Traveling With A Dog? You Need These 10 Things!

Traveling with a dog can be such a fun experience. If you think you enjoy exploring the world, just wait until you see the joy on your pup’s face as you discover new sights and smells together! However, you have to keep in mind that not all dogs love long trips in the car or the noises of the city. It can be overwhelming for them at first, and they may become anxious or impatient.

But don’t worry–there are many simple things you can bring to help your pup (and yourself) adjust to traveling together!

In July, we got a corgi pup who’s been traveling with us on the road since he was less than four months old. The first trip was a bit rough, but after some trial and error (and lots of research), we found a great system that works for all of us. The key is to plan for every part of the trip–not just the car ride or the destination.

corgi puppy traveling in the car — *Atlas on his “Gotcha” day*

If you’ve never traveled with a dog before (or yours is struggling when you do), I highly recommend these 10 things for making the entire trip happy and stress-free for everyone!

2024 Update: I recently opened an Amazon Affiliate shop, so I went back and tagged most of the mentioned products so you can easily find them! A couple of these are from other sites, so they’re not affiliate links. Please note that I do earn a small commission when you shop through the affiliate links, but it comes at no additional cost to you. It’s just an easy way to get what you need and support the blog at the same time!

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Appropriate Travel Setup

If you’re taking your dog on the road, you need an appropriate place for your dog to chill. This needs to be comfortable while keeping your furry friend safely contained.

When Atlas was small, we bought a car booster seat that we could place him inside of. It had a clip that connects to his collar or harness, and the walls were high enough that he couldn’t climb out and cause mischief in the car. This was especially nice because he was still potty training, and the contained area helped him avoid accidents.

*Atlas headed to his first couple of adventures*

However, on our way back from a weekend in Savannah, GA, it was clear that this setup wouldn’t work for long road trips anymore.

traveling with a dog corgi pup asleep on his back in a purple puppy carrier — *Naptime on our way back from Savannah, GA*

We upgraded his travel setup by getting a waterproof dog car seat cover from Amazon and a vehicle safety harness. The harness has attachments to pop right into the seatbelt or clip onto the car’s LATCH anchor. We throw his crate mat in the back seat when we’re taking long trips to keep him extra comfy and designate his area.

Water Bottle with Recycle Function

Did you know that you can get a water bottle just for your dog? They’re a fantastic way to keep your dog hydrated on the road without the potential for spills.

We’ve tried a couple of different bottles for Atlas and quickly found that not every bottle had the features we wanted. After a bit of trial and error, we found this 19 0z. Dog Water Bottle on Amazon, and we love it! Here’s why:

Holds 19 oz of water
Fits into a cupholder
The water trough folds back over the bottle
Water is released with a button
The same button returns unused water to the bottle
Rubber seal prevents spills
The wrist strap makes it easy to carry

The biggest perks of this one versus other dog bottles are the large water trough that folds back over the bottle and the recycle feature that allows unused water to go back into the bottle rather than all over your car or the ground!

Harness

Does your furry friend get super excited (or anxious) when they’re in a new place? That’s perfectly normal, but it can put a lot of strain on your dog’s throat and your hand if those emotions cause them to pull.

I highly recommend investing in a good harness if you’re traveling with a dog! You should still keep working on your pup’s leash technique in busy areas, but a harness will alleviate damage to your dog’s throat and give you more control in the meantime.

We have a couple of different harnesses, but I like this no-pull halter we got from Amazon for traveling. It’s sturdy, has front and top clips, is fully adjustable, and even has a handle if Atlas’s corgi legs need a boost!

Familiar Sleeping Spot

One of the best things you can do on the road is to give your pup a familiar place to sleep each night. Whether you’re staying at a friend’s house, a hotel, or an Airbnb, the new environment can be challenging for your furry friend.

Help them out by bringing their bed and/or crate on the road with you. Especially if your dog has some anxiety, they will appreciate the security that their special spot provides.

*Your pup may also choose your suitcase as his safe spot!*

If your dog struggles with marking, potty training, or destructive behavior, I recommend that you bring the whole crate or even a portable playpen. This will also keep them contained at night and prevent any unnecessary damage. We use the Frisco collapsible crate and exercise pen because they both can fold up and slide into the car trunk.

Low-Calorie Chews

One of the easiest ways to combat your dog’s boredom and anxiety on the road is with chews. Your dog may tear through chews regardless of size and toughness, but we’ve had great success with cow ears. They are low-calorie, clean Atlas’s teeth, don’t smell, and last for a long time.

Atlas’s favorite chews are actually pig ears, but they’re very greasy, and he seems to tear through them much faster. Plus, they have a gross smell that I don’t like in the car. Especially if you think your dog will go through several chews on the ride, I’d recommend something low-cal and long-lasting.

Collapsible Food and Water Bowls

One of the best items we’ve bought for the road is a set of collapsible food and water bowls. They’re super inexpensive, but they make traveling so much easier. I recommend a set with two bowls, one for food and one for water.

Whenever it’s mealtime, just pop them open, and you can feed your dog in the backseat of the car. I also love them for hotels because space can be limited, and these take up very little room. Ours also came with a carabiner, so we can clip it onto our bag and feed Atlas while we’re on the trails or sitting on a restaurant patio.

An ID Clip–Not O-Ring

Over Christmas, Atlas lost all four tags on his o-ring without losing the o-ring (face-palm). I was incredibly frustrated and a little worried. If anything happened while we traveled home, he’d be without any ID.

That’s how I discovered these GoTags Pet ID clips, and I’m a huge fan! They’re made with thick stainless steel and have a spring-loaded snap clip to attach them to the D-ring. It’s also much easier to add the tags, but I know they’re not going anywhere.

The Right Kinds of Treats

If your dog gets anxious when you’re anywhere but home, calming treats can be a lifesaver! There are plenty out there with all-natural ingredients to keep your pup calm in stressful situations. Some of these do contain CBD, so do your research before buying if you’re not comfortable with that. However, you’ll have lots of options, regardless of your preferences.

*Calming treats are tasty and helpful for anxious pets!*

If your dog is just excited to explore the world, motivate him to behave with some high-value treats. These need to be soooo good that your dog is willing to ignore new people, dogs, and atmospheres to earn them. That means your basic training treats are probably not enough. Try upgrading your treat stash for road trips with something like bison or venison to keep your pup focused and following your commands.

Waterless Shampoo

Traveling with a dog does come with certain…risks. Even if you’re only stopping for potty breaks, you never know when your pup will get into something smelly or dirty. All it takes is one wrong paw-step! Especially since most hotels and Airbnbs have strict rules against bathing your dog in their tubs, you should definitely consider waterless shampoo.

All you have to do is pump the foam onto your dog’s fur, rub it in, and let it air dry. It’s an incredibly convenient way to keep your pup clean and smelling fresh.

If you want another alternative, bath wipes are a great way to give your dog a quick clean.

A Good Bag

Make stops a lot easier on yourself by investing in a bag with enough organization for your stuff and your dog’s. When we started carrying around Atlas’s food, water, treats, etc., I was worried that some of his stuff would get on my camera. I also hated rooting around to find one thing in the pile at the bottom of the bag.

So I did some research and ended up buying this cool packable backpack from Zomake. It’s a hiking backpack, but it works perfectly to keep our items organized and separate from Atlas’s. It has multiple pockets, adjustable straps, and two water bottle pouches (one for us, one for Atlas). It’s also water-resistant, so I can carry my camera without worrying about spills from within or without the bag. Plus, I love that it folds up into its own front pocket for convenient storage!

Closing Thoughts on Traveling with a Dog

If you’re planning a trip with your pup, make sure that you’re well-prepared before you hit the road! These items may be small, but they can make a huge difference in how much you and your dog enjoy traveling together.

Do you have any additional suggestions that help your dog? Leave them for me and other pet parents in the comments below!

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