The holidays are almost upon us, and you may have visits to family and friends penciled in your calendar already. Going over the river and through the woods to fun destinations can sometimes be complicated when you travel with your furry best friend. In order to keep your travels safe and happy for everyone, here are a few of our favorite tips for road tripping successfully with your dog.

Remember the essentials
When packing up for your road trip adventure, designate a bag specifically for your pet. This way, you are able to see what you have packed quickly and you have only one place to check for the leash when you hit your first rest stop. We suggest packing more than just a leash for the essentials. Be sure to bring along your dog’s food, as you can run into tummy trouble if you need to switch food because the store doesn’t have what your dog is used to. If your dog has been through our obedience school, you know the advantages of the “place” command especially in new situations. Be sure that you pack something you can designate as a consistent place for your pup while you are on your adventure.

Pack your pup’s favorites….
Everyone can benefit from having a few comforts of home while on the road, and your dog is no different. When packing the essentials for your dog, don’t forget to toss a few favorite toys into the bag too.

…Without going overboard
Resist the temptation to pack too much for your pooch. One or two favorite toys are plenty to keep him busy during your long weekend; be wary of tossing his entire toy basket in the car on your way out the door. Your dog is already going to be overstimulated between the drive, the new home, and lots of new faces – the last thing he needs is an entire treasure chest of squeaky toys.

Don’t forget the crate

The crate might be one of the most important tools in road tripping with your dog. Our trainer Andrea recommends keeping your dog in the crate while in the car “for the dog’s safety and for yours”. Not only is your crate-trained dog happy in the crate, the crate keeps your dog from jumping around and exploring the car while you are concentrating at the wheel.

Exercise, exercise, exercise
Humans don’t love sitting in the car for extended periods of time, and neither do our dogs. Before jumping in the car for your travel time, be sure that you take your dog for a long walk. “A nice walk is beneficial for the owner and the dog and sets everyone up for a successful trip,” Andrea says. It gets out any nervous energy that can cause anxious or destructive behaviors, and gets everyone off on the right foot. Once you are on the road, stop at rest stops to give your dog a stretch and walk before hitting the road once again.

Maintain expectations
Once you arrive at your destination, your dog can revert into undesirable behaviors due to stress, new faces, or overstimulation. Be conscious of how you are addressing these behaviors and resist the urge to coddle your pup. Instead, maintain your expectations of good dog behavior and praise your dog when he meets them. He’ll realize soon enough that a new location does not mean that he can act differently than when he is at home.

Traveling with your dog is a great way for him to experience new things, and it further fosters the bond between the two of you. Going into your adventure with our tips will make sure that there are plenty of road trips in your future. Happy trails – and happy tails – to you!