Travelling with dogs does not have to be stressful for you, or more importantly for your dog. In our latest #addmorehappy article, we look at what you should pack in a dog travel bag in order to make sure their trip is a happy one.

Packing for your trip can throw up many questions, the most worrying one is what have I forgot? When it comes to dogs in cars, especially for long journeys, it is essential to ensure you have everything they need for the perfect trip. With that in mind, here are some tips on what you need to pack in your dog travel bag.

Dog travel crate

Your dog’s safety is paramount and one of the best ways to keep them secure during their journey is to ensure you have a safe dog travel crate. With efficient dog travel crate, you can keep your pooch safe from any serious injury risk and a dog travel crate can encourage your dog to sit and relax for the duration of the trip. A relaxed and happy dog leads to a happier driver.

Should your trip be further away and require you to fly with your dog either domestically or internationally, it is best to refer to your airline’s travel policies before travelling with your dog. It is also important to remember to never leave your dog unattended in a car.

Vaccination records

When you travel, particularly internationally, you cannot predict events that could change the length of your stay. That is why it is vital to pack your dog’s veterinary care and vaccination record as part of your dog travel bag. Should an emergency crop up, you may find yourself needing to board your dog in a new boarding facility while you sort the issue. Without the ability to do this, you might find you are travelling around with your dog but are unable to offer them the attention they need. Don’t run the risk, pack the records so they can be looked after.

Toys and treats

Travelling to and even settling into a new place can be an incredibly distressing time for a dog. This can be helped by packing some of their favourite toys in your dog travel bag, as well as some of their favourite treats to reward them for good behaviour during journey time. Passing your dog a toy in their dog carrier can help distract them from any anxieties they may have about travelling.

Poo bags, water and food

These three are the essentials really. Poo bags will be needed for the obvious and it is important when planning to travel for long periods that you pack a water bottle to ensure you can keep your dog hydrated. 

Food can often be forgotten about as well, however, packing their favourite meals such as Applaws Taste Toppers can remind your dog of the home comforts and put their mind at ease in new surroundings. Not only that, but it also ensures that they have delicious meals wherever it is you are travelling

Thank you for reading tip#5: What you should pack in a dog travel bag to make their trip a happy one. Read Tip#6 of our #addmorehappy series which looks at dog training aids to use that will make training ‘paw’ some.