Sometimes, hitting the road means traveling with your pets.

The American Kennel Club suggests the following tips ensuring the journey goes smoothly.

Carry the correct paperwork. Especially for long trips, it’s important to keep certain documents on hand, including a recent photo of your dog and a copy of their health records that lists all vaccinations. Prior to departure, bring your pup to the vet to ensure that everything is up to date.

Schedule in bathroom breaks. In addition to knowing when you’ll stop for potty breaks, it’s important that your dog can go on multiple surfaces like concrete, mulch or gravel. This will help prepare your dog for all the different terrains you could encounter while on the road.

Pack plenty of toys. Providing your pup with toys, both old and new, is a good way to avoid boredom while traveling. Mental stimulation, like a puzzle toy, is important during road trips too.

Have proper identification on hand. This is always important, but especially when traveling. Ensure your dog has a good leash and a collar with proper identification tags. The tags should include your dog’s name, the owner’s name and phone number, as well as proof of rabies shots. If the plan is to be away for more than a few days, you might purchase a second ID tag giving the location and phone number of your vacation spot. Microchipping your dog is also a good idea; it increases the likelihood of returning your pet to you should they get lost while traveling.

Bring a crate. A hard crate is a great way to keep your pup safe while traveling in the car. It can also keep your dog from getting into trouble at a hotel or your host’s home.

It’s a vacation! Traveling can be stressful. It’s important to keep in mind that our animals pick up on our stress. A calm owner equals a calm pet! If you are stressed and nervous, guess who also is?

For more information on responsible dog ownership, visit the AKC at www.akc.org.

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