Dogs love traveling too! Traveling with your dog is fun for both owner and pet – you’ll explore new areas and create new memories. While this can be an exciting adventure, taking your dog on a road-trip will require some preparation.
It’s also important to keep in mind that dogs need special care when traveling. Make sure you pack everything you need before leaving home, and consider bringing along a crate or carrier for your pup. We’d also like to add that if your puppy is very young or your dog has a medical issue, please consult your vet before long trips.
Check out our list below to make sure that you have everything that’s needed for taking your dog on a trip!
Here’s our List of Top Tips for Traveling with Your Dog
Here’s a summary of our list and if you read below, we provide additional advice and suggestions for all our top tips while traveling with your dog.
- Familiarize your dog with the car and practice a few test runs
- Plan your trip with dog friendly hotels, restaurants, activities and hiking trails
- Bring flea treatment, tick prevention, and think about the rattlesnake vaccine if you’re doing to a desert
- Think about purchasing motion sickness medication for your furry friend
- Pack lots of water, their food, and treats for the journey
- Bring toys, their leash/harness, bed, and anything that can give them comfort
- Ensure that your dog has all it’s vaccinations and that you have proof of them if needed (in case of emergency)
- Think about exercising your pet before the travel – you won’t want an excited pup with nowhere to expend their energy
- Map out pit stops for your dog and add in potty breaks
- Have a plan for emergencies – if your dog gets sick or has an accident in the car, try to prepare with cleaners and emergency pit stops
- Make sure your dog tag is up to date with an accurate phone number and address
- Bring a collapsable crate and a dog bed that can be set up once you reach your destination
- Practice patience – your dog may be anxious or nervous, you may need to drive slower than normal or take extra breaks
- Reward your pet regularly during the trip and also before the trip when riding in the car to form positive memories of car rides
- Prepare for the environment by thinking about water shoes, dog hiking booties, or a dog parka (depending on the weather)
- Don’t leave your dog in the car on a hot day – this can be very dangerous and jeopardize your dog’s health
- Pack grooming products if you plan on taking your dog swimming or to a place they get dirty, think toothbrush, dog brush, and dog shampoo
- Keep all the dog toys, treats, and goods in a place that is easy accessible to you
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Top Picks and Products For Traveling with Your Furry Family Member
1. Familiarize your dog with the car and practice a few test runs
Riding in a car can sometime cause anxiety for dogs. In order to make riding in the car a fun activity, we suggest that you work at this with your pup!
Start out on small drives and make sure to reward your dog regularly while in the car. If your dog is hesitant to get in the car, let them take their time and try to create a space that they can make their own.
Some dogs like to ride in a dog hammock while other dogs might prefer the front seat.
- Recommended Dog Hammock
- Pet Booster Seat
2. Plan your trip with dog friendly hotels, restaurants, activities and hiking trails
There’s tons of great dog friendly hotel options but it seems like Hilton and the Marriott provide the most options. If you’re looking for something different than a hotel, Air BNB now has a pet friendly option and of course, you can camp with your dog!
There are tons of great apps like Bring Fido, All Trails, and Dog Trekker that will provide you with tons of great options and activities that are dog friendly.
If you’re traveling with your dog, try a nice restaurant with a dog friendly outdoor patio!
3. Bring flea treatment, tick prevention, and think about the rattlesnake vaccine if you’re doing to a desert
It’s important to think about what your pet will encounter before you go on a trip. If you’re planning on going to Joshua Tree or you’re camping in the desert, call your local vet and book an appointment for a rattlesnake vaccine.
If your pup lives in an area where fleas are not common and you’re venturing into a new area, think about giving your pet a flea/tick medication and maybe even think about giving them heart worm medicine.
4. Think about purchasing motion sickness medication for your furry friend
Motion sickness is incredibly common in dogs and puppies. Unfortunately there is no way of knowing if your pet will experience motion sickness until your pet is in the car.
Think about getting some motion sickness medication. One of our favorite options was created by a holistic veterinarian: Happy Traveler.
5. Pack lots of water, their food, and treats for the journey
Your dog will need water and lots of it! Don’t forget their collapsible bowl, a few extra servings of food (in case you extend your trip), and of course – treats!
Our favorite treats are from Blue buffalo. Your dog will love their Biscuits and Wild Bits!
6 Bring toys, their leash/harness, bed, and anything that can give them comfort
Yes bring toys, but maybe not squeaky toys! It’s important to keep your dog occupied during the drive. Bring their favorite toys to keep them engaged during the ride.
Also, don’t forget their harness, leash, and anything else that might bring them comfort. It’s important to try to make your dog as comfy as possible so being in the car is a positive experience. Below are a few of our favorites:
- Nylabone for aggressive chewers
- Fill a Kong with treats or peanut butter
- West Paw Dog Frisbee (best when you make it to your location)
- Ruffwear Lift and Assist Dog Harness
- Chuck it! Balls – these are honestly like crack for dogs!
- Petfusion Calming Pet Blanket
7. Ensure that your dog has all it’s vaccinations and that you have proof of them if needed (in case of emergency)
It’s never a bad idea to travel with proof of vaccination for your dog. We recommend taking a photo of the vaccinations, saving it on your phone and carrying a photo copy also.
Sometimes you might be asked to show proof of vaccination and it’s never a bad idea to have these handy if you need to see a vet outside your normal vet.
8. Think about exercising your pet before the travel – you won’t want an excited pup with nowhere to expend their energy
Take your dog on a walk, take them to the park, or play frisbee outside prior to your road trip.
If you’re traveling a far distance with your pet, it’s important that they have been exercised properly – this will help reduce anxiety and may help your pet sleep during the ride.
9. Map out pit stops for your dog and add in potty breaks
It’s important to take your dog’s age into consideration when planning out stops. If you have a young puppy, you may want to stop every 2 hours and you might want to think about bringing pee pads. Depending on their age, you’ll want to plan accordingly.
If you have an older dog who is at their senior stage, you might need to take more frequent breaks. If your dog is in good health, not a puppy, and can hold their bladder, stopping every 4 hours should do the trick.
When you stop, plan on spending 15-20 minutes outside of the car. Let them stretch their legs, do their business, and get a break from the car.
10. Have a plan for emergencies – if your dog gets sick or has an accident in the car, try to prepare with cleaners and emergency pit stops
Sometimes pets might get sick or they might pee when it’s not expected. Try packing things to clean your car in case this happens and make a plan if you need to pull over suddenly. Do you have an extra blanket? Wipes if you need to clean up an accident?
11. Make sure your dog tag is up to date with an accurate phone number and address
When dogs experience new places, they might want to run off or explore. If your dog has great recall and doesn’t stray, you might not need to worry about this too much.
It always pays to be prepared when traveling with pets. It’s a good rule of thumb to keep you information current when it’s listed on their tags.
12. Bring a collapsable crate and a dog bed that can be set up once you reach your destination
If you’re staying in a hotel or airBNB, a collapsible crate that your dog is familiar with will make their arrangement feel more comfortable. If you’re staying in a camping spot, sure you have a comfy bed for your dog!
- Collapsible Crate
- Outdoor Dog Bed for Camping – Elevated with Canopy
- Portable Dog Bed with Stuff Sack
13. Practice patience – your dog may be anxious or nervous, you may need to drive slower than normal or take extra breaks
If you take your dog on a road trip, be mindful that you might not travel as fast as you normally do. Try to stay patient while traveling with your dog and remember that they pick up on your emotions and energy.
Staying calm and not rushing to your destination will make the trip more enjoyable for you and your dog!
14. Reward your pet regularly during the trip and also before the trip when riding in the car to form positive memories of car rides
We would like to preface this by saying, you should not feed your dog right before they get into the car. During the car ride, it’s okay to give them treats though.
If your dog is not taking treats during the ride, use some praise and positive reinforcement to let them know that they are doing well.
15. Prepare for the environment by thinking about water shoes, dog hiking booties, or a dog parka (depending on the weather)
Weather can be crazy. If you’re traveling into a new region, check the weather and prepare your pet appropriately. Look at forecasts for the upcoming trip and keep an eye on it while traveling. If your dog will be playing in the lake all day, think about some dog water shoes.
If you are taking your dog on a long hike, it’s also important to think about their paws. Look at the weather forecast and pack accordingly.
16. Don’t leave your dog in the car on a hot day – this can be very dangerous and jeopardize your dog’s health
You should never leave your dog in the car on a hot day but it’s just a reminder that when traveling, it’s important to make arrangements for your pet, have someone stay with them outside the car, or plan so you don’t have to leave them alone.
17. Pack grooming products if you plan on taking your dog swimming or to a place they get dirty. Think toothbrush, dog brush, and dog shampoo
If you’re taking your dog to the beach, a park, or you’re exploring through the desert on a long trip, it’s likely they might get dirty! If you have to wash them on your trip, think about bringing their dog shampoo and conditioner.
You can always take your dogs hygiene to the next level while traveling and brush their teeth regularly.
18. Keep all the dog toys, treats, and goods in a place that is easy accessible to you
Our final tip might be the most important one! Keep all dog related treats, toys, and needs close to you in case you need to give it to them. Don’t pack everything in the trunk or you’ll have to make extra stops!
Where Will You and Your Dog Explore on Your Exciting Travels?
We love the idea of all our blog readers on a beautiful road trip with their dog! As our final reminder, always make sure that your dog gets regular walks and activity while traveling.
We’d love to hear from you – where will you go on your adventure? Did you use any of our tips? Let us know in the comments section below where you’ll be traveling with your dog.
xx,
T&W