A road trip with a dog goes well when two things are sorted before you leave the driveway: where the dog rides, and what you can reach without unpacking the trunk. This list is grouped by when you will need each thing. The short checklist at the end is made to be copied.
Before you leave
- ID that is current. Check that the tag on the collar has your mobile number, and that the contact details registered to your dog's microchip are up to date.
- Paperwork. Bring vaccination records if you will use a kennel, a daycare or a campground that asks for them.
- A recent photo on your phone, in case you get separated.
- The pet policy where you are staying. Many hotels and rentals limit the size or number of dogs, or charge a fee. Confirm before you book.
- A vet near your destination. Save the number of an emergency vet close to where you are going, next to your own vet's number.
In the car
- One defined place to ride. Decide this before you pack anything else. A seat cover with a firm base, such as our Backseat Hammock, turns the back row into one flat surface. If people need the other seats, a single-seat basket takes one place. Small dogs under 25 lb can ride in a booster seat.
- A tether, clipped to a harness. A seat belt tether keeps your dog in its seat when a door opens. Clip it to a harness, never to a collar.
- A towel within reach for wet paws at every stop.
A note on safety: our car products keep your dog in one place and your seats clean. They are not crash-tested restraints. If crash protection is what you are shopping for, look for a harness or crate that has been independently crash-tested.
Food and water
- Their usual food, measured out per day, plus one extra day. A trip is a bad time to switch brands.
- Water from home for the first day, and a way to serve it at a rest stop. A bottle with a built-in bowl, like the Trail Sip, means there is no separate bowl to forget.
- Bowls for where you are staying.
- Treats, in something that closes.
At every stop
- Leash on before the door opens. Rest areas are loud, unfamiliar and next to traffic.
- Poop bags, more than you think.
- A break every two to three hours: a short walk, water, back in the car.
- Never leave your dog alone in a parked car. The inside heats up fast, even with the windows cracked.
Where you are staying
- Their bed or a blanket from home, so there is something familiar in an unfamiliar room.
- A chew or a toy for the evening.
- A long line if there is open ground and your dog's recall is not reliable yet. See the Long-Line Recall Lead.
- A lint roller and a pack of wipes for the car and the room.
Health
- Any medication your dog takes, with a few days to spare.
- A basic first-aid kit. Ask your vet what belongs in it for your dog.
- Flea and tick prevention if you are heading somewhere wooded or grassy. Your vet can tell you what fits the area.
The checklist
- Collar with current ID tag
- Leash and harness
- Seat cover, basket or booster seat
- Seat belt tether
- Food for each day, plus one
- Water and a travel bottle or bowl
- Treats
- Poop bags
- Two towels
- Bed or blanket
- Chew or toy
- Medication and first-aid kit
- Vaccination records
- Vet numbers: yours and one near your destination
- Lint roller and wipes
Short on the car side of the list? The Road Trip Kit is a seat cover, a tether and a water bottle. Take all three and 10% comes off in your cart automatically.