Your dog will be happy to tag along no matter where you go, but when taking them on a car trip, you have to make sure your furry friend stays safe and comfortable. Planning a car trip with your pet is not an easy thing to do. But it’s not mission impossible either. The key to no stress is going over every detail. From providing them with a proper spot to rest during the entirety of the trip to getting an adequate food supply – here’s what you should know to ensure a pleasant and stress-free journey for both your dog and yourself.

Provide Your Furry Pal with a Comfortable Spot

Your car might not be the most pleasant place for your dog. In the end, cars weren’t made or adapted to dogs. But on the plus side, the pet industry offers you dog car travel gear that can be easily installed in any vehicle and varies from shape and size to purpose depending on what you’re looking to achieve with it. Here are some of the best dog lounging products on the market designed to make car rides stress-free and enjoyable for puppies.

The Road Tripper Car Seat Cover for When You Want Your Pal Close to You

Most dog owners prefer having their pet near them during the trip so they can observe how they’re handling the whole situation. But having your dog on your car seats means dealing with the potential mess they’ll leave behind. That said, if you want full protection for your car, getting a car seat cover like the Road Tripper is a smart thing to do.

This is quite a useful piece of dog car travel gear. You place the cover in the back of your car, attach both ends on the front and back seats and that’s it. The cover protects your pet and your upholstery when you’re out on the road and you don’t have to worry about all the fur, wet paws, wet nose, mud, dust or sand.

The Road Tripper cover is designed to fit basically any vehicle no matter if it’s medium, large or an SUV. It also has a zipper and lets you choose to cover the whole back seat or half of it if you have other companions.

The next best thing about it is the reinforced belts and the reversible nature of the cover. You can choose a cozy polar fleece or water-resistant ribbed woven fabric that can be washed in a washing machine, and just like that, it’s clean and ready to use for the next road trip.

Out N About Natural for Comfort in the Cargo Area

If you want to save up the backseat space, you can get the Out N About Natural bed that can be placed in the back of your car. It has a stylish design and is a great solution if you want your car’s interior to stay nice and clean. The mat is completely reversible and you can remove it or place it back any time. It can be woolly and warm for winter or tough and water-resistant for summer. It has a protective lining and it’s completely washable which means it will be very easy for you to keep everything clean.

Multimat – The Ultimate All-Purpose Travel Mat for Dogs

This is an all-purpose mat you can use in the car but also on other surfaces. It has velcro tabs so that it doesn’t slide around, and it’s versatile. You can place it on the beach, on the grass, on a carpet or on sofas and other furniture when staying with your pet at a dog-friendly hotel. It’s the perfect multi-purpose mat for your dog.

The Traveller – A Cosy Spot for Your Dog Anywhere

This one is a bag that can be converted into a mat. It has handles and is perfect for carrying a small or medium-sized dog around. And best of all, when needed you can unfold it and you’ll get a perfect mat for your dog to sit on whether it’s in the car or outside. It’s light, easy to carry around and made out of materials that are both comfortable and easy to wash and maintain.

Pay Attention to Proper Vaccination

Vaccinations are important in order to prevent your dog from getting sick, catch infections or transmissible diseases. Dogs usually get vaccines throughout the first year after they’re born, and then some of it is repeated every year or every three years. The crucial vaccines for your dog are canine parvovirus, distemper, canine hepatitis and rabies.

After getting the vaccines, you’ll receive a vaccine confirmation card and it’s advisable to take it with you on every trip just to be sure, especially if you’re planning to cross the border. Some states have strict regulations about this, and you won’t be able to visit them if you don’t have a verification about the vaccines.

Make Sure You Have Enough Food and Water

The most important thing you should pay attention to when planning your dog travel supplies is food and water. It’s recommended to measure how much food your dog needs in a day and pack more in case the trip gets prolonged for some reason, or if you want to reward your fluffy friend’s good behaviour by giving more treats.

Another reason why it’s best to bring food from home and not buy it along the way is that your dog is probably used to a type of food or a brand. That’s why you should always take more than enough with you and avoid having to buy a different brand that your dog won’t like.

Also, remember to bring enough clean water to drink. If the weather is hot, bring more water than your dog usually drinks.

Consider Getting a Name Tag or Microchip for Identification

An ID tag is a must when you have a dog. It’s part of the essential dog travel accessories and serves you in case your dog gets lost. 90% of dogs that don’t have an ID tag, never return home. On the other hand, if your dog has an ID tag, it will be easier for someone to bring it back home.

The ID tag contains owner information and information about any possible health issues the dog has, allergies or necessary medications. ID tags can be found in many colours and styles so your dog will look really cool wearing them.

If you’re not convinced that an ID tag is enough to help retrieve your friend in case they get lost, don’t worry. Instead, you can get them microchipped. A microchip is a small electronic chip the size of a rice grain. The implantation procedure is completely painless and the veterinarian can do it in less than a minute.

How does it work? In case your pet gets lost, the person that found it can scan the chip and get information about you (the owner) and about the dog’s health condition or the needed medications. It basically does the same job as the standard ID tag. The important thing is to provide enough information so that your pet can be brought back to you instead of lost forever.

These are some of the most important things to know to be properly prepared. But if you’re still anxious and don’t think you can pull it off, you can always hire a pet transport service which might be an easier way for your dog to travel safely and stress-free.