Traveling Tips For Your German Shepherd Dog

by | breaks, cleaning up after your dog, pooper scooper, Puppies, puppy, traveling | 0 comments

Exploring the vast prairie of the Washita National Wildlife Refuge

Exploring the vast prairie of the Washita National Wildlife Refuge

Hi Everyone,

Traveling with your German Shepherd Dog can be easy and enjoyable when you and your dog are prepared for the trip.    German Shepherd Dog, puppies or adults can comfortably travel five to seven hours without having to get out and exercise and relieve themselves as long as they have gone to the bathroom right before leaving.  If you are traveling further than five to seven hours you need to plan for a puppy or dog stop. 

a Heidelberg German Shepherd Dog Puppy Traveling

a Heidelberg German Shepherd Dog Puppy Traveling

We personally prefer to exercise our German Shepherd Dogs of lead; therefore, we try to stop in isolated places such as behind a large church or behind large shopping centers where there are often large areas of grass and little traffic.  For those that want to exercise their German Shepherd Dogs on lead, most gas stations and truck stops along the Interstate have designated exercise areas for traveling dogs.  An expandable lead is in dispensable for exercising on lead because it allows your German Shepherd Dog to get away from the owner so they feel more comfortable going to the bathroom.   For those that are traveling with German Shepherd Dog puppies younger than 16 weeks, you should avoid public potty areas because of the risk of your potentially unprotected puppy being exposed to parvo, distemper, or other communicable diseases.  Look for isolated places such as behind Wal-Marts.  Everyone that exercises their dogs in a public place should clean up after their dogs.  Pack plastic bags with you so you can pick up the feces and throw it in the trash.

Heidelberg German Shepherd Dogs Exercising Behind a Shopping Mall

Heidelberg German Shepherd Dogs Exercising Behind a Shopping Mall

Once your German Shepherd Dog has stretched their legs for five to ten minutes and relieved themselves, they will be ready to travel another five to seven hours or until you arrive at your destination. 

While on your planned dog stop, if you know your German Shepherd Dog, puppy or adult needs to defecate and they will not go after ten minutes, you can gently insert two or three wooden kitchen matches halfway into their rectum.  This will get your dog to go to the bathroom within a few minutes.  Most German Shepherd Dogs tolerate this well as long as you are gentle.

Heidelberg German Shepherd Dog Looking for a Place to Potty After Being Matched

Heidelberg German Shepherd Dog Looking for a Place to Potty After Being Matched

Sometimes while traveling a German Shepherd Dog will get a nervous stomach resulting in diarrhea.  This is not a problem as long as you are prepared.  While traveling you should always have a collar on your dog so that they cannot slip out of it and a leash readily available.  Therefore, if you have to pull off on the side of the highway your German Shepherd Dog and you will be safe.  If your German Shepherd Dog needs to go to the bathroom while you are driving they will become anxious and let you know by either whining or barking.  Look for the closest and safest place to pull over and pull over connecting the leash to the collar before you open the door.  If it is an emergency bathroom break, your dog may surprise you by darting out the first open vehicle door running out into traffic if you do not have them on lead. 

Tomorrow I will continue this discussion with for more travel tips for you and your German Shepherd Dog.

Ask me a Question and I will provide my opinion. Also, please see our web page: KeystoneGermanShepherds

Sincerely,

KeystoneGermanShepherds

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