10 Tips to Make that Road Trip with Your Dog Much Easier
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Road trips: You either love them or you hate them. There is very little in-between with this one. The concept of being on the road for hours and hours and even days at a time is so appealing to some and so awful and terrifying to others. For those who dislike road trips, this post is not for you since you’re probably booking your flight as I type (and also, I’m with you, road trips are not something I love). For those of you who do love a road trip, and you do love your dog, I’m talking to you. A road trip comes with enough to worry about before you add your dog into the mix. You have to worry about your car being tuned and well-maintained, your tires, your everything else. You have to pack, and fit your luggage into a car, figure a budget for your trip, map out where you’re going and what you’re doing and plan all the little details that go along with a long car journey.
Then you add your dog to the mix and things get all kinds of crazy. A road trip with a dog is just a little bit more complicated than a road trip without a dog. You have to walk the dog. You have to feed the dog and water the dog, and you have to stop and let the dog get the kind of exercise he or she needs in the car. This means you have to do some serious consideration, since it’s really going to do you some good to go ahead and make a plan. A plan for making road tripping with a dog involves some of these amazingly simple tips.
Research some dog-friendly websites
One of the most amazing sites for those who are planning on taking a road trip with their dog is Bring Fido. Additionally, dogfriendly.com is another good one for those who are looking to have their dog join them on a trip. Both sites provide ample information about dog-friendly locations and places you can feel welcome and comfortable stopping with your canine companion.
Plan a Safe Route
Here is where many people go wrong. You assume that because your dog is with you that you are totally safe and able to do whatever it is you want about stopping on your trip. This is not the case, however. You really need to be careful that your dog is able to use the restroom and that you are able to plan safe stops in the daylight, in well-lit areas and in very populated areas. You do not want to end up stopping at night in a dark and scary place because you did not plan accordingly for your dog.
Pack the Right Stuff
You need more than just your dog’s regular stuff on a road trip. You need a travel bowl, travel water, travel dishes, leashes and lots of bags so you can pick up what your dog leaves behind before you head out onto the open road.
Plan Pet-Friendly Accommodations
It’s not always easy to find a place to stay when you don’t prebook a reservation, and this is even truer when you have a dog with you. You need to plan a list of places you can stay that are all right with the presence of dogs before you bother stopping. This is going to make your trip that much more enjoyable because you aren’t wasting any time on the road.
Keep Doggie Close
Rest stops and unfamiliar locations are not the place you want to let your dog run off on her own. You want to keep your dog close and on a leash the entire time you are out of the car. This is going to prevent your dog from becoming lost in unfamiliar territory.
Get a First Aid Kit
Anything can happen at any time, which is why it is imperative that you have a first aid kit for not only yourself, but also for your dog when you are in the car and on the road. You will need things like antiseptic wipes, peroxide, bandages, tweezers and plenty of gloves for you to wear when tending to your injured animal.
Test Drive your Dog
No one wants to make a road trip their dog’s first experience in the car. So the best thing you can do is make sure your dog does well in the car. Take a trip before you leave on your actual trip. Start taking the dog with you to run errands to see how he or she does. This might change your road trip plans.
Keep the Windows Up
Dogs are not safe driving down the highway with their heads and paws and bodies half out the window. Keep those things up and make sure your dog remains safely inside your vehicle when it is moving. Nothing ruins a road trip faster than watching your dog fall out the window in the middle of the interstate.
Bring Toys
Even though you’re in the car most of the trip, you should still bring some car-friendly toys for your dog. While you’re at it, make sure you have something on hand to keep on your seats, such as towels, blankets or even a dog cover so that you can keep the fur and slobber and everything else dog-related off your seats and out of your car while you’re traveling. Those things can sometimes stain leather or cloth seats and provide an unpleasant smell if you forget to clean them right away.
Stay Calm
There is nothing like a high-strung driver with a dog in the car. Remain calm; your dog can sense your moods and your feelings and can make it to where you are even more miserable. You don’t want to alarm or stress out your dog in the car, so do your best to maintain your own calm and keep your patience level to a comfortable degree at all times.
Photo by Miguel Villagran/Getty Images
