What to Pack for a Dog on a Road Trip: 13 Vet-Approved Essentials
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View 4 More +If you’re planning on going away and taking your dog, a road trip offers you the freedom to travel around as well as the chance to travel with your pups. It isn’t as restricting, and you don’t have to worry about how your dog will react to airplane journeys or whether you can get them on a train or bus.
But, as enjoyable as the experience can be, you need to plan your trip accordingly to ensure you have everything you need. From food bowls and food to poop bags, we cover the essentials you’re going to need to stock up on for your dog on a road trip.
The 13 Essentials to Pack for a Dog on a Road Trip
Supplies for the Car
1. Car Seat
Smaller dogs benefit from being given their own car seats. They provide a little extra height for those that like to look out the window and the padded base and sides also give extra support and comfort. They also help protect the car interior, so you don’t have to spend as long attempting to hoover up dog hairs and other mess.
The Nandog Quilted Micro-Plush Dog Car Seat Bed has a plush exterior fabric that is comfortable and regulates temperature. It has a fiberfill filling that retains its shape well, and it is machine washable.
2. Car Seat Cover
Even dogs that tend to stay naturally clean will still drop hairs and potentially drool on the car seat. A car seat cover is a good option for larger dogs that don’t necessarily need their own seat.
The Frisco Quilted Water Resistant Hammock Car Seat Cover protects the back seat as well as the floor. It is water resistant so can be used when it’s raining, and it has seatbelt slits so you can properly harness your dog and maintain their safety.
3. Seat Belt and Harness
You should secure your dog in their seat using the car’s seat belt. This can prevent or minimize injuries in the event of an accident, by preventing them from being thrown around the car. While a dog seat belt will attach directly to a collar, attaching it to a harness means that if you stop suddenly, the pressure of the seatbelt being pulled is spread across the body, so it causes less pain and is less likely to cause injury.
The SlowTon Car Safety Dog Harness with Seat Belt includes a seat belt that connects to the seat belt receiver in your car. The harness, which is available in different sizes for different sizes of dogs, attaches to your dog and the belt clips to the harness. The harness can be used with a normal leash when out of the car and is made from breathable mesh that won’t cause your dog to get too hot.
Food and Water
4. Travel Bowls
Whether you’re going on a day trip or are driving the full length of the country, your dog will need bowls to eat and drink from. Travel bowls are convenient because they can be more easily stored, typically taking up less space and being less prone to breakage than standard bowls.
The Prima Pets Collapsible Silicone Travel Dog & Cat Bowl with Carabiner collapses down to a small disc shape that can be stored in a bag or a compartment in the car. The carabiner means it can be attached to a bag handle. The silicone material can safely be put in the top rack of the dishwasher and the large size will hold up to 5 cups of food or water.
4. Food
- Our Pick: The Farmer’s Dog
Ideally you should take your dog’s regular food with you on road trips. The food should be complete, nutritious, and appetizing, and make sure you have enough and then some should your plans change.
The Farmer’s Dog food is fresh food that is delivered to your door. It does need refrigerating because it is fresh, so you will need a cooler box if you’re taking more than a day’s supply with you. But a subscription with The Farmer’s Dog means that the food comes portioned and is ready to feed straight away.
5. Water
If you’re stopping at the side of the road or won’t have access to fresh, clean water, you need to have some on hand, so your dog doesn’t go without.
The Highwave AutoDogMug Portable Dog Water Bottle & Bowl is a convenient bottle with a bowl on the top. Squeeze the bottle to fill the bowl, let your dog drink, and when they’ve finished, release the pressure on the bottle so the remaining water is pulled back into the bottle.
Entertainment
6. Toys
- Our Pick: Petstages Dogwood Tough Dog Chew Toy
You can just pack your dog’s favorite toy in the car, but why not treat them to something new, especially for the journey? It will keep them busy while they investigate and start to chew. Choose your dog’s favorite kind of toy but, if possible, avoid balls because they can be easily lost under chairs and even under feet, while a squeaky toy could get annoying after 2 hours of a car journey.
Something like the Petstages Dogwood Tough Dog Chew Toy will keep your dog busy for hours on a trip. It combines real wood and a synthetic, long-lasting material. The wood smell and texture may help attract your dog and it comes in a good variety of sizes to meet the needs of any dog.
7. Treats
Treats are not only great as a reward for good behavior, but they can also help if you get into a tight spot and really need to get your dog’s attention. If they get out when you pull over and you’re at risk of them running off, for example, you have a good chance of getting them back with a tasty treat. You do need to be careful when feeding treats on car journeys, though. Make sure they aren’t too tough or could get stuck in the throat.
Blue Buffalo Nudges Grillers Steak Dog Treats are made from real steak and natural ingredients. They are appealing, come in a resealable packet, and are tender enough that they shouldn’t prove to be a choking hazard on a car journey.
Care and Maintenance
8. Poop Bags
- Our Pick: PET N PET Dog Poop Bags & Dispenser
You should never leave home without poop bags when you’ve got your dog with you, and while a roll might seem like a lot, if you’re away for more than a day or two, you’re going to need a lot of bags.
The PET N PET Dog Poop Bags & Dispenser set includes 48 rolls of bags, giving a total of 720 poop bags. It also includes a dispenser that can be attached to a belt loop or leash. The bags are biodegradable, and the core and packaging are all made from recycled materials.
9. Extra Leash
- Our Pick: Frisco Solid Nylon Dog Leash
Even the strongest leashes break eventually, and when you’re traveling there is always the danger that you’ll leave one behind in a hotel or a gas station. Having an extra leash means you won’t be rushing around trying to find a pet store to buy a replacement.
The Frisco Solid Nylon Dog Leash is inexpensive but solid. It has a metal clip that attaches to a collar or harness and its 6-foot length makes it convenient and easy to use. It also comes in a selection of different colors.
10. Wipes
- Our Pick: Hepper Wash Wipes
Space is probably going to be somewhat limited in the car, which means packing various shampoos and products might not be feasible. And even if you can fit a bottle of shampoo, you won’t be able to use it until you stop and find a decent water supply. Wash wipes are a good alternative that enables you to spot clean.
Hepper Wash Wipes are scented with cucumber and aloe. The tub contains 30 wipes, which are dispensed conveniently through the top opening, and they are effective at breaking down bad odors.
At Dogster, we’ve admired Hepper for many years and decided to take a controlling ownership interest so that we could benefit from the outstanding designs of this cool pet company!
11. Enzymatic Cleaner
If your dog is one of those that tends to run through puddles or step in their own poop, it is going to cause a mess in the car. Even if you have seat covers and floor covers, there’s a risk that the mess will get onto the upholstery. Having a good cleaner to hand means you can deal with messes before the smell really gets ground in.
Hepper Advanced Bio-Enzyme Pet Stain & Odor Eliminator Spray is an enzymatic cleaner which means it breaks down the molecules that cause smells and stains. It has a natural aroma and because it breaks down the molecules that cause the smell, you’re not just masking a smell with another.
At Dogster, we’ve admired Hepper for many years and decided to take a controlling ownership interest so that we could benefit from the outstanding designs of this cool pet company!
For Longer Trips
12. Bed
- Our Pick: Chuckit! Travel Pillow Dog Bed
When traveling, you can’t really take a large solid-sided bed, or even a wicker basket with you, but that doesn’t mean you can’t take something comfortable for your dog to lie and sleep on.
The Chuckit! Travel Pillow Dog Bed can be rolled and placed in its stuff sack, which will fit in a small space in the trunk. It’s a breathable material, can be machine washed, and it dries out quickly, so you can keep it smelling fresh even while you’re away.
13. Crate
A lot of owners use a crate for their dogs. They offer security for the dog, as well as convenience and ease for the owner. Over time, a dog will not only learn to accept a crate but will treat it as their own little area, with many dogs choosing to get in their crate to relax during the day. When traveling, it isn’t really feasible to take a full-sized, hard crate with you.
The Frisco Indoor & Outdoor 3-Door Collapsible Soft-Sided Dog & Small Pet Crate is lightweight and doesn’t need tools to put it up and take it down. The breathable mesh walls ensure your dog gets plenty of air, and it can be easily folded so it can be moved around from one location to the next without any fuss.
Conclusion
Going on a road trip should be fun and offer an opportunity to get away from it all. Sharing the experience with your dog is a great way for you to bond and ensures you don’t miss your four-legged companion while you’re away. Along with these essential items, be sure that your dog has up-to-date identification in the form of a tag or preferably a microchip.
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Featured Image Credit: eva_blanco, Shutterstock
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Matt is a freelance writer from the UK. He lives with his partner and daughter, as well as two cats and one dog. A data analyst by profession, Matt moved from numbers to words more than 15 years ago and has been writing ever since. Having volunteered at a local animal sanctuary, he has a lot of experience with dogs, cats, and horses. Matt has also kept bearded dragons, a variety of birds, fish, guinea pigs, hamsters, mice, and rats. His daughter has adopted the same passion for animals, keeping and breeding snakes. A geek at heart, Matt is a member of a local board gaming group and regularly forces his family to “enjoy” board games with him at home.
