Taking a Road Trip With Your Dog
Lucy and Jack, ready for a ride after a walk in the woods
Smaller drives can prepare your dogs for longer journeys
Whether it’s a day at the beach, a cross-country move, a holiday visit to in-laws, or a family road trip, wouldn’t it be fabulous to bring along your adorable pupster?
But that means hitting the road and you and your pooch need to be ready.
So, let’s buckle up and take a journey to learn everything you need to know about taking your dog on a road trip.
My Dogs on Road Trips
I have to say it. We really hit the jackpot with our dogs(I know, we all say that but it’s true). Each of our dogs, to varying degrees, has been good on road trips. No accidents, no car sick incidents. Just happy pups.
Lucy, our yellow lab, has been the best of the bunch. She hops up in the truck and, within minutes, she’s curled up in a ball and enjoying a snooze.
Once in a while she’ll pop up to say hello or watch the world pass. But she’s relaxed and happy.
We recently took her on a 12 hour driving day and she did great. She took advantage of our multiple rest stops. She relaxed in the air-conditioned comfort of the truck(during a brutal heat wave). She generally just had a great day exploring the world with her peeps.
None of this happened by accident. We gave her a comfortable place to rest, brought along the supplies we needed and we took longer stops along the way to give her a chance to stretch her legs and do her business.
But, before all that, she was acclimatized to life on the road with shorter drives. She was taught that time on the road is fun, relaxing, and means new adventures. And, like any other training, it becomes a life-long process to reinforce that notion.
Disclosure: As an Amazon associate, this post contains affiliate links. If you follow one of these links and make a purchase, I may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. This helps support this blog and my ability to keep bringing you important articles regarding the care and life enrichment of your precious fur kids.
A view of the world
Small dogs can be harnessed into booster seats made for smaller dogs for a better view of the world.
Supplies You Need for Road Trips With Your Dog
Travel harness, crate, small dog booster seat, or carrier with seat belt anchor-Your dog’s safety on the road is your first priority. A dog that is roaming loose in a vehicle can cause an accident or become a projectile in a crash that’s a danger to the dog and others in the vehicle.
Food and bowl-If you’re going to be on the road for a longer trip, make sure you bring enough of your dog’s food so you don’t run out on the trip and have to scramble to find their food brand on the road. Having to switch brands mid-trip if you can’t find their usual brand could be a recipe for disaster.
Water-Be sure to bring along plenty of water for your pup and don’t forget the travel bowl. Bring more than you think you need. You can use it for them to drink or even to clean up messes in a pinch.
Treats-You can bring along some of your dog’s favourite treats or maybe a Kong, bully stick, treat puzzle, or chew toy to keep them occupied.
Two leashes-Bring an extra leash along, just in case one breaks or gets lost.
Collar with tags-Ensure your dog’s collar has their rabies tag, an ID tag with your name and contact number, and their dog license tag.
A travel first aid kit-Hopefully you won’t need it but just in case of any cuts and scrapes, bee stings, or any other minor medical issue that comes up, you’ll be ready.
Vaccination and microchip records-Make sure your dog’s vaccinations are up to date and you have a copy to prove it, plus their microchip number(make sure the information connected to it is up to date).
Poop bags-Well, you know. It happens.
Towel-If paws get muddy or your whole dog gets wet, you’ll be thankful you tossed in that old towel.
Plastic bags, paper towels, and an enzyme spray cleaner-if your pet gets sick or has an accident, a little cleaning kit is going to be a lifesaver.
Dog-safe wipes and a grooming brush-Giving your pup a quick freshen-up might be necessary.
Calming Aids-If your dog is a nervous traveler, you may have to use a product such as the pheromone spray Adaptil. Speak to your veterinarian if you have questions about this product or any other calming product.
Travel Bag-If you want a way to organize your dog supplies all in one easy spot for quick access, you can get a pet travel bag organizer, such as this one from PetAmi. Of course you can pack it all in a plastic tote or backpack but this bag keeps everything organized and in place and is easy to carry. Think of it as a suitcase for your dog.
Taking in all the smells!
While it’s safer to keep the windows closed, if your dog is more comfortable with the car window down, make sure it’s not open enough for escape or buckle them in to prevent them jumping out.
Tips for Making Your Dog Comfortable on Road Trips
If your dog has never been on a long trip, you should prepare them by taking them on shorter trips to different places to ensure they are comfortable.
Some dogs prefer to be able to see the world around them and will ride comfortably in the back set. A crate trained dog may be more comfortable in their own crate. Just be sure the crate is anchored securely in place and test your dog out to see what’s best for them.
Bring along their favourite blanket or bed so they will sleep comfortably with a little piece of home.
Anything you plan to feed them, such as food and treats should be tested beforehand. This is not the time to find out that those new treats give them an upset tummy. Some dogs get car sick and adding strange food to the equation is a recipe for disaster.
Plan to make more rest stops and spend more time at those spots than usual. Your dog will need to stretch their legs, have a drink, and do their business. You will need to take turns going to the bathroom since someone will need to stay with your dog.
DO NOT leave your pet alone in your vehicle, especially in hot or even cold weather. If you’re alone while travelling, you may need to find pet-friendly bathrooms and use drive-thrus for food and drink. Or, in a real pinch, if you can leave them in the car with it running for climate control for a brief time but this should be avoided if at all possible.
Figure out which spots you can stop that have some grassy areas, or even dog runs along the way. If you pull over and all that’s available is a hot parking lot, that’s not going to work. Google Maps with a satellite image can be a great source of information for planning your stops.
Plan on stop every 3-4 hours, at minimum. You may even need to stop more often if your dog is a puppy or senior that needs more potty breaks.
Know the signs if your dog is feeling sick. If they’re whining a lot, restless, panting or drooling more than usual, or licking their lips a lot, find a safe place to pull over, if possible. Barfing or having diarrhea on the side of a road is certainly preferable to in your vehicle. But make sure it’s a safe spot to stop!
If you’re planning to make an overnight stop on your journey, book accommodations that are pet-friendly. Beyond that, you will need to find out what that means.
For instance, some hotels say they’re pet-friendly. But that may also mean only for pets that are under a certain weight or they refuse some breeds.
They may have only certain pet rooms available and you will need to book early.
They may require you to pay an extra fee so you should know how much that fee is beforehand.
They may also have rules about your dog being crated if you leave them alone in the room. Most certainly, your dog will have to be leashed at all times outside of the room.
Respect those rules and, more importantly, make sure you know them!
Ready to hit the road!
Taking your dog along on a road trip can make the journey so much more fun. Just plan ahead, give your dog some grace, and enjoy yourself and your dog along the way!
Mistakes to Avoid On a Road Trip with Your Dog
Not giving yourself enough time for the journey.
Your road trip will take extra time with a dog. They need time to stretch their legs, explore new scents, and do their business. Take a little extra time to relax with them and you may find yourself relaxing more.
Not testing your dog before a big trip.
Make sure your dog is comfortable enough for a road trip. Whether it’s putting them in their crate, bringing along their blanket or bed, getting them used to a harness, or just learning the signs of discomfort so you know when they need a break, shorter drives can reveal a lot and get your dog ready for longer hours in the vehicle.
Forgetting items at home or bringing too much stuff.
You don’t want to forget to bring the essentials. But you also don’t want to bring so much stuff that it’s all over the place. The last thing you need is for your dog (or your kids, or anyone else) to be crowded and grumpy. That’s not fun either.
Not bringing enough food or treats.
Bring the food and treats that your dog knows. Even if they usually have an iron stomach, the excitement or anxiety of a strange new place may upset them a little and a dog barfing or having diarrhea on a road trip is a nightmare!
Not checking accommodations for pet policies.
Pet friendly does not always mean the same thing to different people. Know the rules and get them in writing if possible. Follow those rules, whether you agree with them or not. It just causes so much less stress overall.
Not enjoying the experience.
Plan ahead but also plan to be surprised and roll with it. You want to spend time with your dog and they want to spend time with you. So, be prepared to not be prepared.
Don’t stress the small stuff. Relax and enjoy the journey!
Do you love to take your dog along on road trips? Do you have any other tips for travelling with your dog? Drop a comment below and share your ideas for a great road trip with your pooch!
