Traveling with my dogs; not kennel trained question?

I'm traveling cross country with my 3 dogs (2 boxer & beagle). They are not kennel trained. Am I going to cause them harm if I have them in kennels? Is there a way I can calm them while in transit? I spoke to my vet, he said give them Benadryl so they can sleep better. What do you think?

how much easier would it be if they had been crate trained?


just do the benadryl, it works

My vet told me to give my dogs Benadryl too. It worked for 2 of them but the other one was wound up. He acted like he was on caffeine overload. You may wanna try the Benadryl a few days before you go so that you know if it will work for them. If not there are some other meds that the vet can give that are prescriptions. Good Luck

Try it and see what happens.

Start with short trips around your block, then drive somewhere far away. Someplace dog friendly, just to test their reactions.

They might surprise you and do just fine sitting in the seats.
Good idea to have assigned seating though.

Another hint: Collars and ID tags are a must. Leave the leashes on too. In the event of an accident (heaven forbid), the dogs will be crazed with fear and pain, NOT the time to be chasing them all over the freeway.

Ark Naturals is an entire line of herbal remedies for pets. They have one for travel. Might be worth a try. www.arknatural.com for more info.

I think your vet is correct about the Benedryl. If your dogs are good normally in the car, you don't need kennels. I might suggest seat belt harnesses. Also make sure you have ID tags with both your home and destination info on them, plus your cell phone number.

If the trip is not right away, you could go ahead and start putting them in the kennels now to get them used to it, so it would not be a total shock. Put them in for a few hours each day and try driving short distances with them and go somewhere they like to go like the park or to friends houses. If they learn to associate the kennel with going somewhere fun, they will not act so bad. The benadryl works too to make them sleep and also prevents car sickness. But I would not give them too much. My chihuahua never stays in a kennel at home, but she travels in one and she likes it because she associates it with going to visit. When we get the kennel out, she starts jumping around and wiggling because she knows we are going to travel. We put her favorite blanket in it and some chewy treats and one toy and we are good to go...Good luck.

Do they like to ride in a car? I took my german shepherd from PA to CA and she did great. Mine isn't kennel trained but she does travel well in a car. You could get them use to being in a kennel prior to your trip. Just get some kennels, set them in the house, leave the door open then get them use to being in them. Try feeding them in there or throw some treats inside. Put a favorate toy or blanket inside and let them get use to it.

Benadryl? LOL my god, well im not a vet so i shouldnt just, but it sounds kinda weird. NOT THAT IM DOUBTING YOU, IM JUST AMUSED.lol anyhow, do what your vet says, or call another vet and get a second opinion. you know your dogs better than any of us strangers, think about them(their personalities) and how you think they will react, then come up with a good answer based on your educated/observed opinion.

You can crate train them relatively quickly, I advise you start.

Then give them Benadryl on the trip anyway.

You will like yourself more in the end if you crate train them now!!