Bringing your dog on a road trip is super exciting! But, it can also be super stressful. Throughout many long road trips with my husky Gatsby, I’ve learned through experience that planning is critical to ensure your dog stays happy and comfortable in the car. In this blog post, I share a list of 16 tips for road trips with dogs and driving with them in general. Also, you’ll find information on what you can do if your dog gets car sick, gets anxious in car rides, and ways to get your pup to be more comfortable in the car!
Tips for Road Trips With Dogs
1. Have Up-to-date Dog Tags and Microchip
Having up-to-date dog tags is pretty basic, but many dog parents forget to do this when they have moved. Ensure your contact information on your pup’s dog tag and the microchip is up to date. The last thing you want is a lost pup, and there is no way for anyone to contact you.
2. Bring a Copy of Your Dog’s Latest Health Certificate and Vaccination Record
If your dog gets injured during the trip and you need to take them to a vet, having a copy of your dog’s health certificate (signed off by your vet) and vaccination records will make things much smoother.
3. Bring the Necessities
Ensuring you have all the travel necessities for your pup is essential. I have a detailed blog post on dog travel road trip must-haves.
4. Give them Space in the Car
I suggest not to pack your car to the point where your dog has to squeeze between luggage with hardly enough room to lay down. Imagine yourself in the middle seat on a long, crowded flight. You won’t like that, and your dog doesn’t either. The more room and dedicated space they have, the more comfortable they will feel.
If you plan on folding down your back seats, you can bring a dog travel bed for your pup to lay on when they nap.
5. Get Their Energy Out Before the Road Trip
On the road trip day, my husband and I will always get up super early and take Gatsby out for a long walk first. If your dog has pent-up energy during a long car ride, you’re setting yourself up for failure.
6. Provide Your Dog with Mental Stimulation
Gatsby’s trainer always taught us, “if you tire the brain, you will tire the body.” For active breeds, a long walk isn’t enough. While your pup is going for that long walk before the road trip, make sure to let your pup sniff.
Dogs see the world through scent, which is a great way to stimulate their minds. Sniffing is also calming to a dog. Did you know that just 20 minutes of sniffing is the same as walking your dog for an hour?
Another way to provide mental stimulation is to let your dog play with a snuffle mat or give them a lickimat with peanut butter (use peanut butter that does not contain xylitol because it’s toxic to dogs). Here is a more detailed blog post on mental stimulation for dogs and how to fight boredom.
7. Use Positive Reinforcement & Reward Your Dog with High Value Treats
Help your pup understand that a car ride means good things like treats are coming. When Gatsby first jumps into our jeep, he gets a treat which shows him that getting in the jeep without being asked is what he should do. When we stop for potty breaks, and he jumps out of the jeep, I give him a treat. Then he jumps back into the jeep; he gets another treat.
Gatsby will do anything for these high-value healthy freeze-dried raw treats.
8. Always Give Your Dog Access to Water
Don’t wait for a rest stop or when you stop by for gas to give your dog water. It’s essential to keep your dog hydrated during long road trips. We keep a filtered water bottle with us in the car all the time so that Gatsby can have access to clean water even when we fill up the bottle at drinking fountains.
9. Take Frequent Breaks
I understand you want to get to your destination as soon as possible so you can start exploring, but remember that your pup is stuck in the backseat dealing with turns and bumps on the road. Your dog may not be used to it at first.
Take frequent breaks so your dog can stretch their legs and go for potty breaks. You know those times when you have to pee so bad, but you have to wait until you see your next rest stop? Don’t let your pup go through that awful feeling.
10. Find a Dog-Friendly Hotel to Stay At
If you’re traveling to a dog-friendly hotel, be sure you booked a hotel that is actually dog-friendly. Some hotel websites specify they allow dogs but only allow one or two dogs up to 30 pounds. Always read the fine print or call the hotel to understand their pet-friendly policy!
Make sure to bring your dog’s blanket or toys with familiar smells to make your pup feel more comfortable when staying at the hotel.
11. Stop for Food or Activities Along the Way
When planning my road trips with Gatsby, I always ensure we maximize our opportunity to explore new areas. For example, if we’re driving through a city or town, I’ll be sure to look for dog-friendly parks, trails, shopping, and restaurants to experience together.
12. Safety Measures to Keep in Mind
No one wants it, but car accidents happen. It’s our responsibility as dog parents to keep our fur babies safe while driving with them.
Here are some precautions that are recommended:
- Use a crash-tested safety harness
- Don’t roll the window down all the way
- Or put your dog in a heavy duty crash-tested crate
13. Your Car is Going to Get Dirty and That’s OK
To all the clean-obsessed dog parents: Don’t get mad when your pup dirties your car. Dogs are messy in general! They shed, drool, and all of them get dirty. There’s no way around it, so accept the fact.
If you are still worried about your car, get seat covers and a portable car vacuum. Microfiber Quick-dry towels are best for quickly drying dogs off when they get wet.
Hopefully, all the dirt on your means they were having a ton of fun, which is the whole point of your trip, right?!
14. Don’t Leave Your Dog in the Car on a Hot Day
I have to mention this because it happens way too often!
Use your common sense. If it’s too hot in the car for you to be comfortable, it’s also too hot for your dog! Please don’t leave your dog unattended in a car on a hot day, even for a few minutes. Don’t become a statistic of those who leave their pups in the car only to find them dead when they return.
15. Pick Up After Your Dog
Picking up your dog’s poop should also be common sense, but many people still don’t do it.
Not picking up your dog’s poop is why so many places are not dog-friendly. No one wants to look at your dog’s poop, step on it or have it pollute the waterways.
We, as dog parents, need to do better than that.
16. Be Aware of Any Wildlife Around
Always be aware of your surroundings. You can encounter local wildlife anytime on the road (my friend crashed into a moose on a highway in New Hampshire) or even at campgrounds. Be aware of small wildlife if your dog has a high prey drive, so they don’t take off after the animal. Or, your pup can encounter a bear, and the last thing you want is to be chased by one!
Tips For Driving With Dogs in General
If you are starting small by driving locally around your neighborhood or trying to build your pup up for a long road trip, here are some general tips for driving with dogs.
How Do I Get My Dog Less Anxious To Ride In The Car?
- Start by desensitizing your dog to be around your car with small steps and positive reinforcement. Don’t start by just driving right away. Take your pup near your car, put your dog in the car, and close and open the car door. Play some music. Honk the horn to let your pup know what it sounds like. Do all this while giving your pup treats.
- If your pup is OK with all of this, then start driving. Have someone continue to give your pup treats while you are driving. Remember to start small by going around your neighborhood and giving your pup a break.
- Try giving your dog high quality CBD supplements an hour before the road trip to keep your pup calm and relaxed. I’ve given Gatsby a small amount of CBD oil during our road trip from NYC to Quebec in Canada. Make sure you speak to your vet first and ask if it’s OK to give your pup CBD supplements. Gatsby’s vet was OK with it and actually recommended CBD oil for his first long road trip to Canada.
- Provide your pup with mental stimulation and physical exercise right before the car ride, as mentioned above. This way, your pup is even too tired to be anxious. They’ll be sleeping instead.
I Think My Dog Gets Car Sick; What can I Do?
Your dog could be experiencing motion sickness if they show the following signs:
- Vomiting
- Excessive drooling
- Yawning or panting
- Inactivity
- Whining
- Smacking/licking lips
- Uneasiness
Things you can do to help with car motion sickness in dogs:
- Let your dog face forward if possible (on long road trips, I’ll put the backseats down so Gatsby won’t have to lay down sideways.)
- Open up the window a bit for some breeze.
- Always keep the car cool and well ventilated.
- Don’t feed your dog a big meal before the road trip.
- Ask your vet about potential medications that can help with your dog’s motion sickness.
What I don’t suggest for car rides
If you’re thinking of ways to keep your dog busy during car rides, I would not suggest giving your pup any dog chews. This would eliminate any chances of your dog choking on the chew while you drive.
With these 16 tips for road trips with dogs, you can better plan and prepare for your road trip adventure with your pup! Where are you taking your pup? Let me know in the comments!
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