There's something about packing for a road trip with your dog that makes you realize they somehow require more stuff than you do.
Food.
Water.
Bowls.
Bed.
Leash.
Backup leash.
Poop bags.
Approximately 14 treats for a drive that is 45 minutes long.
But road trips with your dog can also be the best kind of trip.
Your favorite person is coming.
They don't complain about your music.
They're thrilled about every rest stop.
And as far as they're concerned, this entire vacation was planned specifically for them.
So before you load up your four-legged copilot, here's how to make the trip safer and easier for everyone.
Start With a Few Practice Rides
If your dog's current car experience consists exclusively of driving to the veterinarian, don't make their next trip an eight-hour drive to Arizona.
Start smaller.
Take a few short drives somewhere fun. Gradually increase the amount of time they spend in the car and let them get comfortable with whatever travel setup you'll be using.
Some dogs are born ready to ride shotgun.
Others need a little practice.
Technically, nobody should actually be riding shotgun.
Which brings us to...
Buckle Up Your Baby
We buckle ourselves in.
We buckle our kids in.
Our dogs need to be safely secured too.
Use an appropriate secured crate/carrier or a vehicle restraint designed for dogs, and keep them in the back rather than loose in the front seat. A loose dog can become a serious distraction and can be badly injured during a sudden stop or crash.
And we know they look adorable with their head out the window.
Still not worth it.
Flying debris and sudden movements can cause injuries, and an unrestrained dog near an open window can potentially fall or jump out.
They can enjoy the breeze with the window cracked from their safely secured position.
They'll forgive you.
Eventually.
Pack the Dog Bag
Your dog's road-trip bag should include the basics:
Food, water, bowls, leash, poop bags, medications, identification, vaccination/medical information when appropriate, a basic first-aid kit and something familiar from home.
Bring a favorite toy or blanket if that helps your dog settle.
And pack more poop bags than you think you need.
This is simply one of the laws of traveling with dogs.
ID Before Adventure
Before leaving, make sure your dog's ID tag has your current phone number and their microchip registration is up to date.
Also keep a recent photo of your dog on your phone.
Hopefully you'll never need any of it.
But unfamiliar environments can make even normally reliable dogs behave unpredictably, so this is one area where we'd rather be overprepared.
Schedule the Potty Stops
Your dog cannot read the GPS and does not care that you're “only 47 minutes from the hotel.”
Plan regular opportunities for water, stretching, sniffing and bathroom breaks.
And keep your dog leashed when you stop.
Highway rest areas are absolutely not the place to test whether their recall is as good as you think it is.
Know Your Dog's Stomach
Some dogs hop into a car and immediately fall asleep.
Others make it three exits before looking at you in a way that says something terrible is about to happen.
If your dog gets carsick or extremely anxious during drives, talk with your veterinarian before the trip.
Avoid experimenting with medications or new products for the first time halfway through your vacation.
And plan meals thoughtfully rather than feeding a giant breakfast immediately before a long drive.
Never Leave Them in the Car
Not for lunch.
Not because you'll “only be five minutes.”
Not because you cracked the windows.
A parked vehicle can become dangerously hot very quickly, and cold conditions can be dangerous too.
If you're traveling with your dog, plan your stops around the fact that your dog is traveling with you.
Yes, this sometimes means eating a sandwich in the parking lot.
That's parenting.
Check the Hotel Before Releasing the Beast
You finally arrive.
Before you unclip the leash and let your dog conduct a full hotel-room inspection, do your own inspection first.
Check the floor, under furniture and around beds for medications, food, trash or anything else left behind by a previous guest. Secure anything your dog shouldn't get into.
The ASPCA specifically recommends pet-proofing unfamiliar lodging before letting pets explore.
Then bring in their bed or blanket and let them settle.
And Yes, Check the Pet Policy
“Pet friendly” can mean very different things from one hotel to another.
Before booking, confirm size restrictions, pet fees, number-of-pet limits and whether your dog can be left alone in the room.
Also figure out what you're actually going to do with your dog once you arrive.
A dog-friendly hotel doesn't help much if every activity you've planned says NO DOGS ALLOWED.
The Best Copilot Has Four Legs
Road trips are different with a dog.
You'll stop more.
You'll pack more.
You'll spend an unreasonable amount of time searching “dog-friendly restaurants near me.”
And somehow it makes the whole trip better.
Because your dog doesn't care whether you booked the nicest hotel or made it to every stop on the itinerary.
They got in the car with their person.
As far as they're concerned?
Best. Vacation. Ever.
