Travelling with Your Hunting Dog

Hunting season brings many of us the opportunity to travel in pursuit of game. This is a great opportunity for you and your dog to explore new territory and challenges. One of those challenges can be getting your dog comfortably from point A to point B. Travel can be stressful for your pup, and that can inhibit his/her ability to achieve maximum performance in the field.

Stick to Wheels When Possible- While many airlines offer outstanding animal services, the car is really the preferred place for your doggo. The journey through claims and being stored under a plane is likely to cause your dog more stress than a long car trip. Sometimes, it’s just not feasible to get there any other way, but keep your dog’s comfort in mind when making your travel plans.

Easy on the Tucker- While heaps of us might fancy a big feed before hitting the road, it can lead to gut woes for your doggo. Rather than a huge meal before a long stint in the ute, opt for smaller nosh-ups more frequently.

Frequent Loo Breaks- Struggling to hold it in for heaps of kilometres is a rough go for everyone, dogs too. Odds are, if you're hanging out for a break, your dog's probably in the same boat. When you're pulling up, make sure to look for spots that are good for dogs so your mate can have a bit of a breather as well.

Test Rides- You don’t take your dog out in the field without training, and you shouldn’t take him from home on a 16 hour car ride without some training either. If you plan to travel with your dog, try to take him on a few test drives around town. Think of distances longer than just to the vet and back. Consider a Sunday joy ride for your dog and the family. This will make it easier for your dog to adjust on the road.

Allow Plenty of Time- Don’t try to rush the journey by skipping smokos. The goal is to reach your destination with your dog as ready to hunt as possible. Not just to rock up. Keep a steady pace and make the trip enjoyable for both of you. If you know your dog is especially jumpy when it comes to travel, try to rock up a day early to give him/her some time to settle down before it’s time to perform.

Safe travels and happy hunting!