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When traveling with pets, it’s important to know exactly what to bring to keep your best friend safe, happy, and healthy throughout your adventure. Let TFG readers help you put together a comprehensive list for pet-friendly travel with their tips and favorite products!
Traveling With Pets
Written By: Michelle Nati
Table Of Contents
If you’re not able to spend that much time with your fur friend on your road trip or overseas adventure, it may be best to leave your pet at home. But if you’re going hiking, camping or visiting relatives at Christmas and Fido is invited, then you’ll need to know what to pack.
Every responsible owner will always choose the safest and most comfortable products to keep their pet relaxed when travelling to a new environment. But there’s so much out there, it can get overwhelming, and you certainly don’t want to forget anything before you go.
TFG readers offer their tips and share favorite products for safe and low-stress pet travel below!
Readers Recommendations for Traveling With Pets
Keep Your Pet Hydrated With a Collapsible Water Bowl
Hot summer days are more difficult for dogs than people in that their fur drives up their body temperature and they don’t sweat. It’s essential to keep a water source nearby so they don’t get dehydrated.
Even if they already have bowls at home, TFG readers swear by collapsible water bowIs for the road, like these ones by COMSUN. They even have handy carabiner clips to attach them to your backpack for long walks One reader says it’s always on her list. “I take her vaccination records, a current photo, collar and dog tag with my phone number, a leash, poop bags, collapsible water and food bowls, food, and her bed.”
Keep Your Dog Happy With a Toy
You may have the time of your life on your vacation, but chances are, there will be times in which your dog will have to stay in the hotel room. One reader says she always packs her “dog’s blanket and favorite toy to keep him calm.”
Kong is popular with dog owners. You can fill it with snacks and keep your mutt entertained for hours. It’s dishwasher safe too!
Pick Up Pet Messes With Puppy Wipes
We love our fur friends, but they can surely make a mess! Wipes for humans are too harsh or can cause a dog to have an allergic reaction. Look for hypoallergenic wipes that are completely free of parabens, alcohol, and harsh chemicals.
Made with 100% sustainably harvested bamboo fiber, readers say these wipes by Pogi’s are a godsend for those “just in case” moments: “I love puppy wipes! They help with everything.”
Travel With Their Favorite Blanket
When a place smells like home, your pet will instantly become more relaxed. Having their own blanket can help your pet transition from homebird to vacation mode. These cute pet blankets from Comsmart are super soft and come in six cute colors. They are great for lining their crate, keeping a pet bed cozy, or using to protect the surfaces in a hotel room.
Readers love how easy they are to wash and they stay fluffy and soft even after several washes.
Keep Your Pet Dry on the Go
If you and your furry best friend enjoy the great outdoors, a towel is essential for a number of reasons. From drying your pet, to keeping your car seats clean. You don’t want to use the same towels that you would use on your body, either. (Yuck!)
Come prepared with plush travel towels, like these made by Scrubit. Both your dog and towel will dry quickly after heavy rain or a day at the lake. They are also machine washable and easily pack down into small spaces.
Bring a Crate for Emotional Security
Not every pet loves to travel, but sometimes, it’s a necessity. If you’re going long distances with your pup, you can make the back of your car feel just like home by using a crate or carrier. There are a ton to choose from, from solid-sided, airport regulation crates to soft sided carriers. Choose the best one for your pup or feline taking into consideration their size and your travel plans.
Make a little “room” for your dog by placing his bed and a few toys at the bottom of the crate. By surrounding him with familiar objects, you’ll ease his anxiety and keep surfaces like hotel furniture, rugs, and sheets clean and free of damage.
Lighten the Load With a Dog Daypack
You don’t have to carry everything yourself. Let your dog do a little of the heavy lifting with a day pack like this one by Outward Hound. According to readers, they hold a lot and offer a comfortable fit on your pup.
One says she packs food, a water bottle, a toy or two, a snack, and collapsible bowls in the day pack every time she and her dog go out on an adventure: “We travel with two Bernese Mountain dogs who have a job to do instead of us carrying their bags.”
Transport Older Pups on Wheels
Older dogs can’t always make the journey on foot. When running to catch a flight, you don’t want to have to carry your luggage and your pet.
This is where wheeled carriers like this one by Sherpa come in handy. Readers love it because it makes travel so much easier. Most importantly, one says, “It fits airline guidelines.”
Tether Your Canine Companion
Every dog loves to hang his head out the window in a moving car, but traveling with pets in car can be dangerous for both you and your pup. If you’re buckled up, why shouldn’t your pet be?
One of the best car harnesses on the market comes courtesy of EzyDog. Once you fit it to your pet, it conforms to its size and can be then be taken on and off quickly. It’s easy to use, too— just buckle it into the seat belt of your car and your pup will be ready to roll safely.
Sleepypod Air In-Cabin Pet Carrier
Bring a Flexible Carrier for Travel Abroad With Pets
Each airline has different restrictions for carriers, so it’s best to find something that’s flexible, but roomy and comfortable for international travel with pets. You also want something that is easy to maneuver and secure on the road or in the airport concourse.
For readers, Sleepypod Air gets high marks in all categories. One says, “It’s soft-sided but super sturdy, and its inside pad is removable for cleaning. It also unzips at the bottom to give your pooch a few more inches of room inside once you’re settled on the plane.”
Use Sheets for Coverage
Sheets pack flat and make great covers for pets while on the road. An inexpensive, soft set of flat sheets will keep your dog comfy and cool and hotel furniture stain and hair free, according to readers.
Product Comparison Chart
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Tips for Traveling With Pets
Pet travel has gone digital! According to one reader, apps are an essential way of finding pet-friendly spots everywhere you go: “Be sure to download the BringFido app. It helps with finding restaurants, motels, and dog friendly beaches/parks.”
Animals are creatures of habit and many don’t like a change to their routine. Flying is a little more complex than RVing with pets, but both can be equally stressful. Your vet can tell you how to keep your pet stress-free or give you a prescription to sedate them for the journey.
To travel internationally with pets, make sure to bring vaccination papers. One reader says she doubles up just in case: “I print a copy of the current records and email them to myself.”
How do you travel with pets? Share your experience below!
For more travel tips, please read:
- Best Portable Carbon Monoxide Detector to Keep You Safe During Travel
- What Is the Best Travel Steamer? See Our Top Picks!
- Best Travel Kettle Will Help You Start Your Day Right
- The Best Travel Wine Glasses to Enjoy Vino Anywhere
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