Alright, let’s jump right into it. The first thing you’ll want to do when planning a road trip with your dog is to make sure your destination is dog-friendly! I mean, “duh”! But there’s no point in bringing your dog if they are just going to have to stay in the hotel — or worse, car — during your entire trip. So, do plenty of research on your destination prior to committing to it!
Optimize Your Car
Sweet! Now that you’ve picked your destination, let’s make sure your car is safe and comfy for your dogs! My first recommendation is to get a cargo/seat liner to prevent slobber/hair/nails from damaging your car.
Next, you’ll want to give your dog(s) a comfy and spacious area that is just for them. You won’t be able to explain to them that they are about to spend several hours in a car and likely won’t get out until they are a state or two away from home. So the least you can do is give them space where they can manage to relax while you drive.
You might be thinking, “what about your luggage?”. Well, we used to put our luggage on one side of the car, leaving the other side for the dogs. However, with three of them that just wasn’t enough. So we invested in this hitch carrier so that we could safely strap all of our luggage outside the car and leave the entire interior for the dogs. You can see a before and after below!
- Have up-to-date dog tags
- Don’t ignore their bathroom needs on long drives
- Find the local dog park
- Camp rather than stay at hotels
- Know your car is going to get dirty
- Know the regulations in your destination
- KDon’t leave your dog in the car on a hot day
- Pick up after your dog
- Be aware of wildlife
Optimize Your Car
Okay, the most important thing to think about when going on a road trip with your dog is how are you going to keep them safe. The last thing you want is to not have a plan during an emergency when you are thousands of miles away from home.
First, make sure your pets are up-to-date on all vaccines and preventatives. Then, ask your veterinarian for a copy of their records and bring them with you on your trip. Most vets should be able to send you an electronic copy nowadays!
Next, you’ll want to make sure your dogs are microchipped (and that it has your updated information). They should also be wearing a collar with tags that contain your contact information.
Christmas pet care checklist
