Woody and I have been fostering for Spaniel Aid since the beginning of 2019. We’ve welcomed 3 foster dogs into our home since joining and have travelled frequently with all of them. Whether it’s travelling to pick them up, taking them on holiday with us or dropping them off to their forever home, we’ve done it all! Today I thought I’d share some of my tips for travelling with foster dogs.
Before You Travel
Try and find out as much as possible about your foster dog before you travel. This is particularly important if you’re picking up your foster dog while you’re away. Learning about their temperament, medical history and likes and dislikes ahead of time will help you plan for their needs in advance.
You might also have to inform the charity about your trip away. This varies depending on the organisation you foster for, however it’s always polite to let them know. Giving them details such as your accommodation address, mobile number and dates you’re away will ensure they can still contact you in case of an emergency.
In the Car
I find space is key when travelling with foster dogs. The car is no exception! I separate our foster dogs from Woody, utilising different spaces in the car. Foster dogs will sit in the boot, behind a dog guard, while Woody will sit on the backseat in his pet seatbelt. Whenever you’re travelling, it’s important your dogs are properly secured. It’s against the law to have dogs loose in the car and you’ll face prosecution if you’re caught!
Before driving off, I also like to research walks along the way. If I’m picking up a new foster dog, I try and get them out for a run around as soon as I can. Not only is it a great way to introduce them to Woody on neutral ground, it’s also a great way to break up your journey. Some dogs travel in multiple cars for hours before arriving in their foster home, taking regular breaks will make sure everyone is as comfortable as possible while travelling.
At Your Destination
When we arrive, particularly if I’m holidaying with foster dogs, I like to keep things calm and let everyone look around. Of course, we make a pit stop at a nearby field so the dogs can alleviate themselves before heading inside. If we’ve been cooped up in the car for hours, I’ll also let the dogs have a run outside together.
Once we’ve had a look and sniff round, I’m quick to set up the dogs’ beds, water and food bowls. I find letting the dogs see where they can eat, drink and sleep helps them relax in their home from home. I rarely make plans the first day I arrive on holiday. Likewise, if I’m picking up a foster dog, I’ll keep the rest of the day free so everyone has plenty time to settle in.
Extra Tools
I’ve come to rely on a few extra tools when picking up and travelling with our foster dogs. The first is a long line, a 10m lead that I attach to every new foster dog. Sometimes dogs don’t have great recall or it takes time for them to build trust and reliably come back to you. Attaching a long line helps me stay in control, while giving my foster dogs more freedom to explore.
Harnesses are useful too. I always pack a spare one, with ID tag when collecting a new foster dog. They may have very few, if any belongings of their own, so having something to put on them is super important. It’s also harder for dogs to slip out of harnesses compared to collars.
Make Memories Together
One of the bittersweet parts of fostering is inevitably saying goodbye when you’ve found their forever home. You never know quite how long a foster dog will be with you when they arrive, so it’s important to make the most of your time together. I always bring my camera when travelling with foster dogs, to capture all the happy moments and adventures we get up to.
Fostering is by no means easy, in fact it can be incredibly challenging at times! It’s important to remember to relax and enjoy each other’s company as much as possible while working hard to find their forever home. I regularly travel with my foster dogs on day trips and special adventures; it’s all part of the fun!
Have you travelled with a foster dog before? We’d love to hear your experiences in the comments!
