There’s no better feeling than flying down the highway, en route to explore someplace new, with the windows down and the breeze blowing through our hair – and your pup couldn’t agree more. Road trips are a blast, but nothing can make them more fun than bringing your furry family member along for the ride. But with every great adventure comes added responsibility – as keeping your beastie safe and comfortable is always a key component to any successful trip.
Here’s a few tips to help you plan your next excursion with your favorite road dog:
1. Hope for the best, but plan for the worst.
Getting away from it all can be the best form of medicine – but that sometimes means finding yourself miles and miles away from a veterinary clinic. Being prepared for emergencies is an important part of any outing, as is having a plan in place if something happens that you can’t handle alone. Emergency first aid kits are essential in equipping you with the resources and tools needed to care for a wounded pup. Kits should be kept in your vehicle and also taken along on hikes. Adventure Medical Kits makes a great combined kit for humans and dogs, perfect for pup parents. It's also a good idea to research nearby 24-hour and emergency veterinary clinics located on the way to, and close-by, your destination. That way, if a serious injury or illness occurs – you know exactly where to head. Lastly, remember to keep microchips and tags up-to-date, and save a copy of vaccination records on your mobile device for quick access in case it’s needed.
2. Climate control for canines is crucial.
On hot days, we bipedal peeps have the luxury of removing layers – unfortunately, our pups do not. A warm day to us can quickly become unbearable for fluffy friends, especially in a car. As a general rule, don’t leave your dog in the car during the day, as even in the most temperate climates it can quickly heat the interior of even the most well-insulated rigs. If you have to run errands, do so in the evening or early morning. Also, always keep adequate water on-hand, and serve it up frequently. Ruffwear makes a great trail running bowl that can be easily packed in your pocket, purse, or backpack, making water brakes quick and easy – wherever you are. On the flip side, smaller and thin-coated dogs can also struggle to keep warm in winter, so remember to pack layers for your dog, as you would for yourself. Hurtta North America makes quality warm wear for our canine companions in various weight options for varying weather conditions, as well as a lightweight, reflective sleeping bag for those frosty nights spent on the road.
3. Help them feel secure
Spontaneity can be liberating to us humans, but often evokes anxiety for our furry family members who don’t value last-minute changes and long hours in the car. Putting our pups’ comfort first is key to enjoying any road trip. If your dog is new to co-piloting, try small trips first – building up to longer stints on the road. Bringing familiar and favorite possessions – like a blanket, toy, even their entire bed, will often help quell anxiety. Also, when packing your car, always make sure to provide adequate room for your dog to stand up, adjust their sitting/sleeping position and move around. Cracking windows, keeping tunes calm and quiet, and taking frequent bathroom and walking breaks can also help calm nerves – and bonus pup parent points if you bring along a tennis ball and make stops at off-leash parks for a little playtime.
4. Ensure your adventure is accommodating.
The open road is freeing, but there are many excursion-worthy places that are not dog-friendly. Researching rules and regulations of parks and recreational areas beforehand is necessary in planning an enjoyable experience for both you and your pup. Most national parks aren’t very accommodating to dog owners. However, neighboring national forests and Bureau Of Land Management (also known as BLM) lands tend to provide numerous opportunities for outdoor exploits with your best beastie. Additionally, many of these federal lands permit dogs to camp and explore off-leash, if under the control of voice commands. Check out websites for recreation areas and call ranger stations or visitor centers to confirm details beforehand. Outdoors officials are always great resources for recommending dog-friendly places to play. Most importantly, familiarize yourself with Leave No Trace principles for both you and your pup in order to minimize your impact, and leave our wild spaces healthy and flourishing for years of adventures to-come.
Golden hour and my golden pup