Traveling with a Reactive Dog

This is our first extensive cross country road trip with our dog Daisy.  We did take Daisy down to Georgia this past December for a week, but this summer road trip will be two months.  We are used to camping at secluded campsites with Daisy in Minnesota. We go to places like this because it’s meditative for her as well as meditative for us.  We don’t need to be dog aware constantly. We are trying new trails and cities on the road trip and it’s never easy with a reactive dog that doesn’t get along with other dogs.

The truth about traveling with a reactive dog is that you are on high alert all the time along with the dog. As much as you want to sit back and relax in the park or on a trail, it’s not that simple with a reactive dog. We are constantly on alert for other dogs and people, especially wandering children, who are nearby that will send her anxiety levels up.  Heading off a potential bark storm by noticing a potential anxiety-inducing situation before the dog does is the best way to keep the calm. Sometimes this includes removing Daisy from the situation by walking her further away or just giving her some reassuring belly rubs and treats to keep her calm.

Our dog is an Australian Shepherd and Heeler mix who is so full of love towards us and others she meets, once given time to warm up to them. We love her and she loves us back even more.  Daisy is what some people call a “velcro dog”. She latches onto one person (Andy) and forms a very strong bond. She doesn’t like losing sight of Andy and also gets very protective of her territory, including her family.  This is sometimes stressful on the road because she barks at everyone and everything that passes by the campsite or wherever we may find ourselves staying. Over the years we have discovered a few things that work well to reduce her anxiety at campsites:

• Find a campsite that has some brush separating your site from your neighbors.  This little bit of a barrier provides some line of sight obstruction and also a sense of protection.
• Keep the dog towards the back of the site away from the road or trail.  Dogs have personal boundaries just as people do, so the further away the dog is from the anxiety-inducing stressors like people and cars, the less reactive the dog will be.  She doesn’t feel like she needs to be on guard duty.
• Give the dog something to do.  This includes a number of things and isn’t just limited to the campsite.  A tired or distracted dog will be a calmer dog. We often take Daisy on longer hikes when we camp and then she just comes back and falls asleep at the site.  You can also keep them occupied at the site with a bone, toy, or training exercises.

Daisy does not play well with other dogs, actually, she doesn’t play with them at all.  She is very aggressive towards dogs. Traveling and hiking become extra stressful when we encounter dogs off leash.  Please do yourself a favor and always keep your dog on a leash, especially if they don’t respond immediately to your commands. The rules are here for a reason. We understand your dog may be friendly, however, dogs on and off the trail come from all backgrounds and walks of life.  Not all of them come in the friendly form so leashing your dog is best for its safety, not just the safety of those your dog may encounter. There are also some people that really don’t like dogs coming up to them even if your dog is the most friendly dog in the world. If you do want to let your dog roam free off leash, please make sure to do it in an area where you know you will not be encountering anyone or an area where it is permitted like a dog park.

Overall we are all happy and loving our experience on this road trip, Daisy is too. We are just working through the frustrating moments that come and go.  It’s been a journey we wouldn’t exchange for anything… and it’s only day 5!

Peace, love, and hike thru life!