While a road trip with their furry pals can sound daunting for many dog owners, it doesn’t have to be. It only includes several simple planning steps such as preparing your dog, packing the right stuff for the ride and the vacation, and ensuring both your car and doggo are safe. Here are some of our best tips for a fun road trip with your pet, whether it’s an eager traveller or not so fond of car rides.
Prepare Your Dog
Your pup’s needs are among the first things to consider and plan around, whether planning only a short-distance or cross-country trip. That means you must pull often enough for potty breaks and movement, just like you would for yourself or other human companions. Ensure there are many secure spots along your journey for your pet to pull their legs. According to experts, most significant rest stations include spaces for dogs to play, stretch, and use the restroom.
How to prepare your dog for a long drive? If car rides make your furry friend anxious, behavioural training methods can help. Short practice trips ending in positive experiences, such as rides to their fave pet store or the dog park, can help lessen their anxiety before going for a longer trip. Avoid reserving the car rides only for visiting the vet.
Your pet must be healthy enough to travel, especially if they have existing issues. Talk to the vet in time to inform yourself how travel might affect such conditions, check if your vaccines and flea treatments are up-to-date, and ask for stress-reducing and anti-nausea aids for the trip.
Stack on the Right Travel Car Gear
While packing all the doggo essentials for your stay is important, so is packing those for the ride itself. Not only will it make your pet comfortable, taking the stress away, but also protect your car’s interior, keeping it fresh and clean.
Pet Covers for the Car
Your pet’s paws and claws can take a toll on your vehicle’s interior–scratches, fur, stains, and even the occasional muddy paw print can quickly make your seats look worn out. Protective pet covers for your car create a barrier between your pet and the upholstery, helping maintain your car’s condition while preventing expensive cleaning or repairs.
Dogs can be unpredictable passengers—jumping around, trying to peek out the window, or even moving onto your lap. A good dog car seat cover can keep your furry mate secure and prevent distractions while driving, as most options come with built-in restraints or attachment points for harnesses. With a waterproof design to trap dirt and moisture, pet covers for the car make cleaning a breeze. Some options offer cushioned support for a comfortable ride and hypoallergenic materials, helping to reduce anxiety.
When picking the best seat cover, consider the following:
- Size. Ensure the cover fits your car’s seats and provides enough space for your dog to sit or lie comfortably. Measure your back seat’s width to get the right fit, especially if you drive a larger vehicle like an SUV or ute.
- Materials. Waterproof fabrics like neoprene, polyester, or nylon are great choices, especially if your dog is prone to shedding or getting muddy. For larger, energetic dogs, canvas-like fabrics provide extra strength, while soft quilted covers offer a comfortable and low-maintenance alternative.
- Styles. Bench, hammock, and bucket are the most common designs. If your dog tends to move around a lot, a hammock-style cover prevents them from slipping into the footwell. For longer trips, a bench seat cover offers extra stability and comfort.
- Ease of installation. Look for a cover that’s easy to install and remove, with adjustable straps and quick-release buckles. This is especially useful if you frequently switch between using the cover and having passengers in the back seat.
Dog Bed
Some car seat covers for dogs, such as the hammock-style or a padded option that doubles as a car dog bed, you most likely won’t need an additional bed. But a dog bed is a must if your pup’s smaller or you want to provide them with a sleep spot during the vacation. For larger dogs, consider a carrier or collapsible enclosure.
Long Leash
A long harness provides freedom and room to move around even if your pup needs to be leashed while you set up the camp or can’t monitor them closely. Carabiners help free up your hands to unpack, prepare lunch at a rest area, etc., and attach your dog leash to anything. They’re also excellent for pitching a dog zip line for more independence while camping.
Accessories
A collapsible food bowl and a no-splash water bowl will ensure your dog always has treats and water without making a mess. Enough poop bags make the necessary potty breaks easier. A towel at the reach of your hand can be handy if your doggo gets wet and dirty.
You should always keep a first aid kit in your car, even if it’s just a simple “human” one. You can add a few extra items for camping and the dogs: rubber booties to keep paws sanitary in case of an injury, gloves to clean up trash someone else left at a campsite, and a Kwik Stop for torn and bleeding claws.
Pack Correctly
What to pack when travelling with a dog? All the accessories we mentioned above double as road and holiday additions for making the whole travelling experience fun and easier. You can extend the list to make it more customised to your pet’s needs and the nature of your trip. For example, you can include dog toys, a life vest if going to the beach, meds and supplements if you have a doggo with a medical condition.
