So, you’re going on a road-tripping adventure and you want to take your doggos along. Good call! Our team here at Adventure Subaru supports you one hundred percent. Whether this is your first attempt at a road trip with your new furbaby or you’re finally getting time to do it again after a few years, you might benefit from a few tips on how to prepare for a successful trip.
As soon as you get a pet-filled road trip on the books, the first thing you should do is schedule a check-up. Especially if you’re driving across the country or planning to be on the road for more than a day or two, it’s important to make sure your furry friends are in good health and up-to-date on all their shots. If you’re going to be camping, hiking or hanging around many other animals, you might want to ask your vet about preventative measures for things like fleas, ticks and worms.
Before you actually get on the road, set aside some time to plan out your route. Look for stops along the way with pet-friendly facilities you can use or make note of in case of an emergency. Depending on what you have in mind for your road trip, keep an eye out for potential stops including pet-friendly hotels or campgrounds, pet stores and emergency vet clinics. To make things a little easier on yourself, use a pet trip planner like this one. Go ahead and book those pet-friendly hotels ahead of time, too — just in case.
As far as packing for your pets goes, you have a few things to consider. First of all, you need to pack plenty of food and water for the car. That’s a given. Be sure to pack enough food for a few extra meals, just in case. It’s better to have a little too much than not enough, and even if you think you could get some on the road, you should try to keep your puppers on their regular routine as much as possible. It’s not a good idea to use a different type of food if you want to keep your babies from getting tummy aches.
Oh, and just as a side note- you probably shouldn’t feed your pet right before you leave, either. That way you can avoid motion sickness and postpone potty breaks a little longer.
Okay, back to the packing list. When you do need to feed your animals, there are a number of products designed to make that process easier on you and your fur babies in the car. We love these no-spill bowls for the messy pups, and these silicone travel bowls because they’re collapsible and easy to store in small spaces.
Speaking of messy pups, if you’re worried about things like dirty paws, food crumbs and drool, you should look into getting some seat covers and floor mats. You can find some all-weather floor mats in our Subaru Accessories Portal that are heavy-duty and custom-fitted for your Subaru. So no matter how wet, sandy, muddy or otherwise dirty your little loves get, you can hop back in the car anxiety-free.
Even if your doggo is a very good boy (and he is a very good boy, yes he is), you can’t forget to bring a leash! Even most pet-friendly places require dogs to be on a leash most of the time. Many places require the leash to be no longer than six feet, so be sure to grab a good, standard short leash. It’s not a bad idea to bring a long leash either, though, in case you’re ever in a good place to let them run that isn’t fenced in.
Obviously, your pets are going to be taking bathroom breaks on this road trip — unless they’re mutant superhero pets, in which case, you can ignore this one. Assuming they will be having regular (or any) bowel movements, you need to include doggie bags on your shopping list. Don’t be that person that lets their dog do her business in a public space and just leave it there. It’s not a good look for anyone. Even grocery bags will do the trick, just make sure you have enough of them!
Just to be safe, you should also bring along a copy of your vet records and a recent photo of each of your pets. The photo is a great thing to have just in case your pet gets separated from you, and the health records are required at some dog parks and campgrounds. Plus, they will be good to have if you end up needing to use a day care or pet sitter during your trip.
The last thing you need to do before you embark on your journey with man’s best friend is to prepare yourself to go with the flow. Be flexible. Some dogs get nervous, and sometimes those nerves come out in the form of abnormal bodily functions. Some fur babies might act out a little more than usual. Some dogs might refuse to eat or drink in the car. Whatever it is, be prepared to adapt and deal with it as it comes. Unpredictable doggy behavior doesn’t need to ruin your road trip, and your frustration shouldn’t ruin theirs. Just ride those good vibes as much as you can, and you’re bound to have a trip to remember.
If you’re in need of a Subaru to take you and your furry friends on adventures, come check out our vast selection here at Adventure Subaru in Northwest Arkansas. We can guide you through all the different models and help you find something perfect for you and your pets. Fill out our contact form here!
