The Labrador makes a great travel companion. It isn\u2019t one of those dogs that spends the whole journey fidgeting and wagging: if it has been well trained, within a few minutes of setting off it settles wherever you\u2019ve taught it to and sleeps until you arrive. By car, ferry or train, it travels happily.<\/p>\n
To keep it that way, though, you need a few rules: where to put your dog, what the law says, and how to handle rest stops and hot weather. Let\u2019s go through them. If you\u2019re still about to collect your puppy, see our tips on bringing your puppy home by car<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Rules vary from country to country, but the principle is the same almost everywhere: a dog must not distract the driver or get in the way of driving.<\/p>\n For a dog the size of a Labrador, even when travelling alone, a fixed set-up is always best: a loose dog on the seat becomes a danger to itself and to the passengers in a sudden stop.<\/p>\n For an adult Labrador, the most comfortable solution is the boot<\/strong> of an estate car or SUV: a washable blanket or mat, the parcel shelf removed so air can circulate, and a dog guard<\/strong> (a net or grille) separating the boot from the passenger area. Your dog has room to lie down and can\u2019t climb over into the front.<\/p>\n If you have more than one dog, or want maximum safety, choose a car crate<\/strong> secured in the boot, big enough for your Labrador to stand up, turn round and lie down. It is also the safest option in an accident.<\/p>\n If your car doesn\u2019t have a suitable boot, your dog can travel on the back seat with a car harness<\/strong> clipped to the seat belt (never to the collar) and a seat cover. Never on the front seat, in front of an airbag.<\/p>\n Never leave your Labrador alone in the car in warm weather, not even for a few minutes, not even in the shade and not even with the window open.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n In summer, a parked car heats up very quickly and the inside can go above 50 \u00b0C (122 \u00b0F). Dogs can only cool down by panting, and heatstroke<\/strong> can become fatal within minutes. A window left open or parking in the shade isn\u2019t enough: the shade moves and the air doesn\u2019t circulate enough.<\/p>\n During the journey:<\/p>\n A Labrador that travels calmly as an adult is almost always a puppy that had good experiences in the car. A few tips:<\/p>\n Labradors also travel happily by train and ferry, but the rules vary between companies. Large dogs usually need a lead and a muzzle, and sometimes a ticket; on ferries you may have to use the on-board kennels, or pet-friendly cabins may be available. Always check the conditions before booking, and take your dog\u2019s health record or pet passport if you\u2019re going abroad.<\/p>\n Coming to collect a puppy from abroad? See our tips on where to stay<\/a><\/strong> near the kennel, or ask us about our puppy delivery<\/a><\/strong> option.<\/p>\n The best option is the boot of an estate car or SUV, with a blanket and a dog guard, or a car crate secured in place. Otherwise, the back seat with a harness clipped to the seat belt. Never the front seat.<\/p>\n Rules vary by country, but almost everywhere a dog must not distract the driver. In Italy one dog may travel loose if it doesn\u2019t hinder the driver, while two or more need a crate or a separated area; in the UK the Highway Code asks for dogs to be suitably restrained.<\/p>\n No. In warm weather never leave your dog alone in the car, even with the window open or in the shade. The car heats up quickly and heatstroke can be fatal within minutes.<\/p>\n Roughly every two hours, to give your dog water and a chance to stretch and relieve itself, always on a lead at service stations.<\/p>\n Puppies sometimes do, but in most cases it passes as they get used to the car. Travelling on an empty stomach, driving smoothly and keeping the car cool and well ventilated all help. If the problem persists, talk to your vet.<\/p>\n Yes, usually on a lead and with a muzzle and, depending on the company, with a ticket or in the on-board kennels. Always check the rules before you travel.<\/p>\n Our Labradors grow up in a family setting and quickly get used to new experiences, car journeys included. On collection day we\u2019ll explain how to handle the first trip, and we\u2019re here for you afterwards too. Discover our puppies<\/a><\/strong> or contact us<\/a><\/strong> with any questions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The Labrador makes a great travel companion. It isn\u2019t one of those dogs that spends the whole journey fidgeting and wagging: if it has been well trained, within a few minutes of setting off it settles wherever you\u2019ve taught it to and sleeps until you arrive. By car, ferry or train, it travels happily. To […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":27932,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"image","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[486],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-27919","post","type-post","status-publish","format-image","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-labrador-behaviour","post_format-post-format-image"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mylabrador.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27919","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mylabrador.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mylabrador.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mylabrador.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mylabrador.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27919"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.mylabrador.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27919\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":27921,"href":"https:\/\/www.mylabrador.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27919\/revisions\/27921"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mylabrador.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/27932"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mylabrador.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27919"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mylabrador.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27919"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mylabrador.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27919"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}What the law says about dogs in cars<\/h2>\n
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Where to put your Labrador in the car<\/h2>\n
In the boot, with a dog guard<\/h3>\n
In a crate<\/h3>\n
On the back seat, with a harness<\/h3>\n
Rest stops and heat: the most important rule<\/h2>\n
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How to get your Labrador used to the car<\/h2>\n
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By train and ferry<\/h2>\n
Frequently asked questions about Labradors in the car<\/h2>\n
Where should a Labrador travel in the car?<\/h3>\n
Is it a legal requirement to restrain a dog in the car?<\/h3>\n
Can I leave my dog in the car with the window open?<\/h3>\n
How often should I stop when travelling with a dog?<\/h3>\n
Do Labradors get car sick?<\/h3>\n
Can a Labrador travel by train or ferry?<\/h3>\n
Looking for a four-legged travel companion?<\/h2>\n