A road trip is one of my favorite forms of travel. I love being able to take my time traveling, seeing all that there is to see along the way. Packing ALL of my essentials, and even some of the non-essentials. The comfort of Betty, our Kia Telluride. I love all of these aspects of road trips, but what I love the most is being able to take our two dogs, Sebastian and Zella, along for the adventure! Read about our must haves, and how to road trip with dogs.
I’ve written a whole post about why we love road trips, check it out here!
Our Dogs
Sebastian is a Pomeranian-Chihuahua mix, he is 7 pounds and full of sass. Zella is an Aussiedoodle, is about 55 pounds, and is a ball of energy!
Traveling with Sebastian on an airline would be possible, he is small enough to fit under the seat, but he kind of hates it. The one, and only, time that we took a flight together he made it known to everyone on the flight he did not approve of being shoved under a seat. Enjoyable for everyone involved… Zella would not be able to fly in the cabin of a plane and would have to be kenneled in the cargo area. She would not enjoy this ordeal, nor would I! I don’t feel comfortable putting her in the cargo so flying is not an option.
For the Car
Harness or Car Seat
When Sebastian was a puppy, someone gave me a dog car seat as a joke. As it turns out, the joke was on them because it is one of the best things for traveling with a small dog! Having a car seat for Sebastian prevents him from wandering around in the car and becoming a distraction for the driver. I also feel that it is safer for him to be in a car seat with a harness that connects.
This car seat is similar to what we use for Sebastian.
Zella is much larger than Sebastian, so a car seat is not the best option for her. For Zella, we use a harness that is designed for the car. We have tried several harnesses and haven’t yet found one that we love. Fear not, I will share when we do find the perfect car harness!
Collapsible bowl
In the pocket of our rear passenger side door lives a collapsible bowl. On every adventure we take, short or long, the trusty bowl comes along. The collapsible bowl is my favorite on a road trip because it stores flat taking up less space. The bowl is made of a material that dries quickly, and it can be opened into a smaller or larger bowl.
In a subscription box with dog items, we received a bowl made of a waterproof fabric that zips into a small triangle. While we do take this bowl along occasionally as a backup, I don’t find it to be as convenient. Along with the fabric bowl not being as convenient as the collapsible bowl, the dogs don’t seem to like drinking out of it.
A similar, highly rated and affordable option is available on Amazon here.
Water
When on a long road trip, bring along a supply of water specifically for the dogs. John and I will bring our favorite water bottles filled with some nice crispy ice water and have a few more bottles full of water to pour into our favorite bottles once empty. We also will pack several water bottles full of water just for the dogs. This way if there is water left in the bowl after giving them a drink I can save the water.
While this may seem like something minor it has been beneficial for our family when road-tripping. We can save on the cost of buying bottled water, it is also more environmentally friendly to bring reusable bottles, and the dogs don’t have to wait to get their drink.
Treats
We definitely can’t forget the stash of treats for the road trip! Just like having snacks for the humans on the road trip, we bring a variety of treats for the dogs. We use the treats as you normally would at stops along the way, but we also like to give the dogs treats while we are driving. The dogs have a more positive association with the road trip by getting treats during drive times.
Patience
Having a ton of patience is also necessary when road-tripping with dogs! They are likely to get tired of being in the car for extended periods. Our dogs will get very vocal, whining and barking at us, when they have had enough. Unfortunately for them, they are often over it long before we are at our destination for the night. When this happens, we do our best to try to understand their frustration. When we stop next we will take them on a short walk or let them run in the dog run area.
For the Destination
The packing list for our dogs does slightly vary, as our packing lists do! There are some things that we will be taking along no matter where we are going. We are sure to always bring along the dog food, medications, bowls, leashes and collars, treats, and a few toys. If necessary, we bring their kennels that break down to a compact size, bedding or blankets, coats, and paw protector. On trips where we will be spending time outdoors, I bring along pet wipes and brushes to help remove dirt and debris from their fur.
Road-tripping with dogs does require some extra planning and patience. Taking your dogs on your adventures is such a great experience that it truly makes all the extra planning and preparation worth it!