- If you're gearing up for a summer road trip with your dog, you'll need some things to keep them safe, comfortable, and loving life on the road and off.
- The safest way for your dog to travel is in a crash-tested crate or harness that attaches to a back seat belt.
- Prevent your dog from overheating or suffering heatstroke on the road with regular breaks, plenty of hydration, and additional gear like a crate fan and window shades.
After a spring spent indoors, Americans across the country are hitting the road with dogs as their co-pilots. Whether your plan is to hike and camp, to explore back roads and under-the-radar towns, or visit family and friends, the promise of an adventure on the open road is intoxicating not just for you but for your dog, too.
As a professional dog trainer by day and travel writer by night, I have years of experience hitting the road with dogs. I've combed through my own gear to come up with a list of 15 essential items for a canine-friendly summer road trip. For expertise on traveling safely with a dog in the hot summer months, I've consulted with Dr. Tanya Fraser, VMD, medical director of VCA Allendale Animal Hospital in Allendale, Michigan, and Lindsey Wolko, founder of the Center for Pet Safety in Reston, Virginia.
To assure the success of a summer road trip with your pup, you'll need a handful of items to keep them safe and comfortable during long drives. Dogs also need regular breaks from the road, just like we do. "Stopping every few hours to get out, move around, and use the bathroom is ideal," said Fraser.
All that driving also increases the possibility that your dog may, at some point, experience some car sickness. Most dogs outgrow motion sickness in puppyhood, according to Fraser, but if your dog is prone to nausea in the car, things like withholding food for a few hours before traveling or letting your dog see out the window can help. Roll down the window for additional airflow but not so low that your dog can thrust their head into the wind. That's very dangerous. "You know the sound your windshield makes when a rock hits it? Imagine your dog being hit by that rock. Ouch!" Wolko said.
Before you embark on your trip, Fraser recommends making sure your pet is up-to-date on their vaccines and parasite control. Consult your vet if you have questions. They can also provide you with anti-nausea medication if your dog frequently experiences motion sickness.
Here are 14 of the best car travel gear and accessories for dogs:
A crash-tested kennel to protect your dog in a collision
According to Wolko, you should never travel with your dog in a plastic crate that has been buckled in with a car seat belt because it can easily fracture in a crash. Instead, use a crash-test-certified crate to "give your pet the best possible chance of survival if a crash occurs." The Center for Pet Safety has tested several crates for their Center for Pet Safety certified list, including the Lucky Kennel by Lucky Duck, which received a five-star crash-test rating. Crating may also help to alleviate motion sickness in some dogs, according to Fraser.
A crash-tested harness to travel safely with your dog outside of a crate
Sleepypod
Testing done by the Center for Pet Safety indicates that a crash-test certified travel harness is an effective way to keep a dog safe on a road trip, especially a dog that has never been crate trained or that suffers from confinement distress. Sleepypod's Clickit Sport Harness and Terrain Harness each earned a five-star rating. They attach to the seat belts in the back seat of a car through built-in loops.
A hammock-style seat cover to keep paw prints and dirt at bay
If any portion of your road trip involves hiking, camping, or other explorations of the great outdoors, do yourself a favor and get a water-resistant seat cover to protect your car from moisture and dirt. This version from Orvis blankets the back seat and the backs of the front seats. A see-through mesh panel between the two front seats prevents your dog from feeling too isolated.
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