Holiday travel with your dog can be an absolute nightmare. But it doesn’t have to be if you bring all the essential accessories on the trip. As a result, I decided to help my fellow dog owners by crafting a list of all the must-have items. So you’ll soon know everything necessary to make your holiday trip a success!
9 Must-Have Items for Holiday Travel with Your Dog
Preparation is key to having a fun holiday trip with your pup. But these nine items and the traditional necessities will prepare you for every situation. So let’s not waste any more time and jump into our first item!
Just one quick note: this post includes affiliate links where we recommended products. If you buy anything through these links, DogVills will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
1. Car Seat Covers
Nothing ruins a car’s upholstery quicker than a constant source of dog hair. I can’t tell you the number of hours I’ve spent trying to vacuum my car’s seats. Honestly, it’s a nightmare experience for anyone who values their vehicle’s appearance.
But high-quality car seat covers will provide all this frustration when appropriately used. Since I’ve invested in them, I haven’t had a single issue with dog hair in my vehicle. It’s truly been a godsend purchase for me.
If you’re looking for a car seat cover recommendation, check out these from 4knines.com. I adore their durability and easy fit on my vehicle’s seat. I’m not the only one who loves them, either, as these covers are routinely rated highly.
2. ID Tag with Contact Info
Bringing a dog on any trip is all about preventing them from getting loose and ensuring nothing happens if they do. Due to the latter, I always double-check my dog’s ID tag before leaving. It’s a simple way to make sure someone can contact you if they find your dog.
You’ll also want to ensure it’s durable enough to remain in place while being large enough for all your contact info. In my case, I placed them on my dog’s harness and extras inside its pocket compartments. It lets me feel much less anxious if the worst does happen. Plus, there’s a higher chance someone will find the ID with multiple on your dog.
Another thing to look at is the contact information on it. For instance, you could still need to update after a recent move. I recently had to update my Beagle’s ID for this very reason as it was wildly out-of-date.
In fact, I bought these new ones from AM Nails with very satisfying results. I’d recommend them to anyone who needs a dog ID tag upgrade.
3. Travel Harness/Crate
Keeping a dog restrained while traveling in a vehicle is vital. Otherwise, your favorite puppy could become a massive distraction and cause an accident. It’s why I never travel with my dog without a travel harness or crate.
But restraining them only works with a high-quality harness or crate. Unfortunately, the marketplace is full of subpar options that are easily escapable. So it becomes crucial to research each option thoroughly to avoid any issues.
If you want to skip all the research, the VavoPaw Dog Vehicle Safety Vest Harness or DONORO’s Travel Dog Crate are excellent choices. Both come with a solid reputation for keeping pups contained inside moving vehicles.
4. Dog First Aid Kit
It’s best to plan for the worst-case scenario when traveling with your dogs. Due to this, a dog first aid kit must be on your list of travel essentials. Owners also have a bit of a choice regarding this kit as they can make it themselves or buy a manufactured one.
If you’re a DIY person, check out our post (or the video below) on how to make your own dog first aid kit. It’ll walk you through how to make and use your first aid kit. From there, you’ll be ready for whatever situation comes up with your dog.
But if you’re like me and hate building anything, ARCA’s PET Cat & Dog First Aid Kit would be a solid choice. You’ll have difficulty finding a more equipped and practical kit in this marketplace. Plus, it’s small enough to fit in a backpack for extra convenience.
5. Any Necessary Gear for Your Trip
Dog owners must think about what their trip entails before packing for it. In other words, certain trips will require specific gear for your dog. A good example would be a boat trip where dog life jackets would be necessary.
Other notable trip apparel items include a dog coat, boots, cooling jacket, or tent. I even did an entire article discussing camping trip essentials. So if that’s what you plan on doing, check it out.
But in any case, think about what you and your dog intend to do on the trip. It’s the only way to ensure you’re fully prepared with the proper accessories and gear.
6. Poop Bags
Every dog owner should have a supply of poop bags at their disposal. Honestly, I never leave home without them when traveling with my dog. Since I learned how harmful dog poop could be to our environment, I’ve always tried to use them.
But, like most pet products, poop bags can vary in quality. In fact, it’s crucial to make sure yours are made from high-quality material, or it might break when you least expect it. There’s nothing worse than dealing with an unexpected poop bag malfunction.
So before going on your trip, buy a high-quality set in bulk. You’ll thank yourself later when you have to make a bathroom pitstop for your dog. Then, you can take out a poop bag, scoop it up, and go on with your trip.
My favorite options are Earth Rated Dog Poop Bags, which are durable and leak-proof. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that purchasing them helps support animal shelters!
7. Travel Bag for Your Dog
Travel bags are unbelievably helpful in carrying all your dog’s belongings. It’s nice to have all their stuff in a single, easy-to-access backpack or regular bag. Plus, it keeps things safer as you won’t have to fumble around while trying to find something while driving.
An excellent example of one would be Modoker Pet Travel Bag. It has a wide assortment of compartments to place all your dog’s traveling items. Furthermore, Modoker was smart enough to make its bag airline-approved for even more accessibility.
8. Portable Storage Containers
Portable storage containers may seem like an odd item for this list. But these products are blessings for transporting your dog’s food, treats, and similar items. I’ve even used them to store my dog’s toys on trips.
However, your chosen storage containers must be durable, or issues could arise. For example, a rough road or bumpy turnpike could cause a subpar option to tip over and spill everywhere. You’ll then have to do an unexpected pitstop and vacuum out your car, which is never ideal.
So invest in a high-quality choice like PetFusion’s Portable Pet Food Container. I can’t imagine any road conditions being a problem for this container. It even has wheels for more accessible transport from place to place.
9. Travel Water Bowl
Hydration is the key to a happy pup when traveling inside a vehicle. Unfortunately, cars and trucks can get very uncomfortable and hot for dogs. So having a way to provide them with water during these trips is essential.
This issue is where a travel water bowl comes in handy. For instance, the NALALAS’s 3-in-1 Portable Dog Water Bottle would offer a spill-proof, easily accessible bowl. It won’t even spill while you’re driving if used correctly.
It also provides a 32 oz water bottle with purchase for more practicality. It’s a perfect item to bring on any trip with your dog this holiday season.
Other Traditional Necessities for Your Dog’s Holiday Trip
So I’m aware the nine items mentioned above are a little trip-only specific. Obviously, various regular-day necessities need packing. But it’s vital to acknowledge these traditional items, so we don’t forget them packing up:
- Your dog’s health records and medication
- Any necessary grooming supplies (nail clippers, brush, etc.)
- Regular water and food bowls
- Pet towels and wipes (nothing worse than a wet dog in a vehicle)
- Your dog’s bed and bedding accessories
- Various toys for entertainment
- Cleaning supplies and paper towels
- Everyday leash, collar, and harness
- Regular crate (if it can fit and they use it as a secondary sleeping space)
Lastly, I’d suggest scheduling a vet visit before your holiday trip. It’s vital to ensure your dog’s capable of traveling and up-to-date with all its vaccinations. Plus, your vet can recommend expert tips to make the process go more smoothly.
For instance, my vet suggested using CBD treats to calm down my Pitbull. She hates traveling, so these treats have done wonders at calming her during these trips.
In Closing,
Overall, taking your dog on a holiday trip doesn’t need to be a stressful experience. The process can become a breeze if you pack all these items properly. You then don’t have to worry about anything but enjoying your trip.
If you have any more questions, please use our comment section. I’d also love to hear more about your traveling experiences with dogs. Thanks for reading!
