Furry Friends Traveling to the mountains with your pet

Dear human, you are blessed to be loved by a dog. And to be traveling with him or her is a bigger blessing.

I have been a dog mom to two wonderful fur babies. Although being a pet parent itself is such a fulfilling and rewarding feeling, travelling with my furry friends has been an exceptional experience. I constantly educate myself on new studies related to dogs and their psychology. I understood early on, the impact of travel on the development of a dog’s personality and brain growth.

Into the dream world

Dogs, just like children, are a reflection of the parent’s personalities. Dogs mirror and ape their ‘hooman’ parents more than human children do.

According to a study done in Harward by Dr Deirdre Barrett, a clinical and evolutionary psychologist – found out that our furry companions constantly dream about us. The most important part of their existence is their humans. They also have nightmares and separation anxiety just like human children. Especially when the parents are travelling.

Backed by research, proven by experience

As many studies have proven, travel helps human brains grow healthier and happier. Travel does the same to our canine companions as well. Decades worth of research on canines have proven that our dogs are capable of surprisingly complex feat of social and emotional intelligence.

Psychologist and dog researcher Stanley Coren estimates, the average dog’s intelligence is roughly at par with a thirty-month-old human baby. Though I think it’s a lot more and from experience I can safely say it also depends on the calibre of the human who raises the furry child.

Peaks and Paws – The ultimate travel guide

Travelling with your pet can be a challenging experience if you don’t train him or plan the travel well. But it all starts with first understanding your pet and the type of travel he is capable of.

Every breed and every pet is as different as people who are from different cultural backgrounds and different ages. They all have their personalities and preferences. Before I suggest a few tips on how to travel to the mountains with your beloved pet, I would like to bring your attention to something as basic as knowing your pet as a person first. Understand his likes, dislikes, and limitations. Also, keep in mind your limitations as a pet parent.

1. A good start goes a long way

Start with a proper check-up at the vet. Talk to your vet about the place and the altitude you intend to travel to. Get a list of emergency respiratory and other SOS medications. AMS (Altitude Mountain Sickness) can impact some pets. Do carry a portable O2 cylinder (depending on the height of your mountain travel). This could help you and your pet in an emergency. Carrying a first-aid kit is a no-brainer. Please don’t treat your pet’s wound with the same meds as humans (always consult your vet on this).

2. Book with caution

While booking your pet-friendly stays please call each hotel and double-check if they are pet-friendly or not. There is a lot of misinformation on the booking sites (speaking from personal experience).

3. Power up for proper ‘prepping’

Prepare your furry child for the long drive. I started training my pets since they were puppies for long road trips. Start with half-hour short drives and gradually increase it to two-hours city drives. On weekends try and drive to a new park. This helps your pet adapt to a new, outdoor environment. Try to make him drink and eat in this new environment. It will also help ease the anxiety of an unknown surrounding. Trust me, it is a really helpful exercise…

4. Off-roading adventures

If you are planning on an off-road drive in the mountains. Please get your pet used to off-road first. There are good off-road training parks in most cities that offer the space to take both your vehicle and furry friend. It’s good for you as a driver to brush up your skills and your pet will get used to the bumpy drive.

5. Making your canine companion comfortable

How to prepare your car/ truck to make your pet comfortable? This is such an important part of a doggy road trip. First and the most important thing is a ‘Dog Seatbelt’. It is different from a human one and I can’t stress enough how essential it is for the safety of your pet. You can get it on leading online portals.

You should also get a car hammock for your pet. This won’t let your pet fall between the space between the front and rear seats. I don’t promise that it will help your car stay free for fur though.

6. High altitude paws

If you are planning on travelling to a higher altitude do plan it in a way that both you and your pet get ample time to acclimatize. Try to understand your pet’s breathing pattern. I did a mini crash course with my vet to understand what a normal breath and an uncomfortable breathing pattern sound like. Dogs are extremely resilient and adapt to the environment around them. But if we can make their lives a bit easier, why not?

7. Hydration is key

Hydration is key in the mountains for you and even for canines. So, try to give your pet water every hour or so. Some dogs stop drinking water while travelling. Try adding some bone broth to the water (you can buy bone broth cubes online).

8. Be careful of mountain mutts

Local mountain dogs are extremely territorial and mostly move in packs. They can get aggressive and hostile towards urban dogs. Here you need to turn into your pet’s greatest warrior. Keep a lookout for mountain dogs. Always keep your pet on a leash, especially in an unknown territory or around a village. Carry a stick to scare off the local dogs. But don’t hit them.

9. Yummy food – favorite part of the day

Food is the highlight of the day for all of us. Carry dry food like kibbles, dehydrated chicken, and his favourite treats. Don’t overfeed your pet as it may make him nauseous or he might even get an upset tummy.

10. Extra care on those hairpin bends

While taking the hairpin bends in the mountains please be mindful of the fact that there is a dog in the back seat. A check on your speed will help you and your pet stay safe. It will also avoid any in-car injuries to your furry friend. So go slowwww!

11. Be a responsible pet parent – follow basic pet-friendly hotel codes

While the hotels are opening their doors to our furry children, we as pet parents need to be kind to them and their other guests. The hotel could be pet friendly but there is no guarantee that other guests would be pet-friendly too. Basic civil behaviour and empathy will help you.

Ask the hotel staff, where can you walk your pet? They will identify the safest spots. Always pick up after your pet has relieved itself. Ask the hotel staff if the dining areas and the living rooms are also pet friendly. While passing other guests in the lobby, notice if they are comfortable with a pet around or not. Else just ask them.

Keep your furry kid on a short leash around other guests, if they are not comfortable with a canine. Being kind to people who may not be animal lovers will help the hotel remain a pet friendly space.

If your pet barks at night because of being in a new environment, try to comfort him. You don’t want to wake up the other guests.

12. Clean doggo = happy doggo

Keep your pet clean throughout the trip. Try to groom him whenever you break the journey for the day. I carry puppy bath wipes with me all the time. Grooming your pet is like giving him a gentle massage after a long day of travel. Believe me, other people also want to pet a clean, happy dog, and hotels will be more welcoming.

13. Probiotic power for the win

While traveling I give my pet a pet-friendly probiotic. This helps keep her immunity up and avoids any sort of tummy bug. My pooch girl ends up playing in the rivers or eating wild grass. I think the probiotics fortified her gut. Ask your vet to know the best probiotic that you can give to your canine companion.

14. Fashionable furries – yes please!

Travel fashion for your pet totally depends on the season and terrain you are travelling to. A jacket, a T-shirt, and a sweater are good enough if it’s in the mountains. It also depends on which season you are traveling in A dog raincoat can be extremely handy, so do invest in it.

15. Pause and care for paws

Always keep your pet’s paws dry to avoid any infection. I always carry two microfiber towels for my pet. They dry super quickly and soak up all the dampness gently. Don’t rub his paws, just gently pat dry. If you see any redness or brownish residue, you can use an anti-fungal powder.

16. Toys for a Happy Journey

A toy or two might help your pet feel at home in a new place. If he likes playing fetch, carry his favourite ball. A chew toy for travel anxiety. My furry girl loves her tiny golden retriever stuff toy. She cuddles up with it before cuddling up with her mum for sleep time.

17. On the road with windows rolled up

If you are driving over the speed of 60 km/hr please roll up all the windows. The rustling sound of the wind isn’t comforting for your pet. Also, you don’t want them to pop their head out at that kind of speed. A tiny stone is enough to injure your pet badly.

18. Say no to loud music

While you may like driving with the bass pumping and that thud in your chest with every drum beat, keep in mind that your furry friend will be in pain Dogs can hear frequencies up to about 65,000 Hz, while humans top out at around 20,000 Hz. You do the math.

Tip: You can play soft music or ambient music for dogs to keep his anxiety at bay.

19. Walking your waggy friend is a must

Give your pet walk breaks in the middle of the road trip. Just like us, his joints get stiff and he also needs to stretch them out. He will need bio-breaks and doesn’t want to be left alone in the car. If you have to leave your pet in the car, then please keep the window open and make sure the car is parked in the shade.

20. Be patient with your furry trekker

The most important thing is to be patient with your pooch. You are dealing with an infant. A child who depends on you… and Who has blind faith in you!! You are choosing to travel with your pet, and he had no choice in the matter. So be a good pet parent.

There will be times when you will miss out on a few things others in the group might do. But those puppy kisses will make up for it all.