Traveling with dogs: tips for weekend getaways

You and your loved one might be planning a weekend getaway or vacation- but there’s just one problem. It doesn’t feel right to go without your furbaby. That’s okay – simply take him or her with you! Here’s some top tips for successful traveling with dogs on your next road trip.

Two plus dogs is a UK based blog focusing on quality food, well-being and a dog friendly lifestyle. Written by Melanie (a teacher of 18 years and qualified reflexologist), you’ll find her enjoying good food, exercise, fresh air and finding beautiful places to enjoy with her husband and two cheeky whippets.

Love taking your dogs on quick weekend getaways or vacations? Me too! A vacation just isn’t a vacation without my dogs.

If you are thinking about taking a road trip with your dog, this information is for you. Here you’ll find collection of our top tips and advice, gleaned from our many long car journeys so you can enjoy all parts of your weekend getaway.

What to pack for your dog on vacation

As with many situations in life, preparation is the backbone of success here.

Pack a ‘dog bag’ containing everything that you could need and couldn’t easily replace (or buy) when on your vacation- this will be a huge stress reliever when you are away from home.

Some ideas for your bag include:

• dog food. Take a few extra portions so that in the event of delays or any other unforeseen mishaps, you won’t be googling your brands stockists in a strange place (some dogs have strong stomachs of course and can handle abrupt changes in diet- not mine!).
• a small set of scales to weigh the food if this is your usual routine, as ‘guesstimating’ can lead to over feeding (resulting in running out of food) or under feeding ( resulting in unhappy dogs).
• feeding bowls.
• a first aid kit. Basically include here whatever your dog tends to need at home and would need in the event of a scratch or scrape. If your dog needs medication pack this the night before to avoid forgetting it in the ‘setting-off’ rush. My suggestions for your dog first aid kit include:
  • bandages 
  • microporous tape   
  • Manuka honey
  • tick remover
  • dog toothbrush
  • dog toothpaste
• toys to enjoy out and about. This helps make them cozy and offers familiar home smells. These include:
  • chewy toys (antlers for example)
  • balls
  • rope toys 
• coats and jumpers. In the event of rain or cold weather (forget these at your peril with whippets!).
• a long line or lead. This can be really handy if your outdoor space isn’t enclosed. You can relax outdoors knowing that there will be no wandering off.
• a spare collar and lead. We had a lost martingale collar on the beach once which flicked off during a zoomie-chase! Keep these in the car so you can get to them quickly when out and about on holiday. 

In addition, you will need to take your dog’s bed if at all possible, and blankets to cover any furniture if they are sofa dwellers.

Whatever your dog usually has for a comfortable night’s sleep and evening’s rest is worth its weight in gold away from home. Their bedding will also smell familiar and act as a huge comfort for them.

If the bed is just too cumbersome to travel with, take plenty of blankets from home to create a cosy base.

If you plan to eat out, do some research before you set off and find some truly dog friendly cafes, bars, and restaurants. More on that later.

How do you travel with a dog in the car?

Put your dog in the back seat

Our dogs travel very comfortably on the back seat of the car, either in their soft bed or on blankets.

Using a harness and seat belt clip ensures that your dog can move around a little in order to get comfortable, but remain and feel safe and secure.

In the event of a sharp stop, a harness won’t jolt their neck like a collar. Using no harness or collar is extremely dangerous for you, your dog and other travelers.

If your dog’s bed is plastic, pop it in the boot and fill it with luggage to save space.

Give your dog something soft and squashy to cozy up and snuggle into- for example blankets, cozy sacks etc. This will stop them slipping around on the car seat and encourage them to lay and sleep, and prevent them being unsettled during your journey.

If your dog usually travels in the boot of a car, do consider the back seat for longer journeys. It is really helpful to be able to see and reach them, and offers the dog the security of seeing you.

Whoever is not driving can also reach back and sort out any minor needs whilst on the move, for example giving water, readjusting blankets, or just offering a friendly, reassuring stroke.

Give regular drinks to your dog

Cars can get warm so keep the car cool and offer drinks regularly to keep your furry passenger(s) happy!

Taking a bottle of water and a foldable bowl is a great idea and makes this easy.

Remember- a dog’s body temperature is higher than a humans, so their will suffer in stuffy and hot environments.

Take regular comfort breaks

This is kind for humans and the dogs. Do this when you feel it is necessary but every two hours at a minimum. This is a good opportunity to stretch legs and let the dog have the all-important sniff.

For longer journeys, or if you are travelling through mealtimes, take a sealable box containing the dog’s food which they can enjoy during a stop. This will need to be kept fresh in a cool bag if it is not dry food.

If you are feeding your dog, let them have a nice wander before setting back off. If your dog gets travel sick they may need an extended break after feeding.

What to do when you arrive at your destination

Can you imagine the number of strange, exciting, and scary smells in a dog friendly holiday home?

When you arrive your dog will want to sniff everything to check it all out. Keep them on their leads until you have checked the security of the perimeters and surroundings, but when safe, let them off to have a good sniff around.

After the initial excitement, offer praise for calm behavior and allow them to settle in while you unpack.

Their bed will be a comfort to them as it offers familiar smells of home, so making that available is important. They have their toys in the travel bag too, so have a play and make it a positive experience.

The first night can be strange for your dog as it is a new routine and a new place. Anxiety can lead to destructive behavior- think carefully about your dog when choosing their sleeping quarters for the vacation.

At home, our dogs sleep in an enclosed kitchen but a strange kitchen doesn’t offer the same feeling of safety therefore we opt for having their bed in the same room as us.

Having the dog close to you offers great comfort to them and ensures a good night’s sleep for the humans. If your usual routine is to have your dogs in bed with you at home they will naturally expect this but do check the house rules before booking as many dog friendly homes will state ‘no dogs on the furniture’ and sometimes even upstairs- research and book wisely.

Choose a set place for your dog to rest and have quiet time in their holiday home. Also choose a set place for their water and feeding bowls.

Maintain these routines for the duration of your stay and your dog will quickly feel at home. These are all small details that will help your dog settle and feel safe.

What if I can’t take my dog on some activities?

If for some reason you are doing a non-dog friendly activity, or eating somewhere where dogs are not allowed, then plan this carefully.

Many vacation homes will not be happy with you (and state that they do not permit you) to leave your dog unattended in the property.

Dogs often feel stressed by being alone in a strange place and (as previously mentioned) may manifest this through destructive behavior so avoid this if you can.

Be mindful and sensitive of your dog’s reliance on you away from home – you are the only familiar part of its usual life on this vacation.

Day care or kennels local to the destination is a good solution to this. We have used this many times for when we have visited a place unsuitable for dogs; many dog sitters are happy to offer care for a couple of hours and you can enjoy your time knowing you dogs are safe.

Again, do your research and book this in advance: if you’re simply on a a weekend getaway, then I would recommend picking only dog friendly places to visit.

(From the East Coast to the West, here’s the most dog friendly cities in the USA.)

Out and about

When out and about on vacation, do be aware of the surroundings being unfamiliar and unknown to you and your dog. You will encounter many new places, people and other dogs.

Recall may be excellent in and around the home environment, but this is new and may offer unexpected challenges.

Check out the surroundings before taking your dogs off their leads, and only do so with caution and confidence that it is safe and sensible to do so.

Coming home

I have always found that our dogs adjust well to coming back home. This is perhaps because we immediately revert back to home routines, which makes them feel safe and calm.

They are usually extremely tired from all of the excitement (and worry) of the time away, so return to a calm, familiar walk and some quiet time at home.

Routine is everything, particularly with an anxious or reactive dog, so after challenging them with a weekend or longer vacation full of unknowns, offer them the comfort of their safety zone.

I hope that you have an enjoyable and happy vacation with your dogs – for those of us who really do believe that a family vacation means the whole family!