While I love traveling, I hate having to leave our furbaby Finley (aka Finn) at home. So, when my husband decided to participate in the Seattle to Portland bike ride, we thought this was the perfect opportunity to bring Finn with us. Seattle and Portland both have reputations for being dog-friendly, so it seemed like a good fit.
Here are my best tips for preparing for a road trip with a dog - I hope you find it helpful before you emBARK on yours!
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First and foremost, seriously consider whether the trip is truly conducive to bringing your dog. In our case, Finn doesn’t get car sick and, as long as he’s got air conditioning, he’s a happy camper. He’s also known for having above-average energy, but he’s not reactive or overly anxious when it comes to new places or people. As their person, you know if new environments and situations will be too overwhelming. Listen to your gut on this one - either way, you are probably right.
Next, it is important to do some research to ensure your destination is truly dog-friendly. For example, are there dog-friendly hotels? Most hotels will charge an extra fee - either by the day or per stay - and there may be other restrictions you will want to be aware of (breed type, size, etc.). They also discourage or prohibit leaving dogs unattended, so you need to consider that your dog will be going with you everywhere. I also created a list of pup-approved restaurants and activities (museums were a no-go). Since most dog-friendly places are outdoors, drier months in moderate climates versus the extremes, both hot and cold, will make the trip much more enjoyable for you and your pup.
Now that you’ve decided where you’re headed, it is time to pack! Fortunately, it's usually much easier than packing for a human. The main essentials are: food and water dishes, food, their bed and/or crate, poop bags, collar, harness, leash, treats, and a toy or two. For this trip, we purchased a dog seatbelt because Finn insists on sitting in the front seat when there is only one of us in the car. The seatbelt can also come in handy if your pup is a flight risk the minute you open the door because you can use it to keep them safely inside the car until you’re able to get their leash on. I’d also recommend extra water bottles, so everyone stays hydrated, and a cooler where you can secure your road trip snacks.
Lastly, consider packing a dog first aid kit. TBH, I didn’t even know this was a thing. Long story short, in the early morning of our departure, Finn ripped his dew claw right off. Blood everywhere (meanwhile he’s still tossing the ball at us wanting to play fetch). Thankfully, we had some sterile gauze and self-adhesive elastic bandage wrap to keep pressure on the wound and to ensure he wouldn’t lick it while he was out of our sight. You probably won’t need it, but if you do, you will be grateful you have it.
Now, you have the essentials and are on the road! Anytime you find yourself at a pit stop, make sure your dog has the opportunity to stretch their legs, relieve themselves and have some water. As you would at home, limit the amount of time they are by themselves in the car and ensure they have proper ventilation based on the weather conditions.
From there, enjoy the ride - dogs are here for such a short period of time and traveling with them is an incredible gift for you both!
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Photo by Helena Lopes