Preparing for your first dog road trip with your dog can be stressful. There are so many things to consider from dog safety to entertainment. Here are the best tips for preparing your dog and yourself for a road-trip of a lifetime.
To fully prepare for a safe and fun dog road trip you need to book appropriate accommodation, prepare your dog for car rides, collate a dog information folder and pack appropriate equipment to keep your dog comfortable and entertained.
Table of Contents
Finding Accommodation
When booking accommodation it isn’t always clear whether they are truly pet friendly. Some websites say that they are pet friendly but there are hidden costs. It is always a good idea to contact the hotel, motel or owners of the property you want to stay at before booking. Ask about pet policies and requirements including breed restrictions, rules and extra fees.Â
Here are some good questions to ask:
- What are your pet policies?
- Do you have any breed restrictions?
- Are there any extra fees on top of the nightly rate?
- Can I bring multiple dogs? If so are there extra costs?
- Are there extra cleaning fees?
- Do you provide dog beds?
- Are there dog parks located nearby?
- What dog friendly locations do you recommend near your accommodation?
Preparing your Dog
Veterinarian Check-Up
A few days before leaving for your road trip take your dog to the vet to see if he is well enough to go on holidays. Make sure your dog is up-to-date for vaccinations and enquire about additional vaccinations he might need for the trip. At new locations or destinations along the way there might be different diseases or threats to where you live.
Up-Date Contact Information
Make sure your dog is microchipped before going away. Update the contact information on the microchip if necessary. It is also important to update visible contact information on your dog, for example his collar identification tag. Make sure his name is correct and your mobile phone number is visible too. If your current ID tag has your home phone number, consider buying a new tag just for travelling. Include your mobile phone number and maybe additional emergency contact numbers of a family member or friend who lives in the area you are going to visit.
Toilet Training
Because there are a limited amount of suitable spots to stop on a road trip with a dog it is a good idea to train your dog to go to the bathroom on command. This is important so you don’t have any accidents in the car and also so your dog goes to the bathroom when he has the opportunity at a service station or roadside park. Personally, I take my dog outside of the car and walk around for a while in a grassy area on car trips at every stop. She is now used to going to the toilet on a leash and with noisy distractions such as oncoming traffic. It’s also a good idea to make your dog go to the toilet at home before you leave.Â
Practice Drives
If your dog hasn’t had much experience in a car, take him on short, maybe 15 minute drives around your neighbourhood. Get your dog used to his car spot. This might be on the back seat or in the boot. Get him used to wearing a harness with a dog seatbelt or travelling in a dog crate. Figure out how your dog reacts to car rides, he might get motion sick, nervous or whimper etc. By doing practice drives you can find out the best methods to calm your dog before going on the real long drive. If your dog does get motion sick, consider not feeding him an hour before you leave and investigating motion sickness tablets.
Preparing Yourself
Besides booking accommodation and planning your travel route there are many ways to prepare yourself for any scenario that may arise while on a road trip with your dog.
Dog Information Folder
Make a display folder with all of your dogs information in it. This includes vaccination records, medical records, birth certificates, up to date photos of your dog etc. Research all of the vets and pet hospitals at the locations you are going to visit. Make a list of all of these with addresses, contact numbers and opening hours. This information will come in handy for dog accommodation or in the case that your dog goes missing.
Apps
There are many apps that you can use to prepare yourself for a dog road trip. These include: BringFido, MadPaws, Red Cross Pet First Aid, Tractive GPS for Dogs and Cats. These are all available on ios.
First Aid Kit
Buy or make a DIY dog first aid kit. This should include gauze pads, adhesive tape, ice pack, gloves, scissors, tweezers, antibiotic ointment, towels, flashlight, alcohol wipes, saline eye solution, phone numbers of vets. Consider taking an animal first aid course before going on your trip if you are going to do a lot of outdoor adventure activities.
Research Weather Reports
Take the weather into consideration when packing for your dog. If you are going to a location that is colder than your home, bring more blankets and maybe a warm dog coat. If you are going to a hotter location consider ways that you can make your dog more comfortable, for example air conditioning in the car etc. By taking the weather into account you can also plan better stops along the way on the road trip.
What to Pack
Make a dog travel bag that is separate from your luggage and easily accessible for the trip. Make sure you pack:
Food
Measure out your dog’s kibble for the amount of days you are planning to be away and pack a bit extra just in case there are changes in plans. To be extra prepared, portion out your dog’s kibble into reusable ziplock bags for each meal. Also consider how you will bring fresh produce, for example meat, bones, etc. Pack meat for a few days in an esky with ice blocks if you have access to a fridge at your destination. Otherwise purchase fresh meat at your location. It is also a good idea to bring a bag of dog treats for training and good behaviour on the trip.Â
Collar & Leash
Don’t forget to put your dog’s leash into the car. It would be a bit of a disaster as most public spaces require dogs to be on leash at all times.
Bedding
Bring your dogs bed with you. Even if the accommodation states that there is dog bedding, your dog might not like sleeping in it because of other dog’s smells or might just prefer the comfort of their own bed. If you bring your own bed, it will help your dog adjust to the new destination as his routine will be somewhat similar. It’s also a good idea to bring dog blankets as it might be cold at your destination. If you are going to a hotel/motel being a dog crate as this is generally required.
Toys
Bring a variety of dog toys including chew, tug, balls and soft toys. Leave at least one of these in the car for entertainment.
Medical & Grooming Supplies
Bring your dog’s waste bags, nail clippers, dog shampoo, brush, any medication they are on, flea/tick tablets, motion sickness tablets and a first aid kit. Bring your dog’s medical and vaccination records.
If you follow all of these tips, you will definitely have an enjoyable, worry free road-trip holiday with your dog.
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