We have just been away to Wales for a couple of days with our three dogs so thought it was a good time to talk a little about travelling with your dog or puppy and what can be useful items to take with you!
We have items that are always packed in my bag or van, items that we use every day that need to be remembered when we go somewhere and then extra items depending on where we are going and how long for.
I do also have a note on my phone with the essentials for my dogs and myself like tablets and supplements, holistic pain relief like my Photizo and Merlin’s HeaLED Jacket and then do a temporary note for the things we are taking that particular time. Some things can be brought where you are going but many things cannot, or they will be a different type, plus it could be expensive to buy a new dog bed and bowl every time you visit somewhere with your dog!
🚨Something I will mention is your dog’s Microchip. We generally don’t check these enough and once we have filled out the info to transfer ownership to ourselves when we adopt a dog or bring home our puppy then it’s just business as usual. However it really is worth checking details as mistakes happen and things can go wrong!
✅ Check that you have definitely changed the details to your own – contact number especially! If your dog manages to go missing and someone scans the chip it won’t help if the number registered isn’t yours or if it is incorrect!
✅ Double check all information is correct including description of your dog as they are currently.
✅ If your dog isn’t actually registered to you get this done before you forget!!
✅ If you are going away for a couple of days or for a full holiday check your chip details for your contact numbers, add more if you have them (I have my phone, Jon’s phone and my work phone!) and if there is a space for temporary info when away from home utilise this too.
✅ If you know someone with a Microchip Scanner or are visiting the vets you can ask them to check the chip is there and working for peace of mind. They can and do migrate so knowing where it is can be of help and knowing it works is always handy!
Before taking your dogs out anywhere but especially for a day trip or away somewhere check their walking equipment is all safe. Lead clasps are opening and closing fine, collars are doing up securely and harnesses are the right fit so your dog cannot back out of them.
Teaching a Settle can be very handy before travelling or staying away with your dog. We do have a separate blog about teaching a Settle which can be found here:
Settle Blog
Ensure your dog’s paws are ready for a trip away – this might sound a little odd but fur growing long between pads, growing across the pads or really long around the paw edges can cause grass seeds to be caught, mud to be stuck and snow or ice in winter to be stuck against the paw. Clipping nails shorter will also help your dog walk normally and not need to adjust themselves for the nails being too long. This is a genuine issue with so many dogs and absolutely can cause dogs to alter their gait, standing position etc to the point of causing pain and discomfort in joints etc. So check those paws!
🐶 My van is always ready for being out with my dogs anyway but we went in Jon’s car (my husband) so all that was already in there was the rear car seat cover! So here’s an example of my check list for the car:
Fan for warmer days – I don’t have air con (my van never had it) so I have a Shark Portable Fan that is charged up by the main or using the car charger and can last up to 20+ hours depending on the fan speed! It’s quiet, lightweight and the dogs lay in front of it and nap!
Twiggy Tags Travel Bed (see also Taylor and Floor Settle Mats)
Blankets and Towels plus dog travel bed
Ruff and Tumble Drying Coat
Poo Bags!!
Dickie Bag for containing anything needed!
Spare Leads, Harnesses and Collars
Travel Water Bowl
Water bottle with spare water
Skidoo Gloves from No Fuss Fill
Jump leads
Phone charger for the vehicle
Battery power bank for charge phone in case of flat battery in vehicle
🐶 Then of course once the travel is covered we also needed to ensure we had what we would need at the accommodation. Instead of a dog friendly / tolerant chain hotel Jon found us a lovely property online that was on it’s own, has it’s own enclosed (ish) garden, no people passing outside the door throughout the night, no fire doors opening and closing and no long corridor or stairs to get three dogs along at 3am when one needs toilet but then they all want to come!
So here are the types of things I take when we stay somewhere with the dogs – whether it’s for one night or for a week away like we do in March for Crufts.
Bottles of water and bowl
Blankets for destination inc non slip mat
Various treats for training / reinforcement
Chews for settling
Grooming kit Inc clippers
Mini first aid kit in walking bag
Bigger first aid kit in car
Leucillin spray
Spare leads / long lines
Harnesses
Equafleece jackets
Light up collars
Travel ID Tags
Water bowl for destination
Self selection kit including Pet Remedy spray
Toys – including Tug-E-Nuff Toys, Snuffle Mats, and more!
Towels and drying coat
The dog’s tablets / supplements with spares just in case
Dog’s food – more than needed in case we get stuck in traffic coming home
🐶 We do have days out where we come back home too and for these days I have my backpack that I take with plenty of supplies for my dogs. This isn’t the Huge rucksack I’m seen with when I take dog training, that has my life in there lol, but the backpack is primarily for my dogs’ needs.
In the pack pack I include:
Bottles of water and bowl
A non slip mat
Various treats for training / reinforcement
Chews for settling
Mini first aid kit
Leucillin spray
Spare leads / long lines
Harnesses
Equafleece jackets
Light up collars
Travel ID Tags
Pet Remedy spray
Poo bags obviously and our Dickie Bag to store everything in
Here are some links to items I’ve mentioned in this blog – all items I have used and recommend personally. Some I also have been given discount codes for which are in the link below.
No Fuss Fill – Gloves that you have to check out!
Gloves
Tug-E-Nuff Toys – great toys for holiday fun and a discount code for you too. Usually my discount code gives you 10% off but this special link will take you to the Black Friday offer once it’s started. If you use the link too soon you’ll be able to sign up for notification for when the sale starts.
Toys
Pet Remedy – so useful for dogs during travel, settling into a new place or just having some anxieties at home. Discount included in this code
Dickie Bags – excellent bags made to carry your bags of dog poop without emitting scent. Honestly we forget anything are in ours until we go to put another bag in on the next walk!
Poo Bags!
Dog First Aid Kit – There are lots about, we recommend kits by Rachel Bean RVN. We also have Rachel teach our Canine First Aid sessions and have a link for her online Canine First Aid too.
Dog First Aid Kit
Smaller First Aid Kit
Canine First Aid Online Course
Leucillin Spray – the absolutely best spray for dogs and people! We use on scrapes, cuts, stings, sore skin, red patches, itchy ears – so much! It’s PH neutral so doesn’t sting and helps in so many ways!
Spray
ID Tags – I use flat tags that don’t have the thin metal ring that breaks to ID tags are lost and the engraving doesn’t wear down either! I have spare tags so if we do go away my dogs’ collars have a list of phone numbers to get hold of us as the first line of our address doesn’t matter when we are several hours away from home!
ID Tags
Equafleece Jumpers – so many styles to suit all sizes, height and lengths of dogs! I use the tankie style with no legs for my small dogs!
Equafleece
is a major cause of joint, tendon and muscular injuries with Dogs!
I hope this has been useful for you! If you are looking for more support with your dog when travelling in any types of transport take a look at our Ebook “Travelling with Dogs”:
Travelling with Dogs
Enjoy your next adventure with your dogs!
Joe, Merlin, Ripley and Pepper Potts x
