Tips and Tricks for Road-Tripping With Your Pet

My best road trips have been with my two fur children. Each trip, I learn more about how to make the trip easier for both my dogs and us. I am here to share with you some of the best tips and tricks that I have learned from our road trips.

Pre-Planning: If you plan to travel with your pet, it is important to start gathering all of your items and booking lodging ahead of time.

Booking a Place to Stay: Always read descriptions of the places you plan to stay. Some may allow dogs but do not allow you to leave them unattended. From our travels, we have learned that my dogs absolutely hate hotels, so we always stay in rented houses or apartments. We make sure to talk to the host before we arrive to avoid any added stress or surprises during our trip.

Items We Bring for Lodging: We always bring certain things that help us and our dogs. Some of our must-bring items include:

• A crate for our little one since he gets anxious and can be destructive if we don’t crate him on our trips
• Blankets and beds from home so the dogs feel like we are there with them if we have to run out
• Belly bands/diapers, just to be on the safer side—our male dog sometimes pees when he is nervous, so we pop that bad boy on him so we don’t have to worry between walks

Medications: I make sure to have any medications refilled and ready to go. I also make sure to have excess in case the trip unexpectedly gets extended. I check my calendar to note when the pups need their flea/tick and heartworm medications. (I have learned to do this the hard way, from my little girl getting fleas on a trip—not fun.)

Practice Car Rides: Car rides can cause a lot of anxiety and stress for pets if they are not used to being in a vehicle. We take our dogs on short little rides so they can get used to the car and do not think we only go in the car for vet visits or grooming.

Doggie Bags: We bring a bag that has everything they would need, including a water bottle with water, a bowl, some treats, food, toys, poo bags, pee pads, medication, and a blanket. This way, everything is in one place, so we can easily access the dogs’ items and transport the supplies in and out of our lodging.

Comforts in the Car: For our little guy, we have a small bucket that he sits in with all of his favorite blankets and toys. Our girl Gracie sits on a bed on one of our laps or in the back seat. Yes—one of us drives while the other sits in the back with the dogs; we have found this works the best for everyone. If it was just one of us, I would recommend two buckets, seat-belted in with a doggie seat belt. If your dog must sit in the front, remember to turn off the passenger airbag and ensure your pup is buckled in case you need to hit those brakes. 

If bringing your dog along just isn’t right for you or your upcoming trip, check out our article on how to find a dog sitter, linked below. Also, let us know what tips and tricks you have learned while on road trips with your pets!