Tips for Traveling with a Dog

I never really understood the "dog mom" craze until we welcomed Wrigley into our lives and I immediately fell in love. Not long after bringing him home, he quickly became our newest adventure buddy. We had a summer full of road trips, breweries, beaches, and hikes. Along the way we definitely learned a thing or two about being first time puppy parents and the best way to travel with your four legged friend.

In this post I'm sharing all my recommended products and accessories to make life on the road easier as well as some important considerations to have in mind when heading to a new destination. We haven't flown with Wrigs (yet) so this post is focused on road trips or local day trips with your pup. 

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. 

---

What to Pack 

​Packing for your furry friend can sometimes be just as tricky as packing for yourself. I always pack a separate bag for Wrigley to keep all of his things together in one place. I love traveling with a backpack as it can easily fit everything while remaining compact and comes in handy while hiking or exploring leaving your hands free for walking them on a leash. A few of the items I always include on my packing list are: 

• Collapsable water/food bowls - these bowls fold down flat making them super easy to pack and throw in your bag or purse. I always make sure to have at least one with me when we're out and about to fill with water and typically just keep the other one at the hotel for meals. 
• Treats - When you're traveling with a smaller puppy every moment is a learning experience. Zuke's mini treats are our absolute favorite because they are small enough that you can "reward" multiple times without overfeeding your pup and are you can fit a lot in a ziplock bag or training pouch to take on the go. 
• Leash - Most public places require dogs to be on a 6 foot leash. I prefer this 3 foot leash as it's a bit easier to control in public. I always bring a spare with me as well just in case you were to leave it somewhere you won't be completely out of luck. 
• Poop bags - You never want to be stuck without these! I love this dispenser that can easily be refilled with bags and allows you to clip to your leash. 
• Toys - Don't forget something to entertain your pup. This squeaky ball is Wrigley's absolute favorite toy and a great way to keep him active. We also love this chew toy which keeps him busy for a long period of time and is one of the most durable toys we've purchased for him. Trust me, he is a heavy chewer and has definitely destroyed his fair share. 
• Food - When traveling, I like to pre-portion out his food into bags for each day, as opposed to brining a large container. This way I know I won't run out and can take one or two with me at a time if we're going to be out and about at meal time. 

Safety 

​Always make sure your pup is up to date on all the necessary vaccines before they are interacting/greeting lots of different people and other dogs. I would also suggest waiting until your puppy has all their basic shots (typically 16 weeks) before venturing out to avoid contracting potentially deadly diseases such as Parvo. If your dog is on any medications, including their monthly doses for flea/tick or heart, that may overlap your travels be sure to pack them and set a reminder in your phone when you should administer since you'll be out of your normal routine. 

If your dog has a microchip, make sure it is registered online and the contact information/address is up to date. Be sure to have some sort of identification tag on their collar (even if it's just a phone number) in case you were to get separated or they run off. Practice some of the basic commands (sit, stay, come) to ensure your pup is well behaved around other people in public and you are confident they will come to you if they are off leash at any point. 

Getting There

There are a few things to think about before hitting the road with your furry friend. The first is making sure they are comfortable riding in the car. Start out by taking shorter drives, even just around your neighborhood, to help them get acquainted with a moving vehicle before you venture out on a longer trip. Some dogs can get motion sickness, even after spending lots of time in the car, so I always make sure to pack an old towel or paper towels in case we do have to clean up a mess. One of our other must-have products is a car hammock which covers your back seat, contains all the hair and dirt, and can be removed for easy clean up. It also attaches to the front head rests to create a barrier to keep you pup contained to the back seat. 

When planning your drive, allot for additional time for potty breaks and to let your pup stretch their legs and get some exercise if it's a longer trip. We typically try to stop at designated rest stops as they tend to have the most open space and dedicated runs for dogs. 

Staying in a Hotel

When planning your trip, a good place to start is by researching dog-friendly hotels in the area. Their policies will vary based on the facility so make sure to read the fine print. Most will likely require an extra pet fee/deposit on top of the standard room rate. Some hotels may not allow your pet to be left in the room unattended which means they have to go everywhere you do which can take some extra planning.

​Even if the hotel is dog-friendly they will likely only have a certain amount of rooms allotted for dogs so be sure to make it known when making your reservation. Another tip is to try and secure a room on the first floor if possible which makes it much easier for all those bathroom breaks. Also seek out the best path to a potty station in the daylight before you have to make that 3 am bathroom trip (especially with a younger pup).

We love traveling with our collapsable crate which easily folds up to fit in the car and comes in handy if you were to have to leave your dog in the room unattended for any reason to ensure they don't destroy anything. Our trip to Traverse City was Wrigley's first time in a hotel and it definitely took some time to get acclimated to all the different noises - bring a sound machine or download a fan/noise app to help drown out all the opening and closing of doors. We also always bring one of his blankets from home for the bottom of the crate to provide a familiar smell. ​

Planning Your Trip

When deciding where to go with your furry friend, there are some important things to take into consideration. First, is what time of the year you want to travel. While it's possible in all seasons, summer or fall is certainly an easier time to do so simply because most activities you'll have planned with your dog will be based outdoors. Restaurants and breweries typically only allow dogs on their patios which likely won't be open in bad weather. Hiking and dog-friendly beaches are also great activities to add to your itinerary. I also try to find a local dog park wherever we're headed. This will give your pup an opportunity to get off their leash, burn off some energy, and meet some new friends. Click here for a sample itinerary from our trip to Traverse City. 

Below are a few apps/websites to make planning your trip a breeze: 

• Bring Fido - This is often considered the Yelp for pet owners. You can reasearch a list of dog-friendly restaurants, hotels, and attractions in a particular city. Dog owners are also able to rate their experience and add photos so you know what to expect before you get there.  
• All Trails - Do you have an active pup? Discover over 50,000 trails on this app and filter by those that are dog-friendly. You can also browse photos and reviews. 
• Petlas - I haven't used this app personally but it features over 100,000 pet-friendly places and services where your pup is welcome. 
• Dog Buddy - If you're anything like me you never imagined you would talk about poop as much as you do when you own a dog. This app allows you to stay on top of your pet's health including medications, allergies, and more.