Are you going on a road trip soon and would you like to take your dog with you? How do you prepare your dog and what do you take with you? We answer all your questions!
Table of Contents
“Road tripping With A Dog!”
FAQ – Travelling With A Dog:
Well, that really depends on the dog itself and how often you travel or have traveled with your dog.
We recommend that you often take your dog in the car for short drives or just on the driveway. When your dog is used to sitting in the car and has good experiences with it, a longer ride will not be a problem. many dogs find it very enjoyable to go in the car. The dogs that only go in the car to go to the vet, will of course find this a bit less fun….
We definitely recommend this! In some countries this is mandatory, but despite that it is certainly wise to buy a dog car belt or a kennel.
Yes, this is definitely possible! It is really up to your dog or that he/she will like this. We explain in this blog how you can get your dog used to driving a car!
You can transport your dog on the back seat or in the trunk. For the backseat we recommend to buy a car seat cover to keep your car clean. This cover also prevents the dog from coming to the front (see in blog). Always buy a dog car seatbelt as well.
Another option is a transport kennel for in the trunk of your car. It depends a bit on what your (and your dog’s) preference is.
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When your dog is anxious or very stressed in the car there are several remedies that could calm your dog down. Before you start with sedative medication it is wise to try it with less extreme things like giving him:
- His favorite toy
- A chewing stick
- Adaptil – available in a spray or collar containing natural calming hormones.
We recommend not to go roadtrip with a puppy, but if this is your plan, stop every few hours.
For adult dogs it is fine to stop every 3-4 hours in any case.
Make sure this is a safe area, don’t simply stop at the side of a road.
Many dogs find it very comfortable to be transported in a transport kennel, because it makes them feel safe. Other dogs like a bit more space. They can best be transported on the backseat with a seatbelt.
Make sure your dog has something that is familiar such as his own bed or blanket. Also giving him his own toy can help.
This is indeed a difficult question. It is better not to feed your dog before travelling to avoid car sickness.
In spite of that, it is not always possible to leave a lot of time in between feeding and driving when you go roadtriping. Still, we advise you to leave as much time between eating and driving as possible. Some dogs can handle this better than others though.
1. How Do I Prepare My Dog For A Road Trip?
Before you put your dog in the car for a very long time, it is wise to prepare your dog first. Do you have a puppy or an adult dog. There is a difference in the preparation.
1.1 For puppy’s:
Note: Don’t take your puppy on a road trip! Only do this at a later age (1/2 year old). However, you can prepare your pup for the road trips at an older age!
- From an early age, take your puppy on small car rides often.
- Give your puppy a treat when she has been in the car (not while driving, to prevent car sickness).
- Give your pup a steady place in the car where he/she feels safe, but not on your lap! Immediately give your pup her/his own spot. This can be in a car bench or with a harness on the back seat. See more in the headline …
- Give your puppy a (his/her favorite) toy to entertain him/her.
1.2 For Adult Dogs:
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Let your dog get used to the car; put him in the car often without driving (on the driveway) and then go on short drives frequently.
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Adult dogs should also be given a treat after car rides, but not during the ride to prevent car sickness.
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Again, it is important that your dog gets his own place in the car.
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Often it is better to ignore your dog when he behaves badly in the car (crying and barking), but this is best to judge for yourself as the owner.
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Don’t let your dog stick his head out of the window, even if it looks nice in the movies (this can be quite dangerous at higher speeds).
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Make sure your dog gets all the necessary vaccinations before you leave!
2. What To Bring: Road trip With A Dog
2.1 Transport kennel / seat cover / seat belt
As mentioned earlier, it is a important to create a safe place for your dog. You could buy a transport kennel for in the car or you can choose to buy a dog seat belt. Puppies often find it more comfortable to go in a kennel as they feel safe in it.
AmazonBasics Portable Folding Soft Dog Travel 
Crate Kennel
This kennel from AmazonBasics is great and easy to use! I advise you to directly choose the size that your pup, when he/she has grown, can still go in. This way you avoid double costs. The kennel can also be used indoor as well as in campers/caravans.
Doggie World Dog Car Seat Cover
You could also use a car seat cover with a dog seat belt. This way your car seat wont get dirty and your dog can still travel in your car safely.
2.2 Food and water
– Feeding bowls
– Drinking bowls
– More than enough water and food
– Treats
Note: It is very important that your dog always has access to water while traveling.
2.3 Blankets / beds
When the dog is in the car/RV it is important that your dog can lie comfortably by means of a blanket or a dog bed. Also for overnight stays in other buildings it is nice that the dog has his own bed. Make sure it is easy to keep clean.
This travel dog bed from Furhaven is ideal for travelling with your dog as it is easy to clean, foldable (separate stuff sack bag for easy storage and packing), and is available in multiple sizes, styles and colours.
Check it out on Amazon!
2.4 All your dog papers
- Proof of vaccinations
- microchip registration papers
- (pet insurance papers)
2.5 Cleaning kit
- Paper towles
- wet wipes
- doggy wast bags
2.6 anti-parasite medications
fleas, ticks and worm prevention!
I advise to choose an oral or collar prevention for travelling. A collar is often not allowed to get wet, which is inconvenient if your dog likes to swim or if you are going to walk through the rain more often. But there are collars which are waterproof, like this one:
2.7 Canin first aid kit
I don’t have to tell anyone why it is wise to bring a first aid kit. The only difference in a first aid kit for dogs is that it also has pliers to remove ticks or a muzzle. This differs per kit. These two are ideal for hiking or backpacking:
2.8 Dog Harness
It is wise to buy a harness instead of a collar. You are going to travel and walk with your dog for a long time. It can happen that your dog pulls a lot, which is very bad for his/her neck. Using a harness can prevent your dog from having neck and back pain. A harness often also has a handle which makes it easy to grab your dog or help your dog to get out of water. These are our favorites:
BarkBrite Multi-Purpose Backpack
Also check out our review page of “The Best Dog Harness”.
2.9 Identification tag
It’s wise to keep your dog on a leash at all times while walking outside. An identification tag is also a good idea, should your dog run away regardless. There are several options for ID tags:
We all know the standard tag indicates: what the name of the dog is, your phone number and possibly your address. This is a good, cheaper option!
The Q-tag with a QR code gives you the possibility to give much more information about your dog. The App gives you the location whenever the tag is scaned. This tag doesn’t just look more fashionable, it has a really nice advantage!
You can also go a step further and buy a gps tracker instead of a tag. These are of course a bit more expensive than most tags, but give you the location of your dog! Also a nice feature for the active dog: The tracker measures the activity of your dog so you know exactly how he/she has performed!
Also take a look at our review page of “The Best Dog GPS / Activity Trackers”
2.10 Adaptil
When your dog is anxious or very stressed in the car there are several remedies that could calm your dog down. Before you start with sedative medication it is wise to try it with less extreme things like giving him:
- His favorite toy
- A chewing stick
- Adaptil – available in a spray or collar containing natural calming hormones.
I hope you have learned something from this information and wish you the best of luck going on a road trip with your dog! Please leave a comment if you have tips for road tripping with your dog!