How do I prepare myself when I have a detection dog job?

Depending on the type of job and its location, I may need to travel across the country or to a different state. I prefer travelling by car because it allows me to bring multiple dogs and all the necessary gear. Additionally, the dogs can comfortably sleep in my van, as I have spacious kennels for them.

My planning often starts the week before. I make sure I have suitable accommodation. I don’t mind travelling an hour to the location on the day. As long as the accommodation has a yard, is pet friendly, and has a driveway (just in case the dogs sleep in the car), I also look at the flooring in the house. Carpet might not be ideal with dogs, even if the accommodation says they are pet-friendly! I make sure it is as easy to be kept clean and tidy. Of course, for myself, if the place has WIFI and a bath, that is a bonus, haha!

The morning before I travel, I give my car a deep clean. Inside and out. I disinfect all their water buckets. I make sure the dogs have clean towels/blankets to lay on (yes, I am a sook with my dogs). And the following list is what I ALWAYS have in my car. 

1. Dog food in a container

2. Water container (filled)

3. My ball-throwing stick and balls (handy for long 8 – 10-hour drives) so I can give the dogs some decent exercise when we do stop.

4. Treat pouch 

5. Poo bags

6. Clicker

7. Toys (Balls and Tugs)

8. Harnesses (for each individual dog)

9. Short leashes

10. Long lines

11. Flex lines

12. Odours

13. Gloves

14. ODD (Odour Delivery Devices, this could just be a canister, something that is easy to bring into the job without it becoming an issue)

15. Blankets/towels

16. Food bowls 

17. Phone charger

18. Brush (making sure the dogs look good!)

19. Dog collars (work-appropriate ones)

20. Having a high-visibility vest in your car is always useful!

Bringing a spill kit with you is always a good idea! Just in case your dog has an accident on the job. However, with my own working dogs, I over time, got my own little system and can avoid accidents during the job. This means I feed them the day before in the morning a proper meal and then after their job the next day. This seems to work for them. I also make sure before the job starts, the dogs have a decent amount of time to toilet. 

When I travel by car, I always pack the appropriate work clothes and shoes, along with my laptop, iPad, and other things I might need. One important thing to remember is to never forget to bring warm clothing as well as a T-shirt. The weather in Australia can be unpredictable; just because it’s hot one day doesn’t mean it will be the same the next day. 

Make sure to carry all your identification, including your driver’s license and any necessary documents you might need to complete on the spot. It’s also essential to have all the information about your job location, including the contact person details and the instructions where you need to be (as this can at times be different then the street address). Always aim to arrive early, as traffic can be unpredictable, and finding the exact location can sometimes be challenging.

I hope this helps!! I love travelling with my dogs and doing jobs like this. I make sure I give myself a whole day for travel as it sometimes can be really exhausting, this also allows your dogs to settle.