What to Pack for a Road Trip with Your Dog

The holiday season is approaching fast. Learn several quick tips to make road trips with your dog easy as pie! If your dog is traveling with the family, let’s discuss essential items needed during road trips. Promise you’ll not be packing the kitchen sink!

 Tip: Pack all dog items in a carry-on size suitcase.

 This eliminates trying to locate multiple small items in the car when traveling and ensures all your dog’s items are unloaded upon arrival at your final destination.

Food

Calculate how many days you will be traveling, then multiple by daily food intake by cups. If you’re traveling 7 days and your dog eats 4 cups of kibble per day, you’ll need to pack 28 cups of food. As a general rule, I always add an extra 10% of kibble in case of emergency, such as when kibble is accidentally spilled or weather has forced you to travel longer.

For storing food while traveling, you can purchase an extra bag of kibble or store kibble in a container. Bringing an extra bag of food is probably the easiest, but can be the messiest, as luggage and crates can puncture the bag or your dog can chew a hole when no one is looking. 🙂 Personally, I use a container. It’s durable, easier to keep kibble dry and fresh, but it can take up valuable space in your car. Now that I feed a raw diet, I pack each dog’s daily meals into  plastic bags, freeze and pack in a larger cooler.

Don’t forget treats! Usually, I purchase several bags of dried fruit (pineapple, mango and apricots) to reward my dogs for not loading up in the car, not jumping on strangers at the rest area, not pottying on the leash and so forth.

Water

Pack several bottles of water, either purchased or refilled jugs, and a bowl.  When packing, place the water bowl and jug of water next to your dog’s crate, so it’s easy to locate during rest stops. Everyone becomes dehydrated while traveling, same goes for your dog. When you stop to potty your dog, offer him 2 to 8 ounces (amount depends on size of dog) of water in a small bowl. If he drinks all the water, offer him more. When leaving your destination, fill up your water bottles again for the ride home.

You can also leave a filled water bowl in his crate, but I’ve yet to find one that will not spill or easily be chewed. For seat belted dogs, I’ve heard the To Go Bowl works great, but I’ve not tried it yet. Basically, this is a small dog bowl that fits in a cup holder — pretty neat idea. I like giving water every 2 to 3 hours during “human” potty breaks, as I’m sure our pooches have to go too!

Vaccination Records

Print a copy of your dog’s vaccination records, especially his Rabies Certificate, as all states require up-to-date rabies vaccinations. Before a trip, I print each dog’s vaccination records, pet insurance forms, a current picture (in case something terrible happens) and medical history for dog’s with special needs, then place all this information in a pocket folder. This folder is kept on the outside zippered pocket of their suitcase.

Sound Machines (Yes, Really!)

A sound machine plugs into an outlet and plays soothing music, which drowns out unfamiliar noises and prevents dogs from barking. At night and when dogs are left alone, always confine your dog in a crate with soothing sounds from a sound machine and a food-stuffed toy. I recommend HoMedics Sound Machines and, if you choose one with an iPod dock, I HIGHLY recommend downloading Through a Dog’s Ear music, which is clinically demonstrated to calm most dogs. Personally, it’s very calming for me too, which is a nice advantage when traveling. 🙂 Don’t believe me. Try out their free music sample download!

Waterless Shampoo (You Just Never Know!)

Every time I forget waterless shampoo, I’ve regretted it! Waterless shampoo is easily sprayed and wiped off with a towel to spot clean a dog. Traveling with a pooch wet from rain is not fun so you and your car’s interior will thank me. 🙂 My fav is Nature’s Specialty Speedy Groom Waterless Shampoo.

Preventing Motion Sickness

Dogs can feel sick to their stomach while traveling in a car too! While vomiting is a tell-tale sign, dogs can drool, whine and pace back and forth and, yes, have dreaded diarrhea. To prevent this from happening, start bringing your dogs along on small trips around the city. This conditions them to car rides. If you notice any signs of motion sickness, you can prevent it with Dramamine or Bonine. You can purchase both at a pharmacy. However, ask your vet for correct dosage, as all dogs are different. I’ve had excellent luck with Bonine, not only does it prevent motion sickness, it’s also not as sedating as Dramamine. Provide a dose 20 minutes or so before everyone loads up and takes off for the trip.

While many recommend not feeding your dog before a trip, I disagree. You know how lousy you feel on an empty stomach, I usually feed them a couple of hours before a trip. Also, play soft music and keep the car cool. This will reduce nausea and anxiety, which are huge pluses to preventing motion sickness. 🙂

Toys/Chews

Bring lots of chews and a food-stuffed toy along on your trip. Just as children play with puzzles and watch DVDs while traveling, give your dog something to do also. I highly recommend food-stuffed puzzles. They’re easy to stuff, dogs can’t destroy the toy and you can stuff them a billion times! Pack a small jar of peanut butter, a food stuff-able toy and a few chews in your doggie suitcase. Not only are these awesome during car rides, they are wonderful to leave with your dog, while confined at your final destination and when left alone.

Collar/Leash with Tags (Poop Bags)

Your dog should wear a collar with updated ID tags at all times, even when riding in the car. Click here to learn the importance of ID tags and microchipping your dog. It could save his life! Bring a sturdy 6-foot leash and plenty of poop bags to pick up waste.

Crate/Seatbelt Harness

Buckle up! Dogs must be securely contained when riding in a vehicle. Click here for the safest ways to contain your dogs.

First Aid Bag

Pet first aid bags are a must, especially when traveling. Don’t forget to pack your dog’s dose of heart worm preventive if he’s scheduled for a monthly dose. Click here for a list of must-have supplies, including a Pet First Aid phone app and the best pre-packaged pet first aid bag review.

 Useful Tips:

• Apply flea/tick preventive the day before traveling, especially during summer months or when you’re traveling through heavily infested areas.
• Pack paper towels:  Useful for dogs and people.
• Bring 2 large towels just in case:  Dry off a wet dog.
• Bring a small bottle of enzymatic cleaning solution for cleaning accidents in the car or at your final destination.
• Never leave your dog in a warm or hot car.
• Don’t allow your dog to ride in the back of a pickup truck. Restrain him inside the vehicle instead.