Tips for road tripping with your dog this summer!

Have you been dreaming of your next road trip?

Summer is the season that tends to bring out the adventurer in all of us. If you’re a dog mom or dog dad, your dog is a member of the family and you don't want to leave them behind.

A successful road trip with dog-in-tow is all about preparation, planning, some patience, and some flexibility. Below are some tips, personal experiences, and must-have items to ensure you have a fun and stress-free smooth ride!

Practice Makes Perfect

Is your dog a road trip virgin? Practice being in the car with shorter trips before embarking on a long one. Get them used to their car seat, and feeling comfortable in a moving vehicle. Even if your dog is a good passenger, there’s no harm in doing a test run, especially if you’ll be using new or different safety equipment. Your dog won’t know that it’s a fake road trip, he’ll be so excited about going with you. If he’s a reluctant traveler, the practice may help him overcome his fear, making your real road a more pleasant journey for the both of you.

Road Trip Travel Tote

My husband and I recently took our dog Bo along with us on a road trip from Seattle to Depoe Bay, Oregon. I saw this dog travel bag online and knew I had to have it. I am a total nerd for organization and this bag is awesome! This tote is an organized luggage system that holds everything your dog needs to travel with.

Packing Essentials

I’ve compiled a list of all the essential items you might want to bring on your road trip with your dog.

· Documents (vaccination records) make sure to have up to date dog tags on your dog

· Medications- prescription or non-prescription your dog is taking

· Favorite Toys and Blanket

· Poop Bags

· First Aid Kit

· Food and Treats

· Bottled Water

· Extra Collar and leash- in case the original gets wet, torn or lost

· Chew Toys

· Shampoo and wipes

· Doggy Sunscreen

Bring a Collapsible Crate

If you are staying in a hotel or you simply just don’t trust your dog to not destroy your car when you are in a restaurant, then consider bringing a crate with you on the road trip. A collapsible crate is best because it won’t take up room in your car when you aren’t using it. You can put an old sweatshirt that smells like you inside the crate, along with a few toys to make the dog feel more safe and comfortable.

I love this super easy to assemble crate that requires no tools and sets up and folds down within seconds. It includes a free carrying case and fleece bed—perfect for traveling with your dog! Both the cover and mat are removable and washable, so you can easily clean up after accidents or simply freshen them up whenever you would like! This makes a great bed for your dog to sleep in and to crate them when needed. Three mesh doors let in plenty of sunlight and air, so your dog won’t feel claustrophobic.

Download the American Red Cross Pet First Aid App

If you have a smartphone, download the American Red Cross Pet First Aid App before your trip. It provides some great advice, and is free in the app store.

Things To Consider

Make sure you travel with a current photo of your dog. This will be especially handy if the unthinkable happens and your dog gets away from you and you need to find him. You may also consider a temporary travel collar and Pet ID with your name, cell phone number and the number of your destination in case your pet gets lost.  If your pet has a microchip, make sure all of your information is accurate.

Get your dog groomed before you go

There is nothing worse than a stinky, stuffy car ride! It's a given that your dog will get dirty while travelling, but it’s still a good idea to start with a clean slate. Trust me when I say that grooming your dog ahead of time you will make both their journey and yours a bit more comfortable (and better smelling!) one. By doing this, you also save your car’s upholstery from fur and claw marks. It will also lessen the time your dog spends chewing, licking, and scratching themselves – all of which can get pretty annoying on long road trips!

Car Safety

Who said seat belts are just for humans? Dogs require safety precautions as well. A car seat provides a safe and cozy place for them to hang. It will also contain your pup so there are no distractions while you are behind the wheel. Some dogs ride well with a harness secured to a seat belt or in a crate or carrier. My dog loves riding shotgun. If you have got an excited or anxious pup who wants to climb over onto you, a barrier will help. Let’s face it: doggie kisses can be just a little distracting while driving—for both of you.

Plan for Pit Stops

Remember that your dog needs car snacks, water, and potty breaks, just like we do. Have water available for your dog to avoid dehydration. Make sure that you are stopping every couple of hours so your dog can use the bathroom and stretch their legs. Some time out of the car will do them good!

Keeping Your Dog Entertained

To make the ride easier for you both, you will want to keep your dog entertained. Your best bet? Bring a favorite chew toy to keep your dog busy. In addition to packing a familiar toy from home, I normally buy a new toy for my dog before each road trip.

NEVER Leave your Dog Unattended in a Car

We’ve all heard the horror stories of dogs suffering from being left in hot cars, so this danger shouldn’t be shocking. You never want to leave your dog alone in a hot car. Parked cars become ovens. On a warm day, the temperature in a car can exceed 120° in a matter of minutes—even with the windows partially open. Pets can die inside hot cars, even if the windows are cracked. HEAT STRESS IS NOT THE ONLY DANGER YOUR PET FACES when left alone in a car. Many pets are stolen each year from unattended cars.

Keep Head and Paws Inside the Vehicle at all times

Accidents happen. While some dogs dream of hitting the road with the wind flying through their fur, it’s not the best idea to make those dreams come true. By letting your dog stick his head out the window, you run the risk of your dog jumping out of the vehicle. Additionally, high speed winds can be harmful to your dogs eyes and ears.  Only have the windows unrolled if your dog is in a kennel, or restrained by a pet seat-belt. Keep your pet safe, and make sure they stay inside the vehicle at all times – every part of them.

Finding a pet friendly hotel

You picked the destination. You have your budget squared away. You checked the reviews for hotels and see that they are pet-friendly, so you are ready to book it! But hold up, did you check the fine print?

Many hotels have severe restrictions on their pet policy that include things like the size of the animal, number of animals, room availability, and price. It is always good to call ahead and ask what the policies are. Be sure to get clarification on the pet fees. Some hotels will charge a nightly fee, some will charge a non-refundable pet deposit, and some charge for both.

On our recent road trip to Depoe Bay recently we got a pretty late start and found ourselves getting a little sleepy. We decided to stop in Vancouver to stay the night and get back on the road early in the morning. We called ahead of time to find a pet friendly hotel from the road. If you find yourself traveling through Vancouver Washington, I highly recommend staying at the Best Western Premier Hotel at Fisher's Landing. It looks brand new, very affordable and completely caters to your dog. Upon check in, we were also handed an awesome canvas bag with toys and goodies for our dog!

If you are staying in a hotel and your dog alerts to noises at night, you may be asked to leave. There are many white noise apps available for smartphones that will limit the amount of outside noise your dog hears at night. We travel with one and it works great!

If you are dead set on a destination that isn’t dog-friendly, look on Yelp for highly rated dog boarding services near the place you are visiting.

Know your car is going to get dirty

I am a total neat freak and this one is always a struggle for me but let's face it.....dogs are messy little creatures. Some shed, some slobber, and all of them get dirty. There’s no way around it and the best way to deal is to just accept it. Don’t get mad at them for being dirty. Hopefully the dirt means they were having a lot of fun, which is the entire point.

If you are worried about your cars interior gettins ruined, come down and see us at Auto Trim prior to your trip and we can order you seat covers or leather seats which make cleaning the interior much easier!!

Upon Arrival at Your Destination

One of the first things we do is take our dog for a long walk. He is naturally curious about his new surroundings and wants to sniff it all out. Always keep an eye on your dog and leash when you are outside in unfamiliar territory and it's always a good idea to double-check your dog's ID tags to make sure they include your cell phone number. It’s not possible to do everything exactly as you would at home, but the more you remain consistent, the better. Feed and walk your dog on the same schedule you would at home. If you can, increase the walk time to help him get rid of the extra excitement and anxiety of the trip.

Websites to explore

Get started by making sure you plan to visit dog friendly locations. Sites like BringFido.com and DogFriendly.com are great tools for finding dog friendly hotels, restaurants, stores, and rest-stops.

Focus on having a great time with your pooch!

You've taken the time to prepare, so now just kick back, have fun, and enjoy your time together! Choose activities that are accommodating for your pup and make the most of the time the two of you have. It will strengthen your bond and create amazing memories.