Dog Road Trip Essentials: What to Pack for a Safe and Enjoyable Journey

This article was written by veterinarian Dr. Pippa Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS, as well as Petful editor Kristine Lacoste. Tamar Love Grande, Allison Gray, and Kristen Youngs also contributed. This article was reviewed by Dr. Elliott and was last updated on August 21, 2024

If you have questions or concerns, call your vet, who is best equipped to ensure the health and well-being of your pet. This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. See additional information.

Planning a Dog Road Trip? Here's What You Need to Know

If you’re planning a road trip with your dog, it’s essential to ensure both safety and comfort.

Before you hit the road, consider these key dog road trip essentials:

• Safety First: Use the right harness or carrier to keep your dog secure during the journey.
• Best Gear for Car Travel: Choose the most suitable harnesses or carriers for dogs in cars.
• Longer Trips: Plan for longer trips by making frequent stops and ensuring your dog stays comfortable.
• Avoiding Dangerous Situations: Never let your dog ride in the back of a pickup truck.
• Preventing Motion Sickness: Take steps to prevent motion sickness before the trip begins.

By following these tips, you can make your road trip with your dog safe and enjoyable.

How to Keep Your Dog Safe in the Car

Ensuring your dog's safety during a road trip is crucial. Here are some dog road trip essentials to keep in mind:

• Use Proper Restraints: Always restrain your dog with appropriate vehicle safety items to prevent distractions and potential injuries.
• Dog Harness: A fabric harness that wraps around your dog's neck and torso is ideal. It prevents strangulation and protects the dog's neck and spine in case of an accident.
• Dog Seat Belt: Dog seat belts attach to the harness and keep your dog secure in the back seat. Choose from:
• Booster Seat: Small dogs that enjoy looking out the window will appreciate a booster seat. These seats are:

By following these tips, you’ll ensure that your dog’s road trip is safe, comfortable, and enjoyable.

Dog Carrier: A Must-Have for Safe Road Trips

Transporting your dog safely during a road trip is essential. One of the top dog road trip essentials is a hard-sided dog carrier, also known as a travel kennel or crate. Securing your dog in a carrier in the back seat can significantly reduce the risk of injury in the event of an accident.

• Carrier Safety: A hard-sided carrier secured with a seat belt provides optimal protection for your dog.
• Carrier Tips for Car Travel:

Safety First: Keep Your Dog in the Back Seat

• Treat your dog’s safety with the same care as you would for a child during car travel.

Getting Your Dog Comfortable with the Carrier

• If your dog is new to using a carrier, familiarize them with it before the trip:

By following these tips and using a secure dog carrier, you can ensure your dog’s safety and comfort during road trips.

Advice for Traveling With a Dog on Longer Car Trips

Longer road trips with your dog require careful planning to ensure your pet's safety and comfort. Here are some dog road trip essentials to consider:

Temperature Awareness

• Monitor Temperatures: Always be aware of the temperature at your destination and along the way. Never leave your dog in the car, as temperatures can rise or fall to dangerous levels quickly.
• Hot Weather: Even in mild temperatures (like 75°F), the inside of a car can become dangerously hot within minutes. Lowering the windows is not a safe solution and may allow your dog to escape.
• Cold Weather: Dogs can suffer from hypothermia in cold temperatures. Keep extra blankets on hand and never leave your dog in a cold car.

Hotels, Motels, and Camps

• Plan Ahead: If your trip includes overnight stays, check pet policies, costs, and other concerns before booking.
• Dog-Friendly Accommodations: Make a list of dog-friendly places along your route to ensure you have options when you need to stop.

Vet Visit Before Long Car Trips

• Health Check: A vet visit before the trip is essential, especially for longer journeys. Ensure your dog is healthy enough to travel.
• Discuss Sedation: If your dog is prone to anxiety or stress during travel, discuss sedation options with your vet. Never self-medicate your dog with human or other animal medications.

Paperwork and Identification

• Microchip Your Dog: Consider getting your dog microchipped before the trip for added security. Learn more about getting your dog microchipped.
• Carry Important Documents: Keep copies of your dog's rabies vaccination, health records, and a current photo in three places: in your car, attached to the carrier, and with you at all times.
• Updated Tags: Ensure your dog’s collar has current tags, and bring an extra tag in case one needs to be replaced during the trip.

Food and Water

• Limit Food Intake Before Travel: To reduce the risk of sickness or nausea, limit your dog's food intake before hitting the road.
• Pack Extra Food and Snacks: Bring enough pet food and snacks for the entire trip, as stores may not carry your dog’s usual brand. Changing food during stressful travel can lead to stomach issues. More about stomach upset and diarrhea in dogs.
• Bottled Water: Take plenty of bottled water with you to keep your dog hydrated throughout the journey.

Pit Stops

• Plan Regular Breaks: Stop every 3–4 hours to allow your dog to stretch, potty, and drink water.
• Clean Up After Your Dog: Bring poop bags and/or a scooper to clean up after your dog during stops.
• Keep Your Dog Leashed: Always keep your dog leashed during walks to ensure safety.

Traveling With Kids

• Talk to Your Children: If traveling with kids, discuss the importance of giving the dog personal space without distractions.
• Behaviors to Avoid:

By following these tips, you can ensure a safe and enjoyable road trip with your dog.

How to Prevent Motion Sickness in Your Dog

Motion sickness is a common issue, affecting 1 in 6 dogs, and can make road trips challenging. Here’s how to prevent motion sickness in your dog and make car travel more comfortable:

Recognizing Motion Sickness in Dogs

• Common Symptoms: Shivering, excessive drooling, and reluctance to enter the car are signs that your dog may suffer from motion sickness.
• Anticipatory Anxiety: Some dogs may begin to feel anxious even before the car ride starts, as they anticipate the nausea associated with travel.

Creating Positive Associations

• Associate the Car with Positive Experiences: To break the cycle of anxiety and nausea, help your dog form positive associations with car travel:

By following these steps, you can help your dog overcome motion sickness and ensure a more enjoyable experience on road trips.

Gradual Steps to Prevent Motion Sickness in Your Dog

Overcoming motion sickness in your dog may require a gradual and patient approach. Here are some effective strategies:

Step-by-Step Desensitization

• Engage in Car Games: Spend a few weeks playing with your dog inside the car, keeping the doors open to prevent feelings of being trapped.
• Meals in the Car: Feed your dog inside the car to create a positive association. Consider investing in a waterproof seat cover to protect your seats.
• Slow Progression: Once your dog is comfortable jumping into the car, gradually introduce new changes:

3 Golden Rules for Success

• Praise Calm Behavior: Consistently praise your dog for remaining calm during each step.
• Avoid Distress: Stop the session before your dog becomes anxious or distressed.
• End on a Positive Note: Always conclude each training session with a positive experience, such as a treat or playtime.

By following these steps, you can help your dog gradually overcome motion sickness and enjoy road trips more comfortably.

Car Climate and Comfort for Your Dog

Ensuring a comfortable environment in the car is crucial for preventing motion sickness in your dog. Here are some dog road trip essentials to keep in mind:

• Maintain a Cool Climate: A hot, stuffy car can exacerbate motion sickness. Keep the vehicle cool with fresh air circulating at all times.
• Window View: Some dogs feel better if they can see out of the window. For smaller dogs, consider using a booster seat or dog pod to elevate them to window level.
• Pre-Travel Feeding: Feed your dog a handful of dry biscuits 1–2 hours before travel. This can help prevent an upset stomach, as traveling on a completely empty stomach may increase the risk of nausea.
• Frequent Stops: Plan regular stops to let your dog stretch, walk, and hydrate.

Travel Medications for Dogs

If you need to make an urgent journey and don’t have time to desensitize your dog to car travel, medication may be necessary to prevent motion sickness. Here are some options:

• Traditional Remedies: Some people use ginger or peppermint, as well as herbal options like skullcap and valerian. However, these remedies are not scientifically proven and may not be reliable for long trips.
• Acepromazine (ACP): A sedative with anti-motion sickness properties. ACP is not ideal for short journeys, as it can make the dog groggy for up to 8 hours. Additionally, some dogs may have an adverse reaction, becoming hyperactive instead of sedated. Always test this medication before a long journey.
• Maropitant (Cerenia): This drug effectively blocks the nausea center in the brain, making it an ideal choice for motion sickness. It works for 24 hours without sedating the dog, though it can be expensive. Learn more about Cerenia.

By managing your car's climate and using appropriate medications when necessary, you can help your dog have a more comfortable and enjoyable road trip.

Here are a few more great tips from Pet Health Network:

Reintroducing the Car as a Positive Space

To ensure stress-free car travel with your dog, focus on reintroducing the car as a fun and positive place while using medication to prevent nausea. By building new, positive associations and addressing motion sickness, you can pave the way for enjoyable road trips with your dog.

Why Are Dogs Still Riding in the Back of Trucks?

It’s a common yet alarming sight: a dog riding freely in the bed of a pickup truck. This practice is not only dangerous but also illegal in some states. Here’s what you need to know:

The Dangers

• Risk of Injury: Dogs in truck beds are at high risk of injury. Sudden swerves, bumps, or stops can cause the dog to lose balance and be thrown around or even out of the truck.
• Lack of Protection: Without any form of restraint, dogs in truck beds are exposed to the elements and road debris, further increasing the risk of harm.

Laws Regarding Dogs in Truck Beds

• Legal Protections: While many assume that driving with a dog in the back of a truck is illegal everywhere, the reality is that laws are sparse and not comprehensive across the U.S.
• States with Laws: As of 2017, only five states have specific laws in place to keep dogs out of truck beds:
• For more detailed information, visit the Animal Legal and Historical Center.

By being aware of the risks and legal implications, you can help protect dogs from the dangers of riding in truck beds and advocate for safer practices.

How Dangerous Is It to Let a Dog Ride in the Back of a Truck?

Allowing a dog to ride in the back of a pickup truck is extremely dangerous and can lead to severe injuries or death. Here’s why it’s critical to avoid this practice:

The Risks

• High Fatality Rate: According to DMV.org, thousands of dogs are killed each year while riding in the back of pickup trucks. This statistic doesn’t even account for the many non-fatal injuries.
• Exposure to Road Debris: Dogs in truck beds are vulnerable to gravel, dirt, and other debris that can cause serious harm. If these particles can crack a windshield, they can certainly injure a dog’s eyes, nose, or lungs.
• Impact Injuries: In the event of sudden braking or swerving, a dog can be thrown from the truck or slammed against the back of the cab, leading to life-threatening injuries.

How Dogs Can Ride Safely in a Truck

• Ride Inside the Cab: The safest place for a dog in a pickup truck is inside the cab, secured with a dog-friendly car restraint or harness.
• Avoid Truck Bed Crates: While some crates can be secured to a truck bed, they do not protect against the dangers of gravel, dirt, or the lack of restraint during sudden stops.
• Cross-Tethering Risks: Cross-tethering a dog in a truck bed to prevent falls or jumps still exposes them to the same risks, including debris and impact injuries.

The only truly safe way to travel with your dog, regardless of vehicle type, is to secure them with a dog car seat or harness in the back seat. Taking this precaution may delay your trip by a few minutes, but it could save your dog’s life. For more information, visit DMV.org.

References

• Center for Pet Safety. "Gunner Kennel G1 Intermediate." June 2015. https://www.centerforpetsafety.org/cps-certified/gunner-kennel-g1-intermediate/.
• Becker, Marty, DVM et al. From Fearful to Fear Free: A Positive Program to Free Your Dog From Anxiety, Fears and Phobias. Fear Free, LLC. 2018.
• Horwitz, Debra, DVM, DACVB, and Gary Landsberg, DVM, DACVB, DECAWBM. "Air and Car Travel." VCA Hospitals. 2013. https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/dog-behavior-and-training-traveling-air-and-car-travel.
• DMV.org. "Traveling With Your Pet." https://www.dmv.org/how-to-guides/pet-travelling.php.