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Traveling with dogs is equal parts joy, logistics, and discovering brand new ways your dog can surprise you. Sometimes in a cute way. Sometimes in a “why are we like this” way. Here are the top ten things I’ve learned after many miles, many hotels, and several near heart attacks.
At some point in your dog travels, you will end up in a car. Too many of us take our own safety seriously but forget our four-legged co-pilots.
At the very least, pack a dog seat belt. It should live in your travel bag permanently. If it’s your own car or a rental for the whole trip, consider a proper car seat depending on size. For big dogs or quick trips, a harness clipped to a seat belt is usually enough. For small to medium dogs who want to see out the window and live their main character dreams, a booster seat or hanging seat is worth it.
Either way, your dog should be strapped in. Safety first. Chaos second.
If you are adventure-set, pack towels. Plural. Also baby wipes. This should be self-explanatory and yet somehow never is.
This should honestly be a rule at home too, but it is non-negotiable while traveling. You do not have control with a retractable leash. Period.
“But Emily, it has a lock button.”
No. Dear reader. No.
By the time you sense danger, assuming your dog is still in sight and not already around a corner, hit the lock button, and pull back, it is too late.
During my cross-country move west, we stopped in Big Sur to walk the cliffs. Marked dog friendly. Stunning views. Much needed car break. Two humans, two dogs, and everything I owned stuffed into a Mini Cooper.
Chewy was sniffing. I assumed pre-potty sniffs. Incorrect. He caught the scent of seals below the cliff and chose violence. He took off like the Road Runner and launched himself straight into the air and off the cliff.
I hit the lock button mid-leap. He stopped in the air. Then dropped like an anvil and hit the side of the cliff.
Thank everything that is holy he was in a harness and not a collar. I reeled him back up like a trout while screaming. My dad was running. We were fully panicked.
Chewy was completely fine and wildly proud of himself. He looked like he had just gone bungee jumping and unlocked the meaning of life.
The lesson. That leap should never have been possible. A traditional leash would have given me control. Retire the retractable leash.
Even if your dog is an angel at home. You are not home. You are on vacation. Your dog is also on vacation and has forgotten every rule they have ever known.
Put food in containers they cannot open or in the trunk (Plastic or Glass). Yes, dogs can unzip zippers. Ask Chewy.
And sometime, if you travel with us long enough, you will have to ask me about Chewy and the whole chocolate Christmas orange incident during a trip to Texas. This rule exists for a reason.
You need options. Sometimes a collapsible bowl works. Sometimes it absolutely does not.
I always travel with a collapsible bowl and a water bottle with a built-in bowl. And here’s the thing. The dog decides the vibes. You have no control over which bowl will work at what time. You can present both. They will choose chaos.
You and your dog will encounter new situations constantly. You need low-reward treats, high-reward treats, and anxiety or distraction treats.
I pack Cheerios for low-reward moments like casual hikes or encouragement across a suspicious bridge. Peanut butter bites are high reward for things like not murdering squirrels or ignoring large dogs. Tilly has a size complex.
For anxiety or long stretches, yak sticks are elite. They are slow-chewing dried cheese and work wonders in crowds, on ferries, or when a captain will not stop blowing the horn.
If you are anything like me, you have a leash for every scenario. Daily leash. Hiking leash. Long lead adventure leash.
Still bring a backup. Leashes break. Leashes get left behind. Nothing is worse than arriving somewhere and realizing your dog is now free-range.
At minimum, bring a blanket that smells like home. When we use a carrier, I line it with a blanket and then reuse that blanket as a hotel bed.
For road trips and camping, I bring a wool kennel pad. It packs well, stays warm, and gives your dog a consistent sleep setup no matter where you land.
Traditional dog tags are great but they can fall off, especially when they get old or snag on something. Your dog should absolutely be chipped.
But here’s the thing. If your dog gets away from you, and there are so many ways this can happen to even the best dog parent, the person who finds them may not know to check for a chip.
I highly recommend having your collar or harness embroidered with your contact information. For larger or more adventurous trips, consider a GPS collar.
One year Chewy went missing on Christmas in Texas while visiting family. My entire family ran the neighborhood in our pajamas. We went door to door. Neighbors poured out to help. One group made posters and put them everywhere. Another started posting on social media and calling shelters. Others cried with me and gave big hugs.
After hours, we realized we had knocked on every door except one that wasn’t answering. A neighbor mentioned they had heard that house got a new dog for Christmas that morning.
Enter my dad. Chewy’s grandpa. Very persistent knock. Eventually they opened the door. And there was Chewy. Happy as a clam. Playing with their kids like he lived there.
If I had a GPS collar on him, that day could have ended much sooner. I don’t use one day to day. I live in a high rise in an urban area. But when traveling to new places, it’s a very good idea. Your dog will not know how to navigate back home in a brand new location.
Combine all your research, planning, and good intentions and then accept that your dog may be tired, overstimulated, or suddenly afraid of ferry horns forever.
Dog friendly does not mean dog ideal. Plans will shift. You will pivot. You will carry your dog more than expected. The trip will still be worth it.
Traveling with dogs is not about perfection. It’s about preparation, patience, and laughing later when the adrenaline wears off.
And before I wrap this up, one last thing.
It has become painfully clear that a solid majority of my dog-related travel trauma can be traced directly back to Chewy. Damn, I miss him.
There was never a dull moment with that dog. Ever. For all the wacky things he did, and this list doesn’t even scratch the surface, there were ten times as many sweet moments. He was my snuggle buddy. My co-pilot. My coworker, both at home and in the office.
I had dogs before him and I have dogs after him, but Chewy taught me so much about life and dog parenthood. The good. The bad. And occasionally the ugly.
And honestly, I would take every single chaotic moment again just to have one more trip with him riding shotgun.
** Written by Emily and Tilly **
