5 tips for travelling with a dog
Sally has always loved travelling by car, in fact you just say the word car and she gets completely over excited. She knows the difference between a short tip and a longer one and is completely ready to snuggle down and nap away the hours (taking up as much room as possible) and squishing everyone else sat on the back seat of the car.
However travelling with an animal is different to travelling with just humans and these are 5 of my tips for travelling with a dog.
1. Make sure your pet is up to date with jabs and medication.
OK the jabs part of this is probably obvious after all for most dog owners it is a yearly occurrence, but you also need to make sure your dog is up to date on things like flea drops and worming tablets before you head away, after all you don’t know what your dog may come in contact with, in a different environment.
2. Make sure your dog is secure in the car.
People choose different ways to keep their dog safe with travelling, from travel crates to seatbelt plugins to special harnesses. For Sal we use a harness, we have found she actually walks well on it and so it can be used across the holiday for keeping her both safe during the drive, to walking nicely as we explore the area. Check out Pets at Home for a great range of different ways to keep your dog safe while travelling.
3. Plan pee breaks.
Sometimes pushing through on a journey can be OK when everyone in the car agrees, however your dog doesn’t have a voice, so make sure you plan regular stops while travelling with a dog, where they can stretch their legs and have a toilet stop if needed.
4. Never leave them in the car on a hot day.
The day is hot, you fancy an ice cream and leaving the dog in the car won’t matter for a few minutes with it? All I can say is don’t do it! Would you want to sit in there for that long? The answer is most likely no so don’t make your dog suffer through it.
5. Know the area you are going to.
Research where you are headed before you set off, so you know what you can and can’t do. Take beaches some will allow dogs and some won’t. It will also make the holiday flow easier, as you won’t turn up to a place where you can’t all access.
What are your top tip for travelling with a dog?
*Written in collaboration with Pets At Home.
We just took both our dogs on holiday and the biggest thing for us was doing a little bit of planning of the beaches, gardens and National Trust properties where they are welcome, saves disappointment.
Great tips – not really thought about pee breaks! Mind you I haven’t had a dog for years. That migh change though as POD keeps asking for one!
Brilliant tips, we keep thinking about getting a dog…
Handy tips! We don’t have a dog but I admire people who take their dogs on holiday with them. It makes for a real family holiday.
These tips are very helpful. Great article….well written.?
Great tips for those who have a dog xx
These are some great tips. I actually laughed at #4 because this sounds so obvious yet so many people still forget it.
I wish I had a dog. All your dog posts make me want to have a dog even more. It looks like Sally has a great time with you when you are out and about.
Great post. My dog loves nothing more than to come on a journey with us and he’s really good in the car. Those are really handy tips for anyone looking to travel with a dog.
its a great idea been able to take pts but im unfortunate to have three german shepherds where they are to large
Such helpful tips!
I don’t have a dog so don’t really think about things like this but great tips! Especially about planning wee breaks!
Great tips. My dog HATES the car
Sounds very similar to travelling with children tips! Hehe!
We don’t have dogs at home, but I have always wondered how pet owners take care of their pets during their travel. These are some great tips to keep noted & it is good to see that dogs too have seat belts to make sure they are safe & in control.
Such great tips – travelling with a pet can be so much fun, we did it a fair bit with our dog but he is simply too old these day.
Laura x
These are great tips. I hate to see dogs (and children) left in cars when I’m out and about 🙁
Louise x
This is a great post. I often see dog’s left in hot cars and it is upsetting to see! Hopefully owners take notice of this post.
Alvin our pooch sometimes get car sick, so we always pack a towel and wet cloths
Great tips. We don’t have a dog but are considering getting one so I’ll remember these!
Yep, gotta plan the potty breaks for the pooch. 🙂 I agree wholeheartedly. Our poor little doggie years ago used to get car sick!
Great tips – especially number 4. That infuriates me and I often say something to the owner if I catch them doing so!
We do not have pets but those are great tips. For us it’s 5 kids! Kids and pets definitely takes quite a bit of preparation when traveling!
My dog is a terrible traveller, he starts to cry after a few minutes as he wants to be out 😉
I don’t have a dog but these tips sound a lot like the same as you would treat your child wouldn’t you.
Oh yes, never as in NEVER leave a dog inside a hot car even for a few minutes. They do not have sweat glands like people so it is difficult for them to handle hot environment. Thanks for sharing these tips.
We don;t have dogs but my mum takes hers everywhere with her. He has a cage in the back of the car
I would love to have a dog! 🙂 these are great tips, I hate seeing dogs left in hot cars x
Great post and one that lots of dog owners need to read. Lovely photos too x
I don’t have a dog but I’ve been in cars with cats and they really hate it, one managed to get out of the basket! So stressful when you’re driving along the motorway!
Great tips. So glad to see number 4, I hope all dog owners read this because the amount of dogs I see in car parks on hot days is astounding and I hate it.
Great tips! I am a crazy cat lady but I know lots of friends and family with dogs who could probably do with thinking a bit more about what they’re doing on long journeys etc. so I’ll have to drop some hints 😉 xx
Lots of great advice, thankyou for sharing! We have got this down to afine art with 3 dogs and 5 kids but so useful for new dog owners!
We would love a dog (yours is adorable)! Will bear your post in mind if we ever make the move! x
There are some great tips in this post. We never travel with the cats, but as soon as they see the carrier case they run because they know it means one thing – a trip to the vet!
Some really good tips which I will pass on to my daughter who has a very excitable Springer called Lucy
Great tips! I don’t travel often, but when I do, if I do I plan to bring my pups. I wouldn’t think of leaving them behind so this is helpful!
We don’t have pets so we have never traveled with an animal, but these sure do sound like great tips.
These are all really great tips. We like to take our dogs with us when we go places.
I can’t believe how many people do not know about seat belts for dogs they are such an important safety feature. Some great tips Sarah x
We use a seatbelt for our dog and fine it works really well for us. It’s funny how different dogs prefer and settle with different methods of travelling.
This has made me realise that my Sally should be more secure when we travel! She likes to curl up on the backseat next to Bob and doesn’t like to use a harness. May have to make her! x
This was our first holiday without our dog and it felt so weird. I miss her so much.
We did meet a lovely couple who had a pair of Springer Spaniels, and were expecting puppies so we exchanged numbers and may be getting a new dog soon!
Great tips! When I visit my dad in America, we sometimes take the dogs with us when we go on a road trip. They all sit in the back, comfortable. We research ahead of time the place we’re staying at and on the day of travel we ensure we have bottled water, food and lots of pit stops.
I used to have a dog that just used to puke in the car so travelling wasn’t a good option.
My dogs are a menace in the car. They are both so excitable they get a bit overly excited and end up opening windows or getting stuck. I try and seatbelt them in with dog products but they’r like little houdini’s, so lots of stops to strap them back in (crate won’t fit), and my hand always on the electric window button!
Our dog is a complete spaz, so we never travel with him. Maybe when he’s older and settles down a little we can, though.
My old dog used to hate the car when we first got her, she was a rescue. But she slowly learnt to like the car – great tips especially the pee breaks – we used to plan longer stops so we could all get out and stretch our legs
These are great tips, My tip would be to make sure you have snacks and water if you have a long trip.
I wish out springer spaniel didn’t get travel sick. I often find myself saying, Jessie would love it here, on days out but other than the odd brave it trip here and there we have to leave her at home 🙁 I bet they love the change in scenery as much as we do x
Great tips! Especially no. 4!! It’s so important to know the risks and never to leave a pet in a car for even a short time.