Traveling with Your Bulldog: Tips and Considerations
Traveling with Your Bulldog: Tips and Considerations
Traveling with your beloved bulldog can be an exciting adventure, but it also requires careful planning and consideration to ensure a safe and enjoyable trip for both you and your furry friend. Bulldogs are known for their unique personalities and special needs, so taking the time to prepare properly can make all the difference. Whether you’re planning a road trip or simply exploring your local area, here are some essential tips for traveling with your bulldog.
1. Plan Ahead:
Before embarking on your journey, it’s essential to plan ahead and consider all aspects of your bulldog’s travel needs. Research pet-friendly accommodations, transportation options, and any specific regulations or requirements for traveling with pets in your chosen destination. Planning ahead will help alleviate stress and ensure a smooth travel experience for both you and your furry companion.
Reservations are key to successful travel with your bulldog. If you need to make accommodations at a hotel, do a little research before leaving home.
We recommend using a pet friendly, hotel search website to find the perfect hotel for you and your bulldog. Here is a list of easy-to-use sites that will assist you in your search.
- https://www.trivago.com/
- https://www.booking.com/
- https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/travel/a-guide-to-pet-friendly-hotel-chains-in-the-united-states/
Once you have found your hotel of choice, be sure to call prior to leaving to ensure they have not changed their pet policy. Sadly, these policies are often prone to numerous changes within the hotel industry. You will also want to double check on the hotel’s weight limit restrictions. Some hotels are pet friendly with an upper weight limit to reduce to amount of large pets in their rooms. Bulldogs are typically labeled a “medium” size dog and push the upper weight restrictions of such hotels.
2. Visit the Vet:
Schedule a visit to the veterinarian before your trip to ensure that your bulldog is up-to-date on vaccinations and in good health for travel. Your vet can also provide you with any necessary medications and depending on the destination, you may need to have a health certificate for you bulldog. For instance, pets traveling to Canada, Mexico, or beyond, may require legal documentation and sometimes a quarantine period.
3. Pack Essentials:
Don’t forget to pack essential items for your bulldog’s comfort and well-being during the trip. This may include food, water, bowls, a leash, collar with ID tags, bedding, toys, grooming supplies, and any medications or supplements your bulldog may need. Bringing along familiar items from home can help your bulldog feel more relaxed and secure in unfamiliar surroundings. Most important is their food! Abrupt changes in food and even water can cause loose stools…not what you want while traveling.
4. Practice Makes Perfect:
If your bulldog isn’t accustomed to traveling, take some time to acclimate them to the experience before your trip. Practice short car rides or visits to pet-friendly places to help familiarize your bulldog with the sights, sounds, and sensations of traveling. Positive reinforcement and rewards can help make the experience more enjoyable and less stressful for your furry friend.
5. Take Breaks!
Take frequent breaks Your bulldog’s legs need to be stretched just like yours! Make frequent stops to ensure that your bulldog can walk around, take a potty break and get a drink! We do not recommend stopping at a rest stop or any other area that is heavily populated with dogs for this activity. Locations that are common doggy stops are always hot spots for disease. Avoid places that are highly trafficked by dogs, especially if you are traveling with a puppy. If you are traveling with a puppy, we recommend pulling off the side of the road instead of rest stops.
Never leave your bulldog in the car. In the summer, the car’s internal temperature can rise to fatal levels very quickly, even with the windows open.
6. Plan Pet-Friendly Activities:
Research pet-friendly attractions and activities at your destination to ensure that both you and your bulldog can enjoy the travel experience together. Many parks, beaches, restaurants, and accommodations welcome well-behaved pets, allowing you to explore and create lasting memories with your furry companion by your side.
7. Identification
Your bulldog should have a collar with proper identification attached. Their ID tag should include their name, home address and phone number(s). If you have time, you can have a second ID tag made including your destination information. Another alternative to the second ID tag is to place a piece of masking tape on the backside of your bully’s original tag and write the destination information on it. In addition, it’s a good idea to have a current picture with you in case your bully gets lost.
8. Restraint
Similar to humans using a seatbelt… a protective restraint for your canine companion is a must. There are many different options when it comes to dog restraints for the car, we recommend checking out Amazon, PetSmart, or Wayfair for restraint options. While not always convenient, ultimately a crate is the safest place for your bulldog in the car.
Reminder! Before you open the car door MAKE SURE that your bulldog’s leash is clipped to the collar or harness.
9. Carsickness
Nothing ruins a fun road trip faster than a car sick bulldog. Here are some tips to help cut down and possibly eliminate carsickness. A few hours prior to leave home, feed your bulldog a light meal and feed him minimally during the drive. Try the same technique with water. During the drive offer your bully ice cubes instead of him gulping large amounts of water.
10. Be Patient and Flexible:
Traveling with a bulldog requires patience, flexibility, and a willingness to adapt to unexpected situations. Be prepared for delays, changes in itinerary, and unforeseen challenges along the way, and approach each situation with a calm and positive attitude. Your bulldog will look to you for guidance and reassurance, so remaining patient and adaptable will help ensure a stress-free and enjoyable travel experience for both of you.
11. Enjoy the Journey:
Above all, remember to enjoy the journey and cherish the special moments spent traveling with your bulldog. Whether exploring new destinations or simply enjoying quality time together on the road, traveling with your furry friend can strengthen your bond and create unforgettable memories that will last a lifetime. By following these tips and considerations, you can ensure a safe, comfortable, and enjoyable travel experience for both you and your beloved bulldog. Happy travels!
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Bruiser Bulldog’s Reviews
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I've grown up with english bulldogs my whole life. I am familiar with common and uncommon health problems they may face so when my boyfriend and I decided we were ready to adopt our own english puppy finding a reputable breeder that prioritizes health was most important to us. Erica and Mitch of Bruiser Bulldogs are just that. They are experienced, ethical and quality breeders. I was referred to them by my friend that I trust after I saw their gorgeous healthy puppy. Our Puppy Primrose is the light of our lives! Bruisers was there to assist us every step of the way. We would highly recommend Bruisers Bulldogs to anyone looking for their own happy, healthy pup!
Leah H.4/08/2021 -
We, like many of the other people who found Bruisers, did a lot of research to find a responsible breeder, especially since English Bulldogs can have health issues and because there is a trend now for "trendy" bulldogs (blue, etc.) which have even more health issues. We were lucky to have come across Bruiser Bulldogs and even more so the fact that they were near our family and hometown made it even better. We have had Clementine (Callie) for four months now, and she is a wonderful dog. Her personality is amazing, and I think part of it is breeding and the other part is Erika and her family lovingly raising the puppies in their home with plenty of attention and snuggles. I also was impressed that, rather than send the puppies out right at 8 weeks, Erika kept ours for a few extra weeks because she was tiny and not read to leave her mom yet. It's that care that differentiates Bruisers from other breeders.
Emily R.4/08/2021 -
We found Bruiser Bulldogs after researching healthy breeding line for bulldog puppies. Erica was easy to work with thru the entire process from application to adopting and now beyond as we host our new family member, Chief. Her on-call support and willingness to provide open, honest advice to all of our questions and concerns continues to be appreciated. We would highly recommend Bruiser Bulldogs to anyone looking for an English Bulldog to join their family.
Elizabeth W.4/01/2021 - Lady L.3/25/2021
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Bruiser Bulldogs are 5-star breeders! They are experienced, responsive and knowledgeable about all things bulldog related. They went above and beyond for us and are truly dedicated to all of their pups! We love our little girl so much and would recommend Bruiser to anyone looking for a healthy beautiful bully.
Jonathan E.3/22/2021 -
Bruiser Bulldogs is a 5-star breeder in every way. Erica and Mitch are trustworthy, excellent communicators, fair, passionate, and produce the best bulldogs.We were at the top of the waiting list for months and Erica reached out every litter to see if we were finally ready for a bulldog. When we were, she was very easy to work with. Her knowledge on bulldogs is outstanding. We had many questions on the process and she always knew what was best for the puppy.We've had Penny (formerly Blair) for two months and she is very healthy, energetic, playful, and sweet. She is great with other people and dogs. We are so happy with our pup.When we are ready for bulldog #2, we will only consider Bruiser Bulldogs.
Mitch C.2/22/2021 -
We waited a while to write this review so that we had a better sense for the overall health of our Bruiser Bulldog “Bowser”. Bowser was born April 2020 and is an integral part of our family. When we were first exploring English Bulldog breeders our biggest concern was the overall health of the dogs. We decided to work with Erica at Bruiser Bulldogs because we liked their focus on improving the breeds breathing abilities and the fact that the puppies are raised within her family environment before coming home with their new owners.As for Bowsers health, he’s a health energetic English Bulldog that has no problem keeping up with the kids, going on 2 mi walks and camping with us on a regular basis. Bowser also breaths clearly and our vet was impressed with his overall health from the moment we brought him home. All that said we know English Bulldogs have a predisposition to many health issues and that his current health can not predict the future. With that In mind its important to start with a breeder that open to answer any of your questions as Erica has ours, and that strongly believes in improving the breeds overall health profile.
Adam B.2/22/2021 -
After the loss of our first English Bulldog due to health issues it was very important for us to find a breeder who did not breed only for aesthetic but more importantly for health. My sister ended up finding Bruiser Bulldogs and we knew right away that they were the breeder for us.In September we ended up driving 9 hours to pick up two Bruiser bulldog puppies- one for my husband and I and one for my mom. Jackson and Penelope have been nothing but a joy. They are very social and very friendly to everyone they meet including kids and other dogs/animals. They are both very athletic and healthy. They are also HUGE snugglers and always want to be with you. It is an absolute pleasure having these two bullies in our lives! My sister and her fiancé also fell in love with them and now are on the waitlist themselves for a Bruiser bulldog!Erica is very knowledgeable about the breed. She is very hands on throughout the process and is just overall a kind and honest person to work with.With all that being said I cannot recommend Bruiser Bulldogs enough!
Collyn C.2/22/2021 -
We fell in love with our puppy the moment we saw him. One of the reasons we chose Bruiser Bulldogs was due to the claims about breeding for health. During our first visit at our vet's office, he told us that our pup was one of the healthiest English bulldogs he had ever seen. He is healthy, happy and social. Would recommend to anyone.
Christina S.2/22/2021 -
What an awesome experience! We seen our dog on their website and sent them an Email. Mitch called us and personally walked us through the process and made sure we had the right dog for our family. We couldn't be happier when we picked up our dog Ramsey, Erica made sure we had everything we needed and then some. They are truly amazing people who breed truly amazing dogs!
Jim T.2/22/2021
