Before you go
A long drive is easier on a dog who’s already done short ones. Take a couple of twenty-minute trips first, end them somewhere fun, and the car stops being the place that means the vet.
The kit
- A seat cover or hammock: fur and muddy paws stay off the seats
- A crash-tested harness or a crate, buckled in
- A water bottle with a bowl built in
- A lint roller and a small towel
- Waste bags, treats and their usual blanket
On the road
- Stop every two to three hours. A short walk, water and a bathroom break, for both of you.
- Keep the window cracked, not open. Heads out of windows meet bugs and gravel at highway speed.
- Never leave them in a parked car. Even on a mild day the inside heats up in minutes.
Cheat code
Put the blanket from their bed in the car. A familiar smell calms a nervous traveller more than any treat.
