- Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.
Living with a reactive dog can make your world feel small at times. It’s hard to imagine exploring new places with your pup when it’s a struggle to even walk down a familiar street without a meltdown. But that doesn’t mean it can’t be done.
In the past year, my reactive dog Roo and I have traveled over 8,000 miles and 14 states together. We’ve cabin-hopped, visited friends and family, and stayed in numerous Airbnbs and short-term rentals. While we’ve definitely had hiccups along the way (cue Roo snapping her leash in Montana), I wouldn’t trade our time on the road for the world.
With the right training, planning, and management, traveling with a reactive dog can be an amazing experience. Here are some helpful tips I’ve learned along the way, accompanied by expert advice from certified dog trainers with their own reactive pups.
What Is Reactivity in a Dog?
According to Audrey Nett, professional dog trainer (CPDT-KA) and owner of Just Love the Dog, reactivity is simply an overreaction to a stimulus (think: dogs, people, bikes, cars, etc.) in the environment. “Reactivity can happen for a multitude of reasons like over arousal, lack of socialization, pain, fear, and anxiety,” she says.
When a dog reacts, it often looks like barking, growling, lunging, and pulling on the leash—or in Roo’s case, shrill dinosaur-sounding screams. But as Lauren Sisak, professional dog trainer (CPDT-KA) and owner of Sit Stay Stella, Inc, points out, reactivity can manifest differently for each dog. “Some dogs are the strong and silent type, cowering with their tail tucked and even shaking,” she says.
Why Is Traveling With a Reactive Dog Tricky?
Reactivity makes travel tough, says Nett, because it’s so uncertain. “Typically reactive dog guardians are aware of potential triggers where they live, so it makes things slightly more predictable.”
Sisak agrees, adding, “You’re also often at the mercy of strangers versus your neighbor who may have learned to keep their dog away from yours to help you out—that history doesn’t exist while traveling.”
Plus, your reactive dog is more likely to experience trigger stacking, which occurs when multiple stressful events happen in a short period of time—ultimately leading to a big blowout. “If your dog barks at a stranger at a rest stop, their baseline stress level will increase,” Sisak says.”Then, if this continues to occur all day, they’re more likely to have a more intense reaction at the end of the day because they’ve ‘had enough.’”
No stranger to traveling with a reactive dog, Sisak’s travel tips heavily revolve around preventing trigger stacking. And she’s had time to perfect it, too, after taking multiple road trips from New York to Florida and back with her dog Stella, along with adventures to the Florida Keys and around the Tri-State area.
6 Tips for Traveling with a Reactive Dog
From minimizing triggers to training techniques, here are six tips for traveling with a reactive pup.
Tip 1: Train reactive-specific skills before you go
If your dog is adaptable, crate training can be especially useful for travel. Not only does a crate provide a familiar space to rest at your destination, but it also blocks out triggers while en route. “I always have a blanket to cover the car crate at rest stops and drive-thrus,” says Sisak. “This prevents people from looking into the window and bothering my dog if I’m in the bathroom or pumping gas.”
Teaching your dog how to relax in a variety of situations is one of the most invaluable training skills for a pup with big feelings. While relaxation techniques can be taught in a variety of ways, like Karen Overall’s Relaxation Protocol, it often accompanies a mat and a ton of treats—which, let’s be real, don’t we all just want to relax and eat snacks on vacation?
Desensitization and counter-conditioning are key components to reactivity training, helping change how your reactive dog feels about triggers. Nett recommends tailoring your training around your future trip. “Try counter-conditioning as much of the potential stimulus you plan to see as possible,” she says. “Play videos of sounds you might encounter or find different areas to train in.”
Leash skills that utilize alternative behaviors like teaching your dog to touch your hand (aka “magnet hand”), finding treats in the grass, or jumping on objects can keep your dog from even noticing or caring about the trigger. Management skills like an emergency U-turn, backup, and magnet hand can also help get you out of sticky situations quickly.
You could also try a “middle,” or “peekaboo” training cue—when used to help manage reactive dogs, it blocks your dog’s view from potential triggers because you can turn them away and also distract them by feeding treats as they’re looking up and focused on you.
Tip 2: Pack key items to keep your reactive dog calm
Along with the essentials, like plenty of food and water, here are a few items you might want to also consider bringing for your reactive dog:
- Situational medication prescribed by your vert
- Calming tools like pet-safe CBD, pheromone sprays, calming collars, and Thundershirts
- Noise blockers like a white noise machine or mini Bluetooth speaker
- Pet cameras to keep an eye on your pup
- High-value treats or a favorite toy to build positive associations with new places
- Favorite items like a bed, blanket, and toys for a sense of home
- Enrichment like puzzle toys, long-lasting chews, and lick mats to soothe and distract your pup from triggers
- Long lines and a harness for decompression walks
- Tracking devices like GPS collars if you have a reactive dog who exhibits a more flight than fight response to triggers
- Safety items like muzzles and leash wraps
Sisak also recommends making a go-bag that includes daily essentials so you can easily have them on hand and make stops efficient. “Stella travels with her own bag, so I’m not rummaging through my car late at night at rest stops,” she says. “It’s readily available near me, and it has everything I need for our travel.”
Tip 3: Plan your stops along your route ahead of time
Loosely planning options for pee breaks and stops along the way can help you avoid getting into crowded and stressful situations. In general, a good rule of thumb is to travel on off days, like in the shoulder season or during the week. This can open up a lot more spots along your route, such as empty parking lots in business centers, college campuses, closed campgrounds, and welcoming centers with a lot of space.
Once you’re at your destination, ask locals about the least crowded hikes and parks in the area. If you’re staying for a while, consider also renting a Sniffspot nearby.
Tip 4: Minimize triggers at pet-friendly rentals
Vacation homes like Airbnb and VRBO are often better suited for reactive dogs since you can avoid lobbies, elevators, and sometimes even neighbors. Plus, carefully examining the listing, images, and reviews can help you get an idea of what the location is like before booking. For instance, if the listing description mentions a “friendly neighbor dog that likes to stop by and say hi,” it’s probably not the best fit for dog-reactive dogs.
If you do stay in a hotel, Sisak advises picking your room wisely, avoiding high-rise rooms, and choosing a lower floor. “I ask for a room away from the elevator and closest to the stairwell to make leaving and going easier for my dog,” she says. “I always leave the do not disturb sign on the door and advise the front desk that I don’t need my room cleaned during the stay.”
When checking in, she also asks the staff to ignore her dog, telling them Stella’s tired and cranky from the long journey. “I’ve had the most success with that phrasing since it doesn’t concern them that my dog will be a safety issue. Most people do not understand what reactivity is, but they do understand what it is like to be cranky from travel,” she adds.
Tip 5: Practice with mini-test runs
If you’re traveling with your reactive dog for the first time, try making test runs to prepare for your big trip. Practice leaving them in the car while you pump gas, go to a location they’ve never been to before, or visit a friend’s house.
“If your dog doesn’t enjoy car rides, take several brief drives to places they love, such as their favorite park, best friend’s house, or to get a pup cup,” Sisak says. “This will help create a positive association with car rides.”
For pups traveling other forms of transit, like by plane, ferry, or train, Nett offers similar advice. “Practice the behaviors you want in those situations, like teaching your pup to settle on a mat, under a seat, or in a crate, then practice with some form of similar movement,” she says.
Sisak chimes in, recommending taking a short ride on a train or ferry if possible, or even a couple of quick visits to the airport where your dog can get used to the activity and noise levels there. You don’t need to have a ticket or even check in, she says, “they usually allow you to train before security, so at least your dog can get used to sights and sounds.”
Tip 6: Expect the unexpected
One of Sisak’s biggest pieces of advice is to anticipate the unexpected and have a plan in place. “Know what is normal for your dog and be prepared to go to the nearest vet in case of emergency,” she says.
Having a backup plan in place can also be helpful if something happens and your dog is no longer able to travel with you. Sometimes even the best-laid plans go awry, and you’ll need to board your pup or hire a pet sitter instead.
Final Thoughts on Traveling With a Reactive Dog
Is traveling with a reactive dog challenging? Yes. Is it impossible? Absolutely not. In fact, it can be an incredible way to connect and spend time with your spicy pup. Sure it might not look like what you initially imagined, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be just as good, especially if you plan ahead, teach some useful skills, and incorporate management. So what are you waiting for? Happy t(r)ails await!