The holiday season is approaching—a prime time for traveling to visit friends, relatives, and loved ones. If you’re anything like me, you’re probably thinking about how to travel with your dog.
As someone who has driven from New York to California and Colorado to California multiple times so my dogs didn’t have to miss a holiday or spend time with a pet sitter, I’ve accumulated a wealth of knowledge when it comes to traveling with my furry friends.
Traveling with your dog doesn’t have to be a hassle. In fact, with the proper products and well-laid out plans, it can be a fun adventure to bring your dog along for the ride. Here’s everything you should take into account before hitting the road with your pooch:
Choosing the Proper Car Setup
Car Crates and Car Harnesses for Dogs
Whether you opt for a car seat cover and a car harness or a car crate, choosing the right travel setup for your dog will keep them comfortable. Never allow your dog to ride loose in the car—in the event of an accident, your dog can become a dangerous projectile and can hurt themselves or other passengers in the car.
Instead, opt for a crash-tested car harness or car crate. The Center for Pet Safety is a third-party organization that tests and evaluates crash-tested dog harnesses and crash-tested dog crates and carriers for safety.
Personally, I use Gunner G1 Kennels for my dogs in the car, and they’re always happy to hop in their car crates and go for a ride. Gunner’s kennels are double-walled for safety and temperature regulation and have been proven to keep dogs safe in accidents.
Mats and Beds for Dog Car Crates
Choosing a crate mat or bed can also keep your pup comfortable on long car rides. If your dog is older or has any orthopedic issues, consider an orthopedic dog bed or crate mat to help their joints.
In my crates, I have the Gunner Performance Pads that I layer with fleece blankets in the winter. Putting a washable blanket or towel over your dog’s crate bed can make cleanup easier in case they get dirty or muddy along the way.
Water Options for Dogs on the Road
A crate bowl in your dog’s crate will give your pup access to water on long drives, and if your dog will drink out of a crate bowl, it eliminates the need for you to offer them water in a collapsible bowl every time you stop. I use a one quart metal bucket clipped to the crate door with a carabiner, but there are lots of custom dog car crate travel bowls available depending on the type of crate you have.
If your dog won’t drink out of a crate bowl, bring along a portable dog water bottle or a collapsible dog bowl so you can offer them a drink at potty and gas stops.
Travel Training Your Dog
Before heading out on the open road with your dog, ensure they’re comfortable both in the car and in their car crate or car harness. Practice using their gear in the house first, then on short drives in the car before your actual trip.
If your dog is just learning how to ride in the car, consider giving them a high value chew bone, a frozen lick mat, or another enrichment toy to make car rides a positive experience. Only give your dog enrichment in their car crate if they can be trusted to not shred or ingest any parts of the enrichment toy.
If your dog is nervous in the car, talk to your vet about other possible solutions like anti-anxiety or anti-nausea medications, calming supplements, or anxiety-reducing garments like Thundershirts.
Packing all your dog’s must-haves will ensure you don’t have any last-minute panicked runs to the pet store along the way or at your destination. Here’s a general packing list to help you get started:
- Dog food and a bowl: Bring enough food for the entire duration of your trip plus 2-3 days in case you have any unforeseen delays.
- Water and a bowl: Pack enough for your trip to your destination. Plan for one ounce per pound of your dog’s body weight plus extra just in case.
- A collapsible dog crate: For crating your dog at the hotel, Airbnb, or friends’ and family’s houses.
- A travel dog bed: For putting in the collapsible crate.
- Leashes and collars: Bring your dog’s normal collar with their ID tags on it and bring at least two leashes (it never hurts to have an extra in the car).
- Enrichment toys: Snuffle mats, food dispensing toys, and other enrichment options can help keep your dog busy and burn some of their energy after long travel days.
- First aid kit: In case of any minor injuries.
- Treat pouch and poop bags: Bring along a treat pouch full of your dog’s favorite treats to reinforce them for good behavior and poop bags to pick up any waste
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Dog Safety on the Road
Safety should be top of mind when traveling with your dog. In addition to securing your dog in a crash-tested car harness or crate, there are other measures you can take to keep them safe while on the road.
Make sure your dog is microchipped, is wearing an ID tag with your updated phone number, and consider a GPS collar. GPS collars like the Fi Series 3+ Smart Collar can help locate your dog in the event they get lost.
Always keep your dog on a leash in new environments and busy locations, like gas stations and rest stops. Dogs can be sensitive to new locations and long car travel days may seem scary if it’s their first time. Nervous dogs can be more of a flight risk, so keeping your pup on a leash ensures their safety.
Time Your Dog’s Potty Breaks Well
Once you’re ready to get on the road, plan for more driving time than you actually need. Stop to potty your dogs every 2-4 hours, with more frequent stops needed for young puppies, senior dogs, and dogs with medical conditions. Stopping this frequently will also help your dog get their energy out and stretch their legs so they don’t become stiff—especially important for older dogs.
Most truck stop gas stations and rest stops will have nice, grassy areas to potty your dog in. Avoid travel stop dog parks if possible—they’re often dirty and many dogs pass through them, so the risk of contracting any contagious diseases is higher.
If you can’t find a travel stop with a decent potty area, look for local parks or hiking trails on your favorite map app. Forest service roads are also good options for reactive dogs who need quiet places to potty and stretch their legs. Gaia GPS is a helpful app you can download to find local forest service roads along your route.
Keep an Eye on the Temperature
Whether it’s hot or cold when you’re traveling, always ensure the temperature in your car is comfortable and safe for your dog.
Dogs can overheat in as little as 10 minutes in a car that’s too hot and can develop hypothermia in as little as 30 minutes in a car on cold days. Ensure you roll down windows or use battery operated fans (like Ryobi) in warm weather and consider adding blankets to your dog’s crate or putting them in a jacket during cold weather. Senior dogs and young puppies can be especially sensitive to temperature changes.
I also like to use the Necto Temperature Monitor in my car when traveling with my dogs to give me extra peace of mind regarding the temperature. Even if you’re just running into the gas station to use the restroom or grab a snack, the Necto monitor checks the temperature and updates it every 10 minutes, sending alerts to your phone if it’s getting too warm or cold for your dog’s comfort.
This is a great article! Though relevant in general, I find there’s very little useful information to be found anywhere, including WDJ, for small dogs (under 15 pounds). All the recommended products are for larger dogs. Please, how about some equally great recommendations for really small dogs! Thanks!
Hey Brigitte! For car travel for small dogs, the Center for Pet Safety has a great list of crash-tested pet carriers suited for small dogs. I tried a few different Sleepypod carriers and the Away carrier for my Collie when she was a puppy (under 15 pounds) and both were great (and have third party crash test ratings).