Road Trip Essentials With Your 4-Legged Friends
With the warmer weather and longer days approaching upon us, it’s the perfect time to hop in the car and take on the open roads with your furry friends. Let’s be honest, there’s nothing better than driving on a sunny day with the windows down, wind in your hair, and seeing that big smile on your dog’s face, knowing they’re having the time of their lives!
However, when going on a road trip with your dog, the work starts long before you get behind the wheel. With such an adventure does come pretty big responsibility and preparation that you should consider to ensure a dog-friendly and successful road trip. We have curated our top 5 list of things you should do before hitting the road with your four-legged friend:
Do Your Homework
Prep Your Pup
Pack Your Pup’s Essentials
Stick to a Normal Schedule
Be Aware of Your Surroundings
Now let’s dive into each one a little deeper!
Research, Research, Research!
Before going anywhere with your dog, it’s smart to do your research, so you know your route beforehand and find plenty of pet-friendly accommodations and activities ahead of time. Research as many pet-friendly hotels, restaurants, attractions, parks, etc. as you can, to ensure your pup (and you) will have a great time! We also suggest you research a few veterinary offices along your route, that way you’ll know who to call in case you need vet support while on the road.
Preparation is KEY!
Once you’ve decided where you’re going and have your route locked down, it’s important to make sure your dog is ready for the journey. While it’s important to ensure your dog’s comfortability while in the car, you also want to make sure they’ll be comfortable making plenty of stops on the way and comfortable in environments they may not be used to. This may require some training beforehand. You can do things like take them to new locations and expose them to different settings that they may not be used to, like loud, high-traffic areas or places where they may experience a variety of wild animals. This will help both you and your dog have a great time while exploring!
Make Sure You Pack the Essentials
Another big factor in ensuring that you and your dog have a successful road trip is by making sure you are ready with all the essentials needed. Things like food, water, collar & leash, first aid kit, etc. are all important items to bring along. You can print our MUSHER’S ULTIMATE ADVENTURE CHECKLIST to get a complete list of all the essentials you need to take on your next adventure with your furry friend!
Try Your Best Stick to a Normal Schedule
With all the daily activities you have planned it’s easy to get caught up in the fun and forget that your dog does in fact need to stick to their normal food and exercise routine. We are definitely not here to kill the fun by any means, but if you want your dog to have as much fun as they can, it’s important to try to stick to their normal schedule. Be sure that they are still getting plenty of exercise throughout the day and nutritious dog food. If it's a day that you’ll be mostly driving, you must make stops along the way so they can eat, stretch their legs, and do their business.
Be Aware of Your Surroundings
One of the most important things to keep in mind when traveling with your dog is your environment and what’s around you. If you’re traveling to a new place, you must be aware of any potential risks that you and your dog may encounter, along with any areas that may be privy to some friends you don’t want to meet like, fleas or ticks, wild animals, and certain diseases that specific areas that are more susceptible to. It’s all about the safety of yourself and your pet, so stay alert and know where you are at all times.
As challenging as planning for a road trip with your dog can be, it can also be one of the greatest experiences you and your dog will ever have. It’s a great way for you both to explore new places, bond, and build a lifelong of new and exciting memories!
