For many people, the hardest part of traveling is saying goodbye to their furry friends back home. I’m a big animal guy myself, so I’ve had my share of whimpery, slobbery goodbyes when leaving my dog with a friend or a pet sitter.
Over the years, though, I learned that planning dog-friendly road trips is pretty easy - it all starts with a good travel checklist and a bit of financial planning.
Today, we’re going to try and help you with both, so that you can share your love of the road with that special canine in your life.
Why Travel With Your Dog?
You could use the company
Whether you’re a solo traveler or you’re road-tripping with your friends or partner, a curious ball of fur and joy does wonders for your morale.
A dog is the ultimate hypeman of the animal kingdom, and you can have double the fun if you can match its energy!
It’s good for your dog
No two dogs are the same, but if you leave yours with someone else for a while, you can bet it’ll start to miss you, and fast.
Besides, a change of scenery might do your pet good, especially if it spends the majority of its time indoors or patrolling the same streets and curbs.
You’ll want to spend more time in nature
On that note, doggies are a curious bunch with an appetite for exploration. The more they run around (under supervision, of course), the more incredible places you’re bound to find.
For reference, just have a look at the biggest dog park in the US over in Santa Fe. Let your dog lead the way, and you can spend a week discovering beautiful vistas and picnic spots by the hour!
It helps you mingle
Talking to strangers can be hard for some, but the classic “that’s an adorable puppy” is a great place to start.
Pet owners have an unspoken fraternity thing going on, so you and your dog might forge some quality friendships by traveling together.
You won’t have to stress about your dog
Even with a reliable person watching your dog while you travel, there’s always that nagging impulse in the back of your head to check if everything’s okay.
After all, we’re talking about one of the most adaptable domestic animals on the planet. If you keep a good eye on it, taking a dog on a road trip can only lead to good things!
Dog Packing List
There are loads of dog accessories out there that’ll make the experience smoother for you and your pet.
It all depends on your budget, but you should consider crossing as many of them off your list as you can.
Dog carrier bag
Larger dogs are going to want to move around independently during travel. That said, for smaller pups, it might be wise (or sometimes even necessary) to invest in a dog-carrying bag.
Our favorite: Apollo Walker Carrier Backpack
This bag is considerably larger than other options on the market, giving your dog plenty of wiggle room, not to mention ample ventilation.
If you want to give it an even better view, you can open the top mesh window and attach the built-in tether to the collar. That’s 360 vision for the dog with zero risk of it escaping!
Dog travel bag
You can think of these as a kind of “dog suitcase”, complete with compartments to store all your smaller doggy essentials.
Our favorite: Abrimelody Dog Travel Bag Set
What we love about this product is that it combines a bunch of dog accessories into one, all at a super-fair price.
You get 25 liters of storage, two large food containers, two water bowls, and a nifty treat pouch, all rolled into one wonder product!
Long dog leash
When you introduce a dog to a new environment, you’d best believe he’ll want to do a lot of sniffing and running around.
A long enough leash gives your pet room to explore without you having to worry about it straying too far.
Our favorite: Biothane 10’ Long Line
Coming in at 10 feet, this line is almost twice as long as the average dog leash. On top of that, you can pick between two different widths to account for the dog’s size.
Even if your pup’s on the more hyperactive side, the durable industrial fabric won’t rip or tear. Plus, there are around thirty colors to match any dog’s personality!
Stress toys
Even the calmest of dogs have their off days, so it’s nice to give them something to gnaw on when they’re in their feelings.
Our favorite: Nylabone Chew Toy Bones
This three-piece set doubles as a teeth cleanser and a destresser, and it’s got a good track record of calming down dogs of all shapes and sizes.
The big selling point is the durability of the nylon - couple that with the low price and the enticing shape, and you can expect to get a lot of mileage out of these.
Another great way to soothe your dog is with the ThunderShirt, whose relatively snug fit works kind of like a warm hug - ideal for tinier pups!
Dog grooming kit
Depending on how much time you’re spending on the road, you may want to bring some dog grooming products along for the ride.
Our favorite: Oneisall Grooming Kit
Chances are you already have a pair of clippers, but this set touches base on everything else you might need, like a tiny comb or a portable electric shaver for longer trips.
Name tag
You wouldn’t want it to come to that, but if your dog gets lost, a name tag with your information is always a good idea.
Our favorite: ByteTag
Beyond just your dog’s name, this name tag comes with a QR code containing your contact info, as well as a short bio of your dog - this helps whoever found it get an idea of any specific needs the dog has.
As a backup feature, when someone scans the code, you’ll immediately be notified about your dog’s live location.
Taking your dog on a road trip: General advice
Whether or not you fall back on these road trip accessories for dogs, there are lots of things you can do free of charge to give your pet a better time.
Make frequent pitstops
During your epic road trip, your dog’s brain will probably be in overdrive from all the excitement.
All this pent-up energy needs to get out somehow, so be sure to avoid backseat mishaps by stopping often for bathroom breaks.
Stick to your dog’s eating schedule
You might get swept up by the rush of the road and forget to eat, but your dog’s appetite should still be very much intact.
Try to feed your dog at around the same time you usually would back home. If you find he’s doing a lot more running around, you may even want to increase the food quantity.
Avoid traveling in bad weather
A lot of dogs don’t like feeling exposed during thunderstorms or heavy rain. At the same time, keeping them in a stuffy car in the middle of a scorching summer isn’t a good idea either.
If you’re going to bring your dog along for a long road trip, do them the courtesy of traveling in moderate weather. If it’s too hot or cold for you, the same probably goes for them!
Research vets and animal hospitals
Whether you’re staying at one location or traveling around in a camper van, it doesn’t hurt to be aware of vets in your general area.
After all, if your pup needs to see a doctor, familiarizing yourself with the facilities en route can shave precious hours off your trip to the vet.
Be mindful of your dog’s mood
Some pets are just homebodies, and there’s no way to know for sure if you haven’t taken yours anywhere.
If you see that your dog is refusing to eat, play, or do any of the things it normally does back home, consider packing it in and going back home.
Conclusion
And that’s a wrap on our guide to planning dog-friendly road trips.
From dog travel accessories to general micromanagement tips, we realize there’s a lot to remember. At the same time, sharing your love of the road with man’s best friend is so worth it!
Ultimately, dogs and road trips go together a lot better than people think. Like traveling with another person, it all comes down to making sure everyone’s wants and needs are met.
So what are you waiting for? Get out there and enjoy an unforgettable trip with your canine rascal!
