5 tips and essentials for roadtripping with dogs
If you plan on bringing a dog along on a road trip, packing for your pet is just as important as packing for yourself! With the right preparation, dogs can make great travel companions. From essential items and tips on ensuring a successful road trip, you and your pup are bound have an unforgettable adventure together!
1 —
Leave a paper trail
Make sure to have all their necessary documents on hand (printed or easily accessed on your phone) in case of emergency.
Storytime!
We recently drove through Zion National Park for the first time. We didn’t know what to expect going in but honestly, nothing can really prepare you for the shock of Mount Carmel Highway. Lars had been acting completely normal all day - head out the window, enjoying the drive. And then we started down the intense switchbacks inside the most enormous canyons. His mood started to change and I noticed he looked a little panicked. He was switching from window to window and when I reached back to put my hand on his chest for a pet I noticed he was trembling pretty heavily. Not only that but I could actually feel his heart beating rapidly. At one point, Kevin pulled over to get out and look at the view while I stayed with Lars in the car. He ducked behind a few trees just out of sight and our boy totally lost it. Looked as if his dad had just fallen into the canyon! He started barking, crying and panicking. Kevin could barely get a few photos before having to come back and calm him down.
When we got to the bottom, the plan was to do a quick stroll through the Pa’rus Trail but the second Lars got out of the car he got all of the different kinds of sick. I’ll spare you the details but it alarmed us enough to jump right back in the car and head to the nearest vet.
The drive to the vet seemed to calm him down quite a bit. We threw a blanket over his head because it makes him feel safe (something we probably should’ve done while driving in Zion) and when we got there he was ready to play and even had some food and water.
This particular vet didn’t take walk-ins but we were so worried that they spoke with the doctor anyway and tried to get us in. We would’ve had to wait a few hours and, at that point, Lars was acting normal again so we didn’t stay. But we were able to give them all of the necessary paperwork Kevin had on his phone. We showed them that he had just had blood work done before we left, allergies, shots, everything. It could've really saved him if this had been a real medical emergency instead of wasting time redoing tests, calling our regular vet to send over records, etc.
We're so grateful that this wasn't anything more than a panic attack. Did you know dogs could have panic attacks?? We didn’t either.
2 —
Pamper the paws
If you’re traveling somewhere warm and especially in the desert, please make sure the ground is safe for your pet to walk on. The temperature of pavement can get pretty extreme baking in the sun all day so take precautions.
They make dog booties for this very thing. They might look ridiculous (or maybe ridiculously cute) but, they’ll ensure their pads remain without blisters or cracks. There are a variety of sizes and different uses so, shop around and find what's right.
We didn’t use booties because Lars hates having his front paws touched by anything. Couldn’t care less about his back ones but, for some reason, if anything comes close to those hands he flails around like a broken fish. So we opted for frequent ground temperature checks instead. Whenever we arrived somewhere suspected to be hot ground I gave it a quick check with the back of my palm. Kind of like you would check someone's forehead for a fever. Just feel it out for a few seconds to make sure it's not too much.
One thing I made sure to get once we returned was a great all-natural paw balm. Natural Dog Company makes safe products made with vegan ingredients so, if your pup is anything like Lars and loves to lick his paws, it's completely ok!
3 —
Release the zoomies!
It may sound obvious to take frequent breaks but it’s amazing what a quick jaunt at a rest stop can do for dog boredom and fatigue. They’ll be a new dog and able to sustain a few more hours of driving having tired themselves out.
4 —
Cozy up
As you can see, our boy isn't exactly small so, at first, the thought of taking him on a two-week trip sounded like torture and not something I was comfortable putting him through. But then we found this dog bed for the car. The one we previously had was more of a hammock whereas this has a solid plywood base that extends past the seat to allow for more room and stability. The hammock always felt as if he was kind of balancing there. Of course, we wouldn't be able to do this with a smaller vehicle but after loading that up with blankets and padding he had more than enough room in our 4Runner. The whole back seat was his own little cloud nook and he loved it!
Comfort is everything for animals and can make them feel at ease so figure out what's best for your pet. Do they like being bundled up and tucked away or would they rather have all eyes on the road? Do they prefer to be within petting distance of the driver or would they rather have a large space of their own in the way back? There are tons of products out there to help put them feel at ease and you'll know what's right for your pet.
This goes for booking your stays as well. We recently rented a tiny cabin for a night and I opted for two beds instead of our usual king. This boy was so happy to be able to starfish that bed without me trying to shove him over throughout the night or wake him up because his dream was causing him to run at my face!
5 —
Use a sunshade
When we drove from Philadelphia to Utah (and back) something I didn't consider before leaving was that we would be traveling straight in the same direction the whole time and the sun would be on one side of the car for most of the day. I started to get concerned because, even though Lars loves to lay in the sun, he seemed to want a break from it. So, we found a couple of sunshades at a Walmart along the way. They barely stayed on the windows, didn't cover all of it and I even ended up trying to close a blanket into the window to block more of the sun. Don't be like us! Come prepared with an excellent window shade to get your pup some relief.
After a bit of research, I found this one that I'm excited to try!
Update: I’ve been using this shade since my son was born and I love it! My only complaint is that it can be difficult to see your blind spot from the driver’s seat so be careful.
BONUS:
These might sound obvious but I wanted to include them anyway. You can’t be too safe when it comes to your dog!
Water
You never know how long you’ll be driving before hitting your next gas station or rest stop. Make sure you load up each time you stop. Our boy was drinking like a dehydrated fish on our long trip. He was chugging those one-gallon jugs and swiftly moving onto our water bottles. You also don’t know how safe certain towns’ drinking water will be so always have a plan.
Food
You don’t want to be struggling to find your dog’s preferred food while on the road. If you’re in the US, you’re likely to find a Petco or Pet Smart every few hours but some stores might be out so don’t take the risk. Having to suddenly switch to a different food might make them sick, especially if they’re anxious travelers so bring more than what you think you’ll need.
Lars goes through a 20lb bag every couple of weeks so I bought a huge sealed container to throw it in and kept it on our roof rack.
Start small
If your dog isn’t used to being in the car for long periods of time it’s worth preparing them for it. Consider doing a few smaller trips leading up to the big event. It will get them used to being in the car for that long as well as familiarize them with the space. Bring their favorite blanket for scent and make sure the car feels like their safe space.
Ease into it
You don’t want to throw your dog right into a chaotic travel schedule packed with activities right away. They might not react the way you expect and they’ll be exhausted right out of the gate. Take it easy for the first few days and evaluate how they do.
Each pet is unique in their needs and you’ll know what’s right for them. Once you have everything squared away all that’s left is to enjoy. And trust me, you and your pet will both be happier travelers and you’ll have piece of mind knowing you’re prepared for anything!
Related posts
Camping with Dogs - Tips and Tricks for a Safe and Fun Trip
Budget Friendly Tips for Road Trips with the Family
Please note that some of the links above are affiliate links. I earn a small commission if you make a purchase.
The ideas and opinions expressed in this post are entirely my own.
