Road Trips With Dogs California – Over the holidays we traveled over 4,000 miles on a cross country trip with the dogs! I’m excited to share everything we’ve learned along the way so you can plan the perfect dog trip!
Last Christmas, Brady and I decided to go back to Texas to spend time with our family over the holidays. We chose to drive instead of fly because we wanted to pick up June and Margot! Running cross country is no small feat, let alone cross country with a dog! It was our first big dog trip with the girls and we learned
Road Trips With Dogs California
, from finding pet-friendly accommodation to what you really need if you’re traveling with a dog for a long time.
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We also learned that women do well on trips. After being on the road for so long, they took advantage of the new places and experiences! This makes us very excited to take more trips with the dogs this year to explore Northern California and beyond.
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There are a few important things to keep in mind when planning a cross-country hike with your dog. First, your dogs should be comfortable in the car. Many dogs can become agitated or sick in the car, so make sure your dog is comfortable before you set off on a long journey. This includes practicing short trips, teaching your dog to ride in the back seat, and working with a licensed dog trainer to teach your dog how to be comfortable in the car. Depending on what your dog is struggling with, you may want to talk to your vet about motion sickness medication or anti-anxiety medication. That said, some dogs don’t always enjoy long runs, and that’s okay! There are many people who do not like travel.
Second, the best off-road vehicle with dogs is reliable and safe. We have a 2022 Rav 4 Hybrid and love it! The gas mileage is amazing, saves you a few bucks down the road and saves you time by not having to stop for gas as often. It has hatches and heated rear seats to keep the ladies pets comfortable, even when we were in New Mexico and the temperature was in the low 20s.
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Plus, it has just the right amount of space for two people, two dogs, and all our gear. Think about it: if you have a small car and the back seat is full of gear, your dog won’t be very comfortable on a long drive. We try to keep the back seat free so both girls have plenty of room to move and lie down.
In addition to clothing, toiletries, and your personal belongings, there are a few essential dog-related items to include on your travel checklist. Aside from the obvious (like food and food bowls, tag collars and leashes), here are my recommended dog walking essentials:
First of all, unless your dog is crated, back seat covers are important when traveling with a dog in the car – not just for road trips, but in general! I really like the hammock style cover with a mesh core for better ventilation. To make your dog extra comfortable, consider adding an extra blanket to nestle in.
Then water. It’s easy to forget that your dog isn’t getting water while hanging out in the back seat! I like to keep this collapsible silicone water bowl handy to make watering easier. I can easily turn around and run the girls water, then fix the bowl and put it in the glove box or even on the floor.
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Although CBD is not a substitute for anti-anxiety medication, it does provide some relaxation and stress relief. I like to compare CBD to a soothing cup of chamomile tea or aromatherapy. This is not a cure, but it helps ease the situation! I add some CBD to the girls’ breakfast every morning to help them relax on the road and I think it makes a huge difference! Choose a quality CBD company that has third-party tested their products for efficacy, such as BakedBones. We use their 600mg tincture and both June and Margot take 50mg daily.
It’s important to always have a treat on hand so you can reward any behaviors you want, whether it’s cuddling in the back seat, staying at a new hotel, or signing up for tracker walks. I love these Freeze Trib Niblets from Vital Essentials because they smell great and are a great value but stable! Chewing and chewing is also a good thing because it helps the dog settle in a new place. Chewing is relaxing and engaging for dogs, so it’s a great way to help them calm down. We brought these Buffford Bully Stixons on the road and it was a life saver!
Make sure your dog gets some sleep at night! Even dog-friendly hotels and airBnBs don’t allow pets on the furniture. Quality sleep is important for everyone, including your dog. Providing a comfortable and familiar place to sleep will help you and your puppy sleep well. We brought our quiet donut dog beds that the girls sleep in every night. They are super thin, easy to pack and machine washable!
The key to pet-friendly travel is planning ahead. This includes where you will be staying and what you plan to do when you get there. It helps to identify dog-friendly spots ahead of time so you don’t have to worry. For example, many national parks are not dog-friendly, and just because a hotel allows dogs doesn’t mean it’s dog-friendly.
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When you first start looking for a place to stay, it can be helpful to check Google and AirBnB. Both Google and Airbnb have filters to identify dog-friendly places, which can be very useful. For Google, this is under Google Travel > Hotels > Amenities. For AirBnB, add the number of pets you are bringing when filling out the “Without” section of the search.
Traditional hotels and rentals like AirBnB have their pros and cons. While AirBnBs are very nice (fenced yards, interesting spaces, large spaces), they are also very expensive with what I consider hidden fees (ie you can find a place for under $200, but after fees all of these places can be $300 or more). .hotels have great amenities like extra pillows, room service, or on-site restaurants and are a little more budget-friendly. I think it’s better to look at both platforms and choose which one is best for your needs.
How often should you stop when hiking with your dog? And where do you stop? The obvious answer is a gas station. Gas stations provide the perfect pit stop: you get gas, you can go to the bathroom, your dog can go to the bathroom. Love’s Travel Stops are great because they often have fully fenced pet-free areas. In my experience, rest stops have better amenities than many gas stations: like clean bathrooms and more room for your dog to stretch his legs. RV parks are another option if they allow public visitors.
If you’re looking for a nice place to get out of the car for a while, find Sniffspot on the go and rent for 30 minutes or an hour! You can rest, walk or eat.
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Even if you are a commuter, have you ever noticed how tired you are after driving all day? The same goes for dogs. Many people (myself included) worry about dogs getting enough exercise on the road, but I’ve learned that rest and decompression are very important! In other words, girls do not have gentle energy at the end of the day: to stretch their legs a little, to smell, to chew, to move.
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