Vacations with NGSD
I’m heading out tomorrow for a vacation with dogs. I thought as I’m packing and getting everything ready, I would put my protocol in print for others to take points from. Traveling takes a bit of oversight for any dog and my priority is to ensure my dogs are safe above all else. Traveling with NGSD is no different than traveling with any other dog! In fact, mine absolutely loves our trips and exploring!
I’m a daily hiker and frequently take day trips , hotel stays, and airbnbs rentals with my New Guinea singing dog . He hikes with me as well 7 days a week in all environments. I prefer to be proactive in my planning so I would rather have more than less in my preparation. Safety is above all else. My items are divided into the car ride, the duration of the stay, the hikes, and the trip home.
ITEMS FOR RELAXING CAR RIDE
1. Crate
2. blankets
3. water
4. water bowl
5. New bag of treats tucked into my drivers side door if I need to toss any for reinforcement or distraction
6. Extra seatbelt safety attachments if needed (I like to keep one for each dog in case we get out for a pee or humans may be getting out for emergency, I don’t want to risk one jumping out an open door.
7. High value chews and kongs frozen for trip
8. Two smaller thinner dog beds I keep in car that my dog uses to feel safe.
FOR THE HOTEL/CABIN/RENTAL
1. Crate from car
2. Two gates (one for front door/one for back)
3. Xpen to use where needed. (usually kitchen and bedroom)
4. Wifi camera that will be hooked up to home wifi and put in bedroom (if needed)
5. Thin longer leashes for them to drag initially
6. Dog beds from car
7. Noise machine from home to drown out unfamiliar noises
8. My blanket I use in our living room at home
9. Food and water bowl from home
10. New super high value chews
11. Favorite toy
12. Kong stuffing/cream cheese to refill kongs
SAFETY ITEMS
1. Rabies/license/emergency tag
2. Collar has my phone number on it
3. Address and phone number of nearest vet and vet ER
4. Animal control number in county we are going to
5. Notes with special medical instructions (med sensitivity etc)
6. Our vet info.
7. I’m putting an emergency phone number inside their collars and the address of the home we will be staying with a marker.
8. Situational meds
9. Extra leashes (short and long).
10. One extra identical harness for each dog in case theirs break
11. Muzzles
12. First aid kit for dogs
13. We will be hiking so a pair of boots for each dog (not to wear but in case one would get paw injury)
14. Paw balm for paw injury or environment change bothering their paws (snow ice, rock etc)
15. Caribiner clips
16. Large umbrella to use walking in case I need to create a shield from something scary or block unleashed dogs
17. Travel water bowl
18. Gps collar
19. Lots and lots of different treats
Hopefully if anyone would happen to be traveling or need ideas in the future, they can refer to this and pull some ideas out of it that may help.
My NGSD loves to travel and explore, he has never posed any type of flight risk and has now taken multiple trips with me. Get out an explore with your singer, they are fantastic partners for it!