Have you ever dreamed of taking your dog on a road trip with you? Taking them to the beach or to the mountains? As loving pet parents, all we want to do is spend time with our dogs and share valuable experiences with them. Nevertheless, we’re also aware of the difficulties some of them might present, such as taking a road trip.
Spending long hours in a car with a dog is possible, there are just some things you should keep in mind to make the trip as pleasant as possible for both you and your pup.
But worry not our fellow pet parents, because we have curated and created the ultimate guide for taking a road trip with your dog. We’re going to share all the essential tips you need to keep in mind before setting off on your journey.
And please don’t start to freak out because these tips are extremely easy to follow!
1. Schedule potty breaks
As obvious as this may sound to some of you, it’s extremely necessary to schedule these potty breaks before setting off on your road trip. If you don’t, you might encounter situations in which you won’t be able to pull over for a potty break, such as when you’re driving on the highway.
Make sure to take as many potty breaks as possible, so your dog is relaxed, and to avoid unnecessary and extremely unpleasant accidents in the car.
What is more, these potty breaks will really help your dog to stretch their legs. Yes, just as it happens with humans, doggos might also need a good stretch after spending several hours in a car.
2. Have plenty of water
It’s better to be safe than sorry, so make sure to take extra water for both you and your doggo. You wouldn’t want to run out of it if you get stuck in traffic.
One of the best things you can do is buy a portable water bottle for dogs that has its own bowl attached to it, so you don’t have to pour the water into a separate bowl. Of course, the good old regular bowl will work too, this special bottle might just save you some trouble.
3. Get your dog used to the car
The best thing you can do is get your dog used to riding the car since they are little, so they won’t have a problem with it in the future. If this is not the case for you, then don’t worry, you can definitely get your older doggo used to the car.
In order to help your dog associate the car with a good experience, you can start by planning short 5-minute-trips to places they like, such as the park or the house of a friend. If a dog only rides the car to go to the vet, then they probably won’t be too fond of it.
4. Give them calming treats
There are some doggos that fall asleep the minute they hop on to the car. They seem to be completely undisturbed by the ride. But there are some other doggos that start to feel quite agitated the moment they notice they are about to get in the car.
One of the best things to do is to talk to your vet about giving your pup calming treats before the ride. Mokai’s plant-based calming treats contain adaptogens and super-herbs that will help your dog calm down while restoring their physical, emotional, and mental balance.
It’s a great natural option to help your dog have a better ride!
5. Tire them out
This is a great tip to follow before making a road trip with your dog. A tired dog is less likely to be active during a car ride, and there are two ways to accomplish that goal.
The first and most obvious one is taking your dog on a super long walk and trying to get them to play with friends. There’s nothing that tires out a dog more than playing with other doggos.
If you set off on your trip too early in the morning, then you can try some mental enrichment activities. They will definitely feel quite tired afterwards. One of the most practical ones consists of freezing a licking mat with your dog’s favorite topping the night before, and giving it to them a few hours before setting off.
6. Bring the essentials
It doesn’t matter if you’re making a 1-hour-long road trip or a 5-hour-long one, you can’t forget the essentials. Besides from water, you should definitely bring:
- doggy car seat belt
- healthy treats your dog enjoys
- their tag
- harness and leash
- dog first aid kit
- poop bags
