If you’re planning a vacation with your dog, my biggest piece of advice is to think about the trip from your dog’s point of view. Make every part of the experience enjoyable for them, from the drive to where you stay and what you do together once you get there. When your dog enjoys the journey as much as the destination, vacations with dogs become something you’ll both look forward to.
Vacation time can be any time of year, but here in Canada we’re heading into summer, and that means many people are getting ready for road trips with their dogs. So I’m going to talk about your plan, how to prepare your dog, what to pack, safety, where to stop, and where to stay. Because when you put a little thought into each of those things, vacations with dogs become something you’ll both remember for all the right reasons.
How I Plan Vacations With Dogs
The first thing I think about is the plan. How much time do you have? How long do you want to stay away? Most importantly, what kind of vacation will your dog have?
Let’s say you’re planning to drive fifteen or twenty hours to your destination. If I were traveling by myself, I might be tempted to drive eight hours one day and seven the next just to get there. But if you’ve got dogs in the car, I’d encourage you to think about their experience instead.
Spend less time on the road each day. Add at least a couple of hours to every travel day. Stop for lunch. Take a break in the morning. Take another one in the afternoon. Let your dog get out, stretch their legs, sniff, relax, and enjoy the journey.
That way, every time you say, “Let’s load up,” your dog is going to be excited about getting back into the car instead of wondering how many more hours they’ll spend waiting for the next stop.
When I’m planning vacations with dogs, I also think about the destination.
Personally, I wouldn’t choose a theme park vacation where my dogs spend the day in a kennel while I go sightseeing. I want to choose somewhere with a beach, a lake, a river, hiking trails, or somewhere we’ll spend our days doing things together.
It’s your vacation. Make it one your dog will enjoy too!
Years from now I want to remember, “That trip I took with my dog was so much fun.”
Get Your Dog Ready Before You Leave
Preparation starts long before vacation day. There are a few things I’d strongly encourage you to do before you load up the car.
1. Get Your Dog Comfortable Traveling
My first choice is always a crate. I love traveling with my dogs in crates because I believe they offer the best combination of safety and security. I personally use Gunner Crates when I travel with my dogs. If your vehicle won’t accommodate a crate, then choose a crash-tested harness and do your homework before buying one. Don’t assume every harness on the shelf has been tested the same way.
Once you’ve decided how your dog will travel, spend some time preparing them.
If your dog hasn’t spent much time relaxing in a crate lately, start playing Crate Games. Begin crating them during the day, even when you’re home. That’s an important detail because riding in the car means your dog can see you, but they can’t interact with you. Giving them practice beforehand helps prevent frustration later.
If you’re planning to use a soft-sided crate in a hotel or vacation rental, make sure your dog is comfortable in it before you leave. It’s much better to discover they need more practice at home than halfway through your trip.
2. Plan Some Games for the Journey
I also like to prepare a list of games I’ll play during the vacation. I actually make that list before I leave. Whether it’s games we’ve played for years or a few favorites I know my dogs love, it’s nice to have them planned because they’re an easy way to enrich your dog’s day wherever you happen to be.
The reality is you’ll get to your destination tired after a day on the road. You might be ready to relax, but your dog is probably thinking, “I’ve been in the car all day. Let’s do something!”
A few minutes of games can make all the difference. They enrich your dog’s day, help them settle, and make the trip even more enjoyable.
3. Brush Up on ItsYerChoice
One game I’d definitely revisit before traveling is ItsYerChoice.
You’re going to be visiting unfamiliar places. Parks, trails, picnic areas, and rest stops. There may be things on the ground that you don’t want your dog eating. Teaching your dog to pause and think before grabbing something is a valuable life skill wherever you are.
New to ItsYerChoice? You can learn it 100% free in my Summit!
4. Teach Your Dog To Go To The Bathroom On Leash
Here’s another tip you’re going to thank me for: Teach your dog to pee and poop on leash.
If they’re only used to going in their own backyard or on their regular walking route, standing outside a hotel late at night can become a very long wait.
I have both behaviors on cue. The cue doesn’t magically make it happen. It’s the conditioning behind it that makes all the difference and that preparation makes traveling so much easier.
5. Introduce Enrichment Before You Leave
Finally, introduce enrichment before you leave home.
Puzzle toys, stuffed toys, snuffle mats, and other enrichment activities shouldn’t be brand new on vacation. Your dog will enjoy them much more if they’re already part of everyday life.
What I Pack for Every Road Trip
Everyone has their own packing style, and over the years I’ve refined mine so I don’t have to rely on memory before every trip. I’ve made that same Road Trip Packing List available as a free download because I hope it gives you a great starting point for your own adventures.
It’s the same checklist I print before every driving trip with my dogs. I grab a marker, cross off everything I won’t need for that particular vacation, and add anything that’s unique to the trip. Starting with a complete list makes it much easier to customize it for wherever you’re headed. You might even find there are things you always travel with that aren’t on my list, and if that’s the case, I’d love to hear about them in the comments below!
There are a few things I never leave behind. A first aid kit is non-negotiable, rain gear is always on my list, and I pay close attention to keeping my dogs cool. Reflective shade cloths and battery-operated fans have become staples whenever I travel because dogs can overheat much more quickly than many people realize, especially if they’re riding in the back of the vehicle where the airflow isn’t as good.
The rest of the list will depend on your trip, but having a checklist means you can spend less time wondering what you’ve forgotten and more time enjoying your vacation with your dog.
Safety Matters More Than Speed
Getting to your destination a little sooner is never worth sacrificing safety.
Whether your dog is traveling in a crate or wearing a crash-tested harness, every stop deserves just as much attention.
If you’re stopping somewhere busy, make sure your dog is secure before opening the door. If there’s heavy traffic or unfamiliar surroundings, I prefer using a harness rather than relying on a collar alone.
Where I Stop Along The Way
Some of my favorite parts of a road trip happen between destinations.
I like planning a longer stop in the morning, another in the afternoon, and a relaxed lunch break where everyone can stretch, sniff, and recharge.
Whenever possible, I look for places where my dogs can really enjoy themselves. One of my favorite resources is Sniffspot. It’s a wonderful way to find private places where your dog can safely run, sniff, hike, or even go for a swim. If there’s a Sniffspot along my route, that’s almost always going to be my first choice for a break.
Private dog parks, conservation areas, hiking trails, or somewhere with plenty of space to explore all make much better rest stops than standing beside a gas pump.
I also prefer packing my own lunch or picking up healthy takeout and enjoying a picnic with my dogs instead of leaving them alone in the car while I eat inside a restaurant.
For me, that’s part of what makes the vacation special.
Choosing Dog-Friendly Accommodation
Whenever I can, I choose a vacation rental before I choose a hotel.
I like having more space and somewhere my dogs can relax.
If I do stay in a hotel, there are a few things I always keep in mind. I bring my dogs’ beds so they have something familiar. I use a crate. I like adding white noise if I leave the room for a short time. I also wipe my dogs’ paws because many hotel lawns are treated with chemicals.
Little things like that help make an unfamiliar place feel much more comfortable.
The Big Picture
The best vacations with dogs aren’t about covering the most miles.
They’re about making the journey just as enjoyable as the destination.
When you slow the trip down, prepare your dog before you leave home, make time for games, choose places your dog will genuinely enjoy, and put their wellbeing first, they’ll look forward to every adventure you take together.
And isn’t that exactly what we all want?
Frequently Asked Questions About Vacations With Dogs
How long should dogs stay in the car during a road trip?
I like to build extra time into every travel day by stopping for lunch and taking at least two additional breaks so my dogs can walk, sniff, and relax before getting back in the car.
Is a crate or a seatbelt better for traveling with dogs?
My preference is always a properly secured crate. If that’s not possible, choose a crash-tested harness that has been independently tested for safety.
What’s one thing people often forget before traveling with a dog?
Teaching your dog to pee and poop on leash. Trust me, you’re going to thank me for this one. When your dog understands how to go to the bathroom on cue in unfamiliar places, overnight stops and hotel stays become so much easier.
What should I pack for vacations with dogs?
I’ve created a free Road Trip Packing List to make packing easier. It’s the same checklist I use before every driving trip with my dogs. Print it, cross off what you don’t need, and customize it for your own adventure.
Where should I stop during a road trip with my dog?
Whenever possible, choose quiet parks, conservation areas, or places where your dog can safely sniff and explore rather than stopping only at busy gas stations. I also love using Sniffspot to find great places to stop along the way.
Gratitude
Today I’m grateful for every trip I’ve shared with my dogs. Some of my favorite memories aren’t about where we ended up. They’re about the walks we took during a lunch break, the games we played after a long day on the road, and seeing my dogs happily jump back into the car because they knew another adventure was waiting.
I hope you and your dog enjoy many wonderful adventures together. Happy travels, and here’s to making memories you’ll both treasure for years to come.
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