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Tips for Road Trips with Dogs
With the holidays just around the corner, most of us are looking for a must-deserved break after a busy year. Catching up with loved ones, overseas trips to new destinations, as well as exploring the great outdoors solo or with friends (including our ‘paw friends’) are on the cards to create new, memorable experiences of a lifetime. But, while quality time with your pet is an exciting prospect, road trips with dogs can have its own set of challenges.
Before you hit the open road, you’ll need to do a little planning to make this your best trip ever. These are some things you need to consider.
Carry their vaccination records along
Some campgrounds require the submission of your pet’s vaccination records (yes, really!). While this may be surprising to many, we recommend always having an accessible copy nearby either on your phone or in your RV. This will also help in case your dog develops any medical problems while on the road and must visit the vet.
Stock up on the essentials like water
A healthy dog drinks around 30-50 ml of water per kilo of its body weight per day. In this case, a 20-kilogram dog needs at least 1.2 litres of water per day.
Your dog should not have to wait until you stop for fuel at the next servo to get a drink of water. Ensure you are stocked up with all the essentials before your trip while also considering the weight restrictions of your caravan. After all, caravan weight distribution and tow safety are serious matters!
Be smart about leaving your dog in the car
Giving your dog your undivided attention 100% of the time whilst on a road trip can be hard. Anything from location restrictions for pets when exploring to other emergencies that pop up might require you to leave them alone extended periods. In these cases, always make sure to check local rules relating to keeping your pets in your van as well as in-vehicle temperatures if you decide to do so.
For example, when looking at temperature – the rule is – if it’s too hot for you, it’s also too hot for your pet. While it may be impossible to keep the air conditioner on hours on end, with the help of sensors like ProSmart, you are able to easily supervise internal temperatures on your phone remotely. However, we still suggest that you do not leave your dog alone for over 30 minutes, as they might panic or feel insecure which beats the purpose of your trip.
Leave them enough and comfortable space in the car
Don’t overpack your caravan to the point where your dog must wedge between pieces of luggage to find space to lie down. Imagine – you are stuck in the middle seat of a 10-hour, overbooked aircraft – nobody wants that.
Get durable toys for your pups
Toys are something important to pack, and something most people usually forget. Toys give cerebral stimulation and keep your dog active so that it won’t feel bored. Try your best to find durable toys, unless you’re keen on cleaning up every time your dog rips its toy apart.
Camp instead of staying in hotels
It can be hard to find pet-friendly hotels, so we recommend camping rather than staying at a hotel. Camping also provides dogs with a wider space to run. However, be mindful of wildlife near your camping sites, as your dogs might be attacked or get injured.
Camp instead of staying in hotels
Don’t assume a place is dog-friendly before you arrive. For instance, most national parks have stringent dog policies. Pets must be on short leashes in campgrounds and are often not permitted on trails. Go somewhere else if this doesn’t sound like the kind of vacation you want to take with your dog. The worst-case scenario is finding out after a long day of driving that your dog is not permitted. So always do enough research about the places you’re going to.
While bringing dogs on a road trip can be fun, it is also stressful. By considering the above tips, take the time to prepare for your road trip so that your holiday is safe and relaxed for both of you.
Get in touch with us to see how we can help power your adventures.
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