Consider letting your dog sit up front.

Stereotype holds that dogs are crazy about going for rides in the car, typically with head held out the window for maximum fun. But in reality, many dogs, just like many people, can experience motion sickness from car trips. How can a dog owner make sure that his or her pet feels safe and comfortable in the car and minimize the chances of the animal becoming sick?

New York journalist Nina Munk is founder and chief executive of Urbanhound: the city dog's ultimate survival guide. A frequent contributor to national magazines from Vanity Fair to Fortune, Nina offers the following tips for owners of dogs that tend to get sick on car trips:

• Get your dog sleepy. Munk suggests taking your dog for a walk or scheduling some play time before you have to make your car trip. A worn out, tired dog will be more likely to relax or take a nap in the car, and therefore less likely to get sick.

• Crate or carrier. Try creating a safe haven in your car. A crate or carrier will give your dog a calm, safe place to ride in while he's in the car and may help relieve some of the stress and fear that can go along with road travel.

• Front seat. Just like people who suffer from carsickness, dogs often do better in the front seat, where motion effects can be less noticeable and where they can sit up and look out the window.

• Cool air. Heat and stale air can contribute to nausea, so keep the car cool and consider opening a window so your dog can breathe lots of fresh air.

• Short trips. Lastly, Munk advises you to keep the trips short if you can. You don't want to take a dog that's prone to sickness on a four or five hour trip. Just like children, dogs often grow out of their carsickness, so save those longer car trips for later.

Urbanhound
www.urbanhound.com

The Humane Society of the United States
www.hsus.org/ace/352

American Humane Association
www.americanhumane.org

Take Your Pet.com

Fuzzy faces: Traveling With Your Dog By Automobile
www.fuzzyfaces.com/ldogtrvl.html