Taking Your Dog on Holiday: How to Make Car Travel Easy

You’ve planned where you’re going, where you’ll stay and you’re excited to be heading away for some much needed rest and relaxation.

You’re taking your dog of course!

It wouldn’t be a holiday without them but with those fluffy ears and curious nose, we’ve got to put a bit of planning in for the car journey.

Your dog might be 100% comfortable in the car and travelling, that’s great and makes taking them away so much easier. For others, your dog might not be so good or they haven’t been in the car very much at all. Depending of where you dog sits on this travelling scale, I’ve got some handy tips for making travelling in the car with your dog that little bit easier.

Restrain your dog in the car, give them somewhere safe to travel.

This is the most important safety tip for traveling with a dog in the car and it’s the law to have your dog securely in the car.

Rule 57 of the Highway Code states that you must “make sure dogs or other animals are suitably restrained” in a vehicle.

There are many different types of dog car restraints available, so choose one that is the right size and fit for your dog. It could be crash proofed car crates or specifically designed car harnesses. Have a look at what would work for your car, your family and your budget. Never have your dog just sat in the car or even worse sat on someone’s knee. It’s not worth it and you wouldn’t risk the lives of your passengers and not ensure they had a seatbelt on, so don’t risk your dogs life.

Start small, especially if your dog isn’t good travelling in the car.

If your dog is not used to riding in the car or you know they don’t really like it, start with short trips and gradually increase the length of the trips over time. It could be a short trip around the corner to visit a different park for your walk or you could just drive around the block a couple of times so that they get used to going in the car, being secure in there and the motion of travelling.

Build their skill rather than just expecting them to be comfortable being confined for hours without fuss. Your dog needs to be comfortable to travel in a car and we need to just help them out. If this means taking them on some random short car journeys, then so be it. I know you’ll want to do it to help your dog, or you wouldn’t be here ready this.

Make sure your dog is comfortable, make their space the BEST.

Bring their bed or treat them to a new blanket. Make their space the BEST it could possibly be and increase your chances of your dog settling in the car for your journey. Bring along a favorite toy or chewy toy (depending how they are with sickness) to help your dog relax in the car. Keep it calm and quiet for them and make sure they’re given the chance to relax. Make sure they’ve been to the toilet, had a drink and have eaten. Don’t feed them just before you get in the car just in case they get motion sickness, but make sure they’ve got full bellies and aren’t thirsty. Ask your passengers to give them some time to chill too, you’re all benefit from it.

Take breaks for everyone’s sake.

If you are traveling a long distance, be sure to take breaks every few hours to let your dog stretch their legs and go to the bathroom. They might want to enjoy a sniff and a mooch around. So many service stations have dedicated dog walking areas which are great. But in reality, any grass, tree or hedge they can sniff the better. Being in a small space for a long period of time can be boring. Allowing them to sniff means you’re giving their brain a chance to be used. It’s not just about exercising those legs.

Avoid hot weather and proof your windows.

Never leave your dog in a hot car, even with the windows down. Even a short period of time in a hot car can be fatal for a dog. It’s surprising how many people still do this. Don’t be like that. It’s ridiculous to expect our dogs who have a fur coat on to be able to stand that heat, even for a moment.

If your dog is travelling in the boot and it’s sunny, remember to get a sun shade and put it on the window. Not the sun visors you see but the sun shade instead. The ones that totally block out the sun. A dog sitting in the boot in the sun for your journey can easily end up with heat stroke, yes, even with the windows open.

Be patient and give your dog time.

Traveling can be stressful for dogs, so be patient and understanding if your dog seems anxious or stressed. Give them plenty of breaks and let them rest as needed. If you know your dog isn’t a happy traveller you’ll be fully aware of what can happen if they’re not comfortable when travelling. Let them get used to it and help them prepare. It makes life (and your holiday) so much more calm.

How is your dog in the car? Tell me if they’re nervous and grab some help…

Some other tips for helping your dog become happy in the car:

• Use a crate or carrier. This is the safest way to travel with a dog in the car. The crate or carrier should be large enough for your dog to stand up, turn around, and lie down comfortably. Ideally you want one that is crash proffer so that you know it is the safest possible way to transport your car. Look online for what’s recommended for your car make and find the one that works best for you.
• Use a harness instead of a collar. A harness will help to distribute the force of a sudden stop or collision more evenly across your dog's body, reducing the risk of injury. You can buy specific dog harnesses for travelling in the car. They’re the safest thing to use and your standard harness wouldn’t work. It would slip off.
• Don't let your dog ride in the front seat. The airbag in the front seat can be deadly for a dog in the event of a crash.
• Open the windows slightly. This will help to circulate the air and prevent your dog from getting too hot.
• Bring plenty of water. Your dog may need to drink more water than usual when traveling, so be sure to bring plenty of water along. Especially if your dog gets stressed in the car. Dogs pant when they’re stressed and this makes them more thirsty. Brings more water than you think you would need just in case.
• Stop frequently. This will give your dog a chance to stretch their legs, go to the bathroom, get some fresh air and have a good sniff! Use that brain and let them get some stimulation. It can be super boring travelling in a car for dogs.

With a little planning and preparation, you can make traveling with your dog in the car a safe and enjoyable experience for both of you and you’ll be taking them everywhere with you!

Have you got any other tips that would be helpful to add?

Have I missed anything?

I’d love to make this as useful as possible.

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