And how to prepare your pup for the ride
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Traveling with your dog is a great way to bond! But if you have a large breed that doesn’t fit under those tiny airline seats or you’d rather not spend rent money on pricey plane tickets, we recommend road tripping with your pup. Before zipping up your suitcase, make sure you pack all of the dog road trip essentials you’ll need for a successful vacation. Beyond toys and treats, dogs need gear designed to keep them safe, happy and clean while traveling.
Ellen Diamant is the co-founder of Cleverpup, a brand that makes durable, functional dog travel products that meet FDA human-grade food safety standards. “I've learned from countless road trips with my dog that success comes down to smart packing,” she says. Using Diamant’s insights and tips from real dog parents who travel with their pups frequently, we’ve created the dog road trip essentials list below.
What to Pack Your Dog for a Road Trip
Cleverpup
Traveling dogs need high-quality luggage as much as humans do. Invest in a travel bag for your dog that is big enough to hold treats, food, a leash, a first aid kit, cleaning wipes, pop-up bowls, poop bags and a microfiber towel. Diamant and her team created the Porter Dog Gear Backpack for these longer trips. “I organize everything in my Porter backpack,” she says. “Treats and food in one section, cleanup supplies in another, plus room for both our essentials. It makes grabbing what we need so much easier when we're on the go.” Other great options include the Ruffwear Haul Bag and the Modoker Dog Travel Kit.
Amazon
2. Collapsible Bowls
Both on the road and once you arrive at your destination, your dog’s going to eat and drink. Collapsible (or pop-up) food and water bowls are ideal for traveling because they take up less space when not in use. You can find these included in many dog travel bag bundles, but make sure you buy the right size for your pup. Ruffwear makes a nylon bowl in three sizes that literally folds down into a tiny square, but users say it can be hard to get it back to this size once you’ve opened it. For dogs who may get carsick (more on this below) or thirsty in the car, a Gorilla Grip Portable Dog Water Bottle might be your best bet.
Cleverpup
You’ve got the bowls, don’t forget the food! Diamant says she portions out exact meals, plus an extra day’s worth of food just in case. Before creating Cleverpup, Diamant filled Ziploc bags with food. Now, she uses her Bistro Food Travel Kit. “No more mess, no more guessing at portions on the road,” she says. The Kurgo Kibble Carrier also holds up to five pounds of dry food and folds down if you don’t need all the space provided.
Amazon
Eric Stevens, a dog owner who estimates he and his yellow Labrador, Summit, have taken 15 to 20 road trips together over the years, says he has a seat protector he uses to keep dog hair contained. Labs shed a ton, so he only has moderate success, but it’s smart to spread something where your dog will sit to preserve your car seats as long as possible. If you’ve got another passenger in the backseat, the Meadowlark cover lets you fold down one side. It also works in trunks too, if that’s your pup’s designated spot.
Paw
5. Dog Bed
Depending on where you’re headed, you may need to bring a dog bed with you. Many pet-friendly Airbnbs and hotels also ask you to bring your own dog bed, so a travel one like the PupProtector Memory Foam Car Bed could be a soothing spot en route and a cozy sleep station upon arrival. Furhaven also makes a travel dog bed that rolls up like a sleeping bag if your dog isn’t big on sleeping during the drive.
Amazon
Dogs must be buckled in, too! In the event of an accident, you want your pup safely secured with a crash-tested dog harness. The Sleepypod Clickit Sport Plus harness is a great option. Some dogs may need more than a harness, so a crash-tested travel crate or dog car seat is necessary. Please don’t let your dog roam freely in the car! This is not only distracting to you, it’s dangerous to them if you brake suddenly or someone runs into you.
Woof
Speaking of distractions, toys are definitely dog road trip essentials. Pack your dog’s favorite toys to remind them of home and help them stay entertained on the ride. We love Woof’s Bullysafe chew toy because it keeps dogs occupied without presenting a choking hazard. Soft or plush toys that smell like home can make car rides easier for dogs who get anxious or don’t handle transitions well.
DOG by Dr. Lisa
Dogs might see potty breaks on road trips as opportunities to roll in dirt or walk through mud. If this happens, having some cleaning wipes on hand is ideal. We like the DOG Wipes from DOG by Dr Lisa because they won’t strip your dog’s coat of its natural oils, are 100 percent compostable and can also be used on surfaces, like your car seat (patch tests are still recommended).
Amazon
Depending on where you’re driving, a microfiber towel might be necessary to dry off your dog post bath, swim or rain shower. These can also clean any messes that occur during the trip, like a wagging tail knocking coffee out of your hand, for instance.
Amazon
Grabbing poop bags on the way out the door with a dog is second nature, but just in case you needed a reminder, pack extra, along with a poop bag carrier, on a road trip. Adventurers heading to state parks (make sure dogs are allowed where you’re going!) or campsites never want to leave a trace, so any poop that goes in should be tossed in a bag (we like Earth Rated’s compostable poop bags).
11. Treats
“I never leave home without extra treats in easy-reach treat pockets,” Diamant says. “They're lifesavers for everything from keeping my pup calm at a new coffee shop to rewarding good behavior at rest stops. Having different types of treats ready has gotten us through so many situations on our travels.” Limited space? Pack human snacks that work for dogs too, like cucumbers, carrots or bell peppers.
Make sure your dog’s tags are up-to-date with their vaccination status and your contact info. It’s also wise to pack your dog’s medical and vaccination records in case you need to visit a vet while traveling. Of course, we hope this doesn’t happen, but being prepared will give you peace of mind and you’ll be able to reference accurate info should your dog experience an emergency.
14. Leashes
Bring more than one leash! They can get lost in hotels, stuck in the bottom of a random bag or wear out. A retractable leash is a good idea if you want to allow your dog some extra space without worrying they’ll wander off.
Phil Mutz
You may already be planning on buckling a travel crate into your car, but if not, consider a collapsible or packable option. We’re partial to the inflatable Enventur Travel Kennel from Diggs. Philip Mutz, PureWow’s VP of News and Entertainment, tried it out with his pup Bubbie and enjoyed that it traveled well in the car, inflated quickly for easy set-up and provided a cozy spot for the dog. If this option is out of your price range, a basic metal crate that folds down also gets the job done.
How to Prepare Your Dog for a Road Trip
Every dog is different, so you may need to tweak these tips to better suit your pup’s personality.
1. Practice with Quick Car Rides
2. Test Out Your Gear
Don’t wait to test your collapsible water bowl or dog car seat until the moment you need to use it while traveling. This is a great way to get frustrated really quickly. Familiarize yourself – and your dog – with the travel equipment so they don’t refuse food out of a pop-up bowl or whine over a brand new, never-before-slept-in bed.
3. Use Calming Treats
4. Talk to Your Dog
This may sound silly, but my parents talk to their dog as they pack for road trips. Frannie, a Lab, associates suitcases with my parents leaving the house and she legitimately gets depressed. But, when they plan to bring her along, my mom constantly says things like, “Yes, Frannie, you’re coming too!” If your dog responds well to this type of thing, keep her in the loop as you pack her gear!
5. Crate Train
Crate training can help enormously on road trips with your dog. Obviously, if you plan to secure a crate in your vehicle for your dog to sit in during the ride, they’ll need to be used to the crate first. Beyond that, crate training makes adjusting to new environments easier on dogs. Crates provide them with comfort and their own space to go to in an unfamiliar place. If you invest in a new crate specific for travel, test it out beforehand!
6. Rent Supplies Ahead of Time
This is actually more for you during the preparation stage, but your dog will thank you upon arrival. BabyQuip, a site where you can rent baby equipment to avoid lugging everything with you, recently launched pet packages. Things like pet stairs, gates, strollers, bowls and more are available to rent and pick up at various locations around the U.S. You can rent up to the day before you travel, but the brand recommends giving more advanced notice when possible (especially during holiday seasons).
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should you stop on road trips with dogs?
How often you stop on road trips with your dog depends on your dog’s energy level, bladder capacity and comfort. Stevens has done several six-hour road trips with his dog, Summit. On those trips, he says he stops once or twice to get out, take a bathroom break and walk around (one stop every three hours). It’s worth noting that Summit is a very chill Lab. High energy dog breeds might need more frequent stops or longer potty breaks.
How can you prevent motion sickness in dogs during long road trips?
According to VCA Animal Hospitals, it’s totally common and normal for dogs to get motion sickness in cars, especially in their first year. After that, most dogs outgrow it. However, pups who have bad experiences in cars early on or who simply get extra anxious in a vehicle might continue getting nauseous on rides into adulthood.
VCA Animal Hospitals recommends counter-conditioning your pup, which basically means easing them into short rides to get them used to the sensation of being in a moving car. Start super slow, by just sitting in the car together. Work up to backing out of the driveway, then down the street, then on short errands. Constantly praise your pup with treats and reassure them with a calm demeanor.
If this doesn’t work, your vet may be able to prescribe motion sickness medication. Over-the-counter supplements could also work. VCA says to look for ingredients like casein protein derivative, L-Theanine, “kava, valerian, passionflower, ginger, and skullcap.” CBD oil products for dogs are available too, but please check with your vet first.
How can you calm your dog in the car during long road trips?
We’ve already mentioned calming dog treats and interactive treat toys. Another tool? Music. “Dogs love listening to calm, soothing music on long road trips,” Stevens says. He plays Little River Band and Enya for Summit, so start there and figure out which tunes relax your pup.
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