet Dog Trainers Top Tips from Top Trainers: 1001 Practical Tips and Techniques for Successful Dog Care and Training List Price: $19.95 Sale Price: $12.84 Used From: $15.13

Top Tips from Top Trainers features 1,001 exclusive tips from members of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT), the most highly regarded group of its kind in the world. Unlike other dog training books that focus on basic advice, this innovative guide offers the average dog owner a plethora of interesting and helpful factoids previously known only by the professional dog trainers who developed them...

	Drinkwell Original Pet Fountain List Price: $49.99 Sale Price: Too low to display
Drinkwell® The Original Pet Fountain is perfect for single-pet households! It features the Drinkwell®-patented free-falling stream of water and a large charcoal filter to remove bad tastes and odors, giving your pet the best possible and most appealing way to stay hydrated...

Written by Tammy Messer using tags: canine tips, dog car, Dog Tips, Pets