A rundown of our 15 tried and tested dog-friendly travel essentials to make packing for a dog-friendly road trip a breeze. These are honest reviews; no endorsements or affiliations.
Jon and I have become more adept at travelling light, but often end up cramming bags of Belka’s things in the car for our adventures. Often far more than we’re packing for ourselves! We’re getting better at whittling it down to the essentials, after plenty of trial and error. However long you’re travelling for with your dog, here our recommendations for the dog-friendly travel essentials you really don’t want to leave home without.
Dog tracker (GPS & Activity)
In an unfamiliar environment, a reliable GPS tracker provides good peace of mind. Our choice is Pit Pat. I have been so impressed with the quality of the PitPat tracker. No subscription plus awesome customer service. It is durable and water resistant, making it the best tracker for an active dog.
Tag & Microchip (Flexitags!)
It’s easy to forget to keep your pet’s microchip details up to date; it’s best to check before any trips. In addition, a tag with clear contact details is a must. We were recommended Flexitags as they lie flat against a dog collar, avoiding any snags. Again, a perfect choice for an active dog who’s liable to getting their collar/tags caught in branches etc. They’re also very affordable and customisable; perfect if you have more than one pet or want to order a batch.
Canine First Aid Kit & Training
A canine first aid kit contains a lot of the gear that you would find in a human first aid kit…so you could easily assemble your own (the Blue Cross have a great checklist). Just make sure the ingredients are pet safe. Paracetamol is dog friendly, but not any brand that contains extra ingredients such as caffeine. Other essentials include tweezers, tick tool, saline solution and a mix of bandages. If you’re unsure, many companies have ready made kits (we have this one in the boot of our car at all times). It’s also sensible to know how to do some basic first aid as a vet may not be easily accessible while you’re adventuring.
Car Harness & Seatbelt
The Highway Code specifies that dogs travelling in vehicles must be suitably restrained. Our absolute favourite car harness/seatlbelt is the Kurgo one. We’ve tried others but this has been the most versatile, comfortable and resilient. For those who enjoy taking regular road trips with their dogs, a suitable harness is a dog-friendly travel essential.
Microfibre Towel
There are plenty of choices on the market, but we will always have one in the car boot and another in our bag. Keeping your dog clean and dry is a courtesy when entering communal dog-friendly spaces.
Metal de-shedding brush
Even if you are staying somewhere dog friendly and there is an additional cleaning charge, be considerate. If you know your dog is a shedder (like Belka is)making sure they have a thorough groom before you enter a new place is essential. This is even more important if you’re not paying for your stay. We have tried many different brushes. The Pet Teezer is great for everyday brushing. But for the seasonal coat shedding, a powerful two handled shedding blade is unbeatable. Use this outdoors; you’ll be amazed!
‘Fox Poo’ Shampoo
With new smells comes new experiences…new disgusting challenges for owners to deal with. One of our first overnight trips to the New Forest, Belka found the pony manure irresistible. Other times, a roll in a dead bird or other unidentifiable stinky things has meant an immediate bath. After plenty of trial and error, we have found the Animology Fox Poo Shampoo to be the best at cutting through the gross substances quickly and easily.
Biodegradeable Poo Bags…and something to store them in!
It can be tempting in the great outdoors to leave dog mess where it lands. While this is sometimes ok (and arguably more eco conscious than using a plastic bag), there are exceptions. Unbagged dog poo can pose a risk to young or pregnant livestock. And, of course, is messy and unpleasant for any humans who’ll encounter it. We usually buy a bulk load of compostable bags before trips. Peace With The Wild has great, affordable options.
Sturdy Gates/Barriers
Even places described as dog-friendly often have rules about not upstairs, on furniture etc. Having some collapsible, easily transportable barriers or gates makes settling into a new place stress free. When packing, we’ll put these in first as a base in the boot.
More food than you think is necessary
We’ve been caught out when travel days have taken longer than planned or we choose to spend an extra day somewhere. We now usually batch up meals for Belka in resued Tupperware for each day. Plus always have an extra portion or two in the car in case things don’t go to plan.
Lauren
Lauren is a qualified teacher, theatre practitioner and writer. Her proudest moments include taking a student expedition team to Ecuador, drafting her first novel and recently reaching the top of a climbing wall. Lauren loves travelling, having treated herself to a trip of the Trans-Siberian railroad for her 30th birthday, she is now looking forward to being in Japan for her 40th. Together with Jon, Lauren has enjoyed plenty of adventures from a road trip around Cuba to diving in the Galapagos Islands. Lauren is now working hard to write full time whilst being available for teaching and tutoring sessions, specialising in Shakespeare.