It's a common occurrence that occurs every year. Millions of families who are planning a vacation or extended trip invariably end up asking the question, "what about our dog ?". For many of these families, the question on whether to take their dog can be challenging one that may requires a considerable amount of planning and research. For the majority of families with a dog, it's not just a "pet" they're talking about, but rather a member of the family - and why shouldn't every member of the family be entitled to the fun and excitement of traveling?

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Although some  dog owners have all the best intentions when trying to make accommodations at dog friendly hotels and recreational facilities, traveling with the dog can sometimes take all the pleasure out of the vacation. After all, not every dog will consider the week or two in a kennel of strange surroundings to be their idea of fun as well.

If the vacation is being planned as a road trip, the first obvious consideration is your dog's ability to tolerate long rides in the car, especially ones that may be packed with noisy kids and a lot of commotion. If you feel that your dog will not likely be well tolerant of such a trip when the time comes yet you are still hoping on  taking them along for the ride, the first order of business should be to get them accustomed to a car ride around town with increasing frequencies and durations. Up to half of all dogs will become motion sick during their first and subsequent next few car rides. The good news is that most dogs will get over their motion sickness after a couple of rides in the car, so don't give up after just one or two trips, especially if you see your dog vomiting panting excessively during the first three or so initial trips and family vehicle. If you see your dog still not getting acclimated, or less motion sick even after the third "adjustment period" ride, you may want to consider not taking him along for the road trip vacation, as a motion sick or anxiety ridden dog will make the entire car trip miserable for the entire family, not to mention your dog.

If you decide to take your dog alone for the car ride to your vacation destination keep in mind these tips when traveling by automobile with your best four legged friend:

* Although this may sound like a "no-brainer", be sure to make your hotel or lodging reservations well in advance, and doubled check the facility's policies for allowing dogs. It's particularly important to call the actual facility front desk, and if necessary ask to speak to the reservations manager, so they can explain  the exact policy for travelers with dogs. Don't call the hotels national 800-number for general reservation when you're making plans for your stay that include your dog, as the agents in those call centers may not have up to date information and availability on such things as rooms that allow dog accommodations. The Automobile  Association of America (AAA) maintains a list of dog friendly hotels and motels on their website that is one of the best online resources for traveling dog owners.

* Don't forget to take your dogs on water and food bowl on the trip. The added sense of security security that your dog will have from their familiar bowls will have a positive impact on their behavior, and make the temporary transition into new surroundings that much easier.

* Don't feed them within six hours of the trip departure, and only give them a sparse amount of water up to three hours from the departure time. This will help minimize potential car sickness.

* Your dog should wear two collars, either flat or will leather collar as well as one light choker chain collar. Put the dual license tag on one, and an identification tag on the other. The two collars will help identify your dog in case he slips out of one of them, one of the collars it's lost or the tag falls off.

* It's a good idea to bring an extra supply of the powder or flea spray. You never know if your dog might pick up some please along the way, and the last thing you want is your car infested with fleas. Needless to say, a case of fleas infestation can ruin the trip for both you and your dog before it even gets started.

* Some dogs will love hanging their heads out the window while you're driving along the highway. While this may sound like harmless fun for your dog, there are some hidden dangers in doing this. Some dogs may experience eye and nasal irritation from the high-speed wind, especially if the air is either very hot or very cold. Small bits of road grit may also cause serious eye inflammation and irritation that many were require a trip to the veterinarian. The last thing you'll want to do is start calling around to find a vet  when you get to your destination, so the best advice is to discourage your dog from sticking their head out the window in the first place.

* If you're going to be traveling between states, or even cities, you should do some basic research or call the local Humane Society to see if dogs will be required to have proof of rabies vaccinations or other medical documentation. In any case, bring a copy of your dogs and rabies vaccination certificate as proof, as its usually required by law in most states.

*  You may want to inquire with your insurance company regarding the particular rules and policies when Ortraveling with your dog in the event your dog is involved in an incident such as biting a person. In some cases, your  homeowners insurance or other umbrella policies will cover your liability in case your dog bites or injures another person or pet, however don't just assume this is the case when away from home, that's why you need to verify the information with your insurance carrier.  You must be familiar with your rights as a policyholder in the event of an unfortunate incident with your dog. Wherever you go, remember that you are responsible for your dog's conduct.

Traveling with a dog seems like a pretty common sense of affair, but a few basic steps of pre-planning and research ahead of your trip can go a long way in assuring  the best possible experience for both your family and your dog. Not every dog may be the ideal travel companion, but as a dog owner, it your responsibility to make the trip as safe and comfortable for your dog, which will almost always have a beneficial effect on the family by making shared experience as enjoyable as possible.