How Can We Use Horse Trailers For Dogs – A Complete Guide

Raising a pet dog is a beautiful experience, of course! So while travelling, why leave them alone? Make sure you get to travel together with your dog safely and keep them comfortable as well. The best way to travel with your pet is towing a trailer, more likely a horse trailer. Wondering whether using a horse trailer with a living quarter for your dog is possible? Well, it is with the horse trailer brands like doubledtrailers. 

People often say that while travelling with your dog, keep them in the kennel. They are safer in their kennels in case you meet with an accident or the like. Also, you must make frequent stops to keep your pups hydrated and ensure they are not uncomfortable with all the travelling. Water is a must while travelling for both you and your dog. And most importantly, remember to practice heat safety measures like never leaving your dog inside the trailer alone without turning on the air conditioner or windows.

What does travelling with your dog entail?

Camping with your dog either in the wilderness or in some campground, dog owners ought to abide by a few rules to experience a happy journey.

The following are 2 of the most important rules that you must always keep in mind-

• Keep your dog leashed when outside the trailer: 

Putting a leash on your dog, even on vacation, might seem cruel and unfair to you. However, it is better this way when he is outside the trailer. There are again 2 reasons for this aspect. First, neighbours get concerned very quickly; second, campgrounds often have rules regarding putting the dogs on a leash. 

• Keep the air conditioner or heat on when leaving your dog unattended: 

Protecting and keeping your dog hydrated is another way of telling you to keep your dog safe. Make sure you always have food and water. The trailer must be well ventilated and cooled down before you begin the journey or during the stops.

What are some tips that can help you to use horse trailers for your dogs?

• Designate a place for your dog to travel.

When you decide to tow your trailer while travelling from one place to another, make sure you have a destination in mind. Given that you are towing a fifth-wheeler or a travel trailer, it is never safe for anybody to ride in the trailer while being towed. So make sure your dog rides in the truck the same as you. While travelling dogs feel comfortable when they get to stretch in the rear seat. Also, some dogs prefer to get created because of their travel anxiety. 

Most of the time, you would find that dogs love to travel and appear to be quite excited. So if you are taking your dog for a long journey, things might not be too different. 

However, on the other hand, your dog might get anxious and get nervous while on a trailer. Your dog will require some time to adjust to the trailer while travelling. In addition, the feeling inside a moving vehicle can make your dog nauseous. 

You must keep your pet’s bed while travelling in a trailer. A comfortable place would likely ensure that your pet is relaxed and less anxious as you travel.  

Regardless of the destination, you must decide before anything else, and you need to make sure your arrangements are comfortable enough. Plan your stops well every few hours to get food, snacks, water, and bathroom breaks.

• Decide where your dog(s) will sleep.

Your dogs might be unlikely to sleep outside their comfort zone. Especially when you have a pet dog, they feel very uncomfortable outside the house. So while you travel, you must take extra care in creating an environment your dog experiences at home- at least when he is sleeping.

If the dog has a bed in which he sleeps, ensures you get one in your trailer. It would be great to get your dog’s actual bed along. Therefore, your dog can get a good night’s sleep and be comfortable.

• Bring along plenty of food, toys, and water.

This is a primary factor you must take care of. It is pretty basic, but you must not forget. Bringing your dog’s toys along for the ride is essential. Imagine how a kid would feel if you forgot to take his toys. It would be a disaster! Well, the same goes for your dog. So do not forget to carry their belongings. Also, extra food is a must. Always be prepared for the worst-case scenario. Sometimes the breaks you take or the entire journey could get longer than expected. So be prepared for anything like that to come up!

You must also have extra water with you. Carry your dog’s water bowl and keep it clean at all times. You do not want the dust and dirt to accumulate while travelling.

• Provide exercise and mental stimulation.

Dogs at home usually get a lot of space to run and play around. Especially if you have a backyard or a large space within the house, your dog can stretch themselves or have a little exercise there. So, physical activities never cease for your pet. When you travel with your dog, you might want to care for its physical and mental health. If you are taking your trailer to some fenced-in and off-the-leash areas, you can take your dog for a walk or run in the space there.

Therefore, whatever you decide to do, that is, running or jogging with your dog, ensure it receives the same amount of physical stimulation as it did at home. So the vacation must be as pleasurable for your dog as it is for you.

• Decide where to leave your pup when engaging in activities that are not dog-friendly.

One of the essential aspects you must take care of while travelling with your dog in a horse trailer is where to leave them while you run some errands. For instance, if you are required to check whether a restaurant is dog-friendly and would allow you to enter with your pet, you might have to leave it somewhere. 

You must find a way out if you need to leave your dog for a few hours. If your horse trailer comes with a living quarter, then you have ample space at your disposal. Your dog can wander easily inside the trailer while you are away. Make sure you take heat safety measures before you leave. Draw the blinds or turn on the air conditioner for your dog. Also, you can play some soothing music for your dog to relax and doze off to sleep.  

However, this might not be the ideal solution for you. For example, you might feel uncomfortable leaving them on their own while you are away. In that case, you either plan for any dog-friendly activities or find a local dog-sitter who would take good care of them while you are away.

• Have a plan in case an emergency situation should arise.

You will unlikely encounter an accident or any kind of emergency. However, it is better to be safe than to be sorry. Since you already have the destination in your mind, make sure you take down the number of a veterinarian in the locality. Also, put an identity tag around your dog’s collar. So that if he ever runs away, someone can help him find his way back.

• Go slow.

You must remember that the trailer you are about to use for travelling is brand new, at least for your dog. It is quite true that your dog may adjust very quickly to the trailer. However, your dog might need some time to get comfortable in it. It takes some time to get fully acquainted with a new place. 

To help your dog achieve this, you can plan a few hours inside the trailer along with your dog while it is still parked in the driveway or parking lot. This will give your dog a chance to familiarise itself with the insides of the horse trailer. Moreover, the dog learns what to expect in the upcoming days while you travel or embark on a trip/journey.

To Wrap Up

Just like humans, every dog is different. So everyone has different levels of adjustability to any new situation. Some are quicker than others. It is expected of you to know your dog better than anyone else. 

Well, honestly, camping with your dog can be more of a hassle than it is fun. However, many dog owners accept that it is more exciting to travel with their pups than it is to do it alone. All you need to do is do some prior research and make some clever arrangements so that your pups are not uncomfortable or unsafe!