Getting a dog, what do I need to know?

Me and my teammate are getting a dog, what info would be good for us to know? Anything we should be prepared for/deal with? We’ve both had many pets before just not on the road

 

Out of three. There will be one intelligent life form in the truck.

 

1) they need food

2) they need water

3) they need to be taken out for walks to "do thier business"

4) they can fart, and they do the silent deadly ones, each of you, will blame the other.

5) some companies do not allow pets.

6) many companies that allow pets, require a pet deposit

7) when a dog gets wet, it stinks, which can be a good thing, if your co-driver stinks.

8) they like to play.

9) they can chew up many things.

10) get a fish, when it dies, you can eat it.

 

I’ve never gotten a dog for the truck, i’ve always taken my dogs with me in the truck.

The obvious...house broken & don’t chew!

General rule of thumb, if you get out he/she gets out. So after you fuel, go for a walk. Shower, walk, load/unload, walk. Eat/poop, walk. It’s easier today to find dog parks along the way. Yelp is great for this. And i’m sure there are other apps as well. I didn’t have that luxury back when i took my Great Danes out. Lol. But i was always able to find spots to let them run and play.

They have the shock collars now that operate completely off batttery. Like a leash version of the electric fence. Imo they are great for people in your situation.

Park in the back row and walk the grass before you let the dog out to run in it. Some places keep their grass up, trucking slobs have ruined ofher places.

Make sure the company or who ever dispatches you knows you have a dog on the truck. Some customers don’t allow animals on thier property.

Long wait times to load/unload can become an issue if it’s a fenced in yard with nowherr to walk the pup.

Get a plastic bag everytime you buy anything. Even a soda pop. Keep them in your door pouch with the leash.

Do your research, make sure the breed you are looking to get is suitable for apartment living. This is important. You don’t want an overly rambunctious pup on board. Or one who needs the freedom of a big yard to run everyday.

 

And it must not escape the cab when it's -40 outside during a blizzard dumping two feet in a day.

It might not have the right frame of mind to accept mountain work such as noisy jake braking downgrade etc.

Whoever it bites outside the truck, you pay for eventually. Dogs are really fast at picking out those who do not have good thoughts for either one of you. They can go from being happy and fluffy to growling and fang within a few heartbeats.

One night I stagger home from a 18 hour blow out flatbed work in the NE and I get to my door. I hear this large dog snarling and carrying on something awful on the other side of it. It's MY place darn it, I shove key in there crack it and stick a hand in there expecting one of two things, lose it or get licked to death.

I got licked to death instantly fuel and all. Turns out there was a roommate who provided safehaven on a airmatress for a owner of that dog who I was already part of it's "Pack" in that family previously. It worked out well. I just didnt know about it then.

 

Dog is on a leash before you open truck doors. It's less trouble than getting an injured pet to the vet or convincing dispatch your load can wait while your dog is scraped off someone's bumper. Have you ever spilled your coffee? Things happen. Don't pretend they can't. 3 creatures in 1 truck is a whole lotta livin going on, IMO.

 

You forgot the most important. They demand love.

You really shouldn't talk about my wife.

 

The smaller the better. If they're too small to jump in/out of the truck that's probably a good thing. They're easy to reposition.

The shorter the hair the better. Non shedding breeds a real plus

 

Nonshedding dog you can easily pick up.