Traveling by Car with Child & Dog
Heat, boredom, nausea?
So we prepare ourselves for a relaxing car ride to start our vacation straight away.
Are we there yet?
Healthy snacks and games help combat boredom on the go.
Strict departure times and booking stress?
Not by car, we are wonderfully independent there! But we have to provide our own entertainment. The classic "I see, I see what you don't see!" can get boring pretty quickly in a traffic jam. So how about a few new game ideas? In the big animal quiz, for example, the animal you are looking for has to be guessed by asking questions. Or the whole family tells each other a funny nonsense story sentence by sentence. In car bingo, the winner is the person who correctly guesses the color of the next car that overtakes them. There is also a reward for this: forward-thinking moms and dads pack a cooler bag for a picnic in the trunk and keep the kids happy with snacks that are ready to hand. Apple pieces, baby carrots or cucumber slices are practical, for example. Only something light should be eaten before the journey so that no one gets sick on the way. Children who are prone to travel sickness should not constantly look down, as this confuses their sense of balance. In this case, audio plays are better than books.
Chilled snacks for everyone
Even for children who don't mind driving, it doesn't always have to be digital tablet games. An analogue lap tray is a practical surface, for example for drawing. While pens can be placed in the side recesses, the edge prevents anything from falling down. Sticker books can also keep the little ones busy for a long time. Nevertheless, it is best to plan a break every two hours, which can last 20 to 30 minutes. If you familiarise yourself a little with the route beforehand, you can choose suitable places for it, e.g. a castle worth seeing, a playground or a meadow for a picnic. If dogs are travelling with you, everyone can let off steam there together. And how about ice cream for the whole family? Dogs who don't get sick when driving will be happy with a highlight from the cooler bag: natural yoghurt or chicken broth freeze well and are real "treats" on the go!
“Beware of heat traps:
Temperatures of up to 70°C are possible in a parked car.”
If travel sickness is an issue, it is advisable to visit the vet in good time before your vacation. There are natural remedies available and the chip can also be checked again to be on the safe side. During the journey, the dog is safest in a sturdy crate. In addition to water, cooling mats, collars or vests can make the heat more bearable. But be careful: none of these are enough to leave the dog alone in the car! The temperature in the interior rises too quickly and can be dangerous for our darling.
No puppies on board
Cooling mats are not suitable for puppies because they tend to fall asleep on them. Adult dogs wake up in time, but puppies sleep so deeply and soundly that they can get hypothermia. Long car journeys are also not good for puppies: Firstly, their sense of balance is not yet fully developed, so they quickly become ill. Secondly, they need to be slowly accustomed to the crate and car. So it's better to conquer the new home first, then the rest of the world.
