Summertime coming up! And thousands upon thousands of family dogs will pile in the car, maybe with the kids (and sometimes the cat or hamster) and head out to go camping, visit Grandma or in reverse visit the grandkids, or just to have a good time. Some dog training in advance will help everyone have more fun and be safer.

First, brush up on the good old basics: sit, stay, down, come. You may well be using them every day at home, but an interesting thing about how dogs learn is that it tends to be very location-specific. In other words, if Fluffy sits beautifully in the kitchen, she may not when outside on the patio, let alone in a completely unfamiliar situation with distractions.

So do some very simple training, on these basics, but with a twist: do it in a variety of places. Even if you live in a tiny apartment, you can probably find spots where you have never asked the dog to stay. And when you go out for walks, ask your dog to sit now and then. When you ask for the down, select locations where the dog is likely to be willing to do it, as many dogs are reluctant to lie down if they feel insecure in a particular place. With some practice, the dog will be more willing to lie down in a wider variety of places. Then when you travel with your dog, you will have more confidence.

If your dog does not come reliably — and in my experience, very few dogs really always do — then vacation is not a time to risk off-leash, unfenced roaming unless you really know the circumstances. I like extendable leashes for good walks. Check to be sure whatever leashes you plan to take are in good condition, and that the dog’s collar is sturdy and not wearing out. By the way, I am a huge fan of the Really Reliable Recall… that link explains it on my website.

Also be sure that his ID tags are legible — sometimes, after a lot of wear, they can become very hard to read. Also be sure they have the right address and phone on them… have you moved? If you want new dog tags, you can usually get them, online or locally, inexpensively and quickly. Next time we have new tags made, I am going to have my email address included! If your dog takes any meds, have enough with you, plus enough of the dog food he is used to.

Another aspect of training to consider is your dog or puppy’s potty training level. If you are still housetraining, then you will want to have cleanup supplies along. Something else that can surprise people is that if a dog or puppy is potty trained to do his business on the grass, he may be very reluctant to go potty if there is only cement and gravel at a spot where you have lunch. So before you leave, be sure he’s versatile. (And that you have some bags along. You know what for.)

Here’s a book to help you get ready for travel in many ways: The Well- Mannered Dog: From Dealing with Cats to Staying in Hotels, a Total Guide to Good Manners, by Matthew Hoffman. From dealing with cats to staying in hotels, a total guide to good manners for the owner and dog who don’t want to compete for titles, but want to hear people say, “What a well behaved dog!” Basic good manners at home, when traveling, visiting, meeting other animals, etc. Practical advice, positive training methods, fully illustrated in color.

Another useful book is The Canine Hiker’s Bible, by Doug Gelbert. It offers descriptions of over 225 parks and trails in the US and Canada - with rules for dogs in 100 of the most-visited national lands in the US; rules for state and provincial parks; rules for dogs at over 1300 beaches and 500+ beach towns on the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, Pacific Ocean and all five Great Lakes; outfitting your dog for a hike, a canine hiker’s watch list, canine hiking in the desert, canine hiking at altitude, low impact hiking with your dog, and more.

A good webpage with lots more information of travel with dogs and how to cope with the various challenges it brings is at Squidoo: http://www.squidoo.com/travel-with-the-family-pet. If you aren’t familiar with Squidoo, anyone can write pages on any topic, and so you do get a mixed bag in terms of quality. This one is very good.

Not Going Traveling with a Dog?

Then you might like to do a little armchair traveling and read Travels with Macy, which I have added to my own list of things to read. Veterinarian, writer and broadcaster Bruce Fogle flew to North America from the UK with Macy, his Golden Retriever, picked up a 25-year-old silver and red motorhome, and set off around the continent to experience the land, its people and any wonders that awaited them. Having decided to retrace the footsteps of John Steinbeck in his 1962 book “Travels with Charley”, Fogle was sure he would find the beauty of rural America spoiled and the people as unworldly as during his own childhood. But what he found surprised him. This is a wonderful travel adventure written with great joy and humor, exploring a land of overwhelming grandeur and people of extraordinary spirit - journey in the company of a very, very happy dog!