Have you ever gone on a road trip with your pup and forgotten to pack half your dog’s gear? I’m totally guilty of this vacation faux pas (or paws in this case).
I learned after that incident that the key to packing your furry friend for a trip is a great dog travel checklist and packing in stages. While a vacation can be exciting and relaxing, the preparation can take a bit of work. But it’s all worth it. You definitely don’t want to get to your destination and immediately look for a dog supply store.
When I go on vacation with my dog, Henry, I use a checklist. But to make it not so overwhelming, I do it in stages. I don’t forget a thing, and there’s no rush to get to a pet store before it closes once I get to my relaxing vacation spot. I’ve also included a free downloadable version of this checklist at the end — grab it before you start packing.
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Budget Tip: Forgotten dog items purchased where you can are vacationing are often much more expensive (talking from experience). I also, like preparing in steps to help reduce the feeling of overwhelm. A little preparation can make your vacation with your dog a lot more relaxing.
Want more ways to reduce your dog’s expenses easily without compromising care? This reset helps you reduce daily costs simply.
1. Dog Travel Prep: Before You Pack a Thing
- Verify your dog has his records up to date
- Make a hard copy of his health certificate and vaccine records
- Refill any RXs he may need
- If your dog is an anxious traveler, you may want to talk with your veterinarian about CBD, other alternatives, and prescriptions to assist him in his car travel.
- Ensure that his ID tag is correct and readable
- Check out where you will be staying and make sure it’s pet-friendly
- Ensure there are local veterinarians, just in case
- Write down your dog’s microchip number, where he’s registered, and make sure all the information is up-to-date just in case you get separated.
Next, I move on to what I like to call my Henry’s grab-and-go bag. This will include things he may need on the road or will need soon after we arrive at our destination.
2. Your Dog’s Travel Grab-and-Go Bag
I like to call the things Henry may need on the road or will need soon after we arrive at our destination a grab-and-go bag. Think of these items as what you’d take into a hotel for a one-night stay.
- Foldable water bowl
- Poop bags
- Water
- Copy of your dog’s health and vaccine records
- Good picture of your dog, just in case
- Leash
- Harness
- Doggie wipes
- Dog food. I like small meal packages placed in Ziploc bags or BPA-free plastic containers
- Prescriptions. Make sure you have all the doses while you are away from home.
- Supplements your dog needs daily. I always pack Henry calm cookies.
- Dog first aid kit
- A favorite toy to release a little energy during potty breaks
- Dog treats.
If you’re like me and hate trying to open your dog’s waste bag as quickly as Henry would like, you need a remedy. This simple DIY trick is what I came up with to fix this problem easily.
3. Your Dog’s Travel Suitcase
After the grab-and-go bag is packed, I turn my attention to his “suitcase”, which could just be a bigger duffle bag. These are things your dog shouldn’t need while traveling to your vacation spot but will need during your holiday.
- 1-2 Towels
- 1-2 blankets
- 1 bed
- RXs for the duration of the vacation
- Food should be enough for the holiday duration. Keep in mind that if you are planning on being very active with lots of hiking or activities, your dog may need a little more food than normal to maintain his weight.
- Paw booties – these are great for protecting delicate paws on rocky hikes, hot cement, weedy walks, and snowy paths.
- 3-4 favorites toys
- Extra poop bags
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Flashlight for the nighttime pee walks
- Extra doggie wipes, because, well, we all know.
- More treats, because running out is never approved by the pups.
- Raincoat
- Sweater
- Coat
- Cooling Vest
- Dental supplies
- Brush for grooming
- Pee pads if you have a puppy or just in case
- Stain and Odor remover spray
- Paper towels because you never know
- Extra Ziploc bags
- Lint roller
You can even make your dog some special treats for the trip. This free tool will give you simple recipes with your dog’s favorite flavors.
TIP: Another great tip I learned from my mother as a child was to always pack 2-3 days extra of any essential item when packing for a vacation. This includes things like medications or food. I’ve been grateful for this piece of advice on more than one occasion.
4. Car Essentials for Dog Travel
- Portable dog crate
- Crate pad
- Car dog safety belt
- Towel, blanket, or seat cover
The Real Cost of Forgetting Your Dog’s Travel Gear
I learned the hard way that when you rush, you tend to forget. That means you have to make an emergency run to the nearest pet store to get everything you forgot.
For me, it meant buying double supplies of items I really didn’t need at the moment, like a big brush, bowls, dog wipes, vitamins, and a leash. Even worse, I discovered that the cost of pet supplies at vacation spots are more costly than at my local hometown pet stores.
I learned a hard lesson. I now know how to pack for Henry for a trip in stages. I won’t make that mistake again. Due to my forgetfulness, I was inspired to create my own dog travel checklist. You can download your copy here. Consider the following for a moment.
| Item | Home price (approx.) | Vacation markup |
| Dog wipes | $14 | $25 |
| Travel dog bowls | $10 | $35 |
| Dental supplies | $10 | $30 |
| Brush | $16 | $20 |
Related posts:
- Hack Lets You Easily Open Dog Poo Bags
- Easy Dog Friendly Vacation Guide Tips
- 20 Steps For Dog Overnight Visits
- Tips To Book A Great Dog Friendly Hotel
- Dog Holiday Dilemmas: Travel or Stay-Home Solutions
- Hidden Dog Expenses: Why Good Dog Parents Spend More Than They Expect
Final Thoughts on Your Dog Travel Checklist
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Breaking down your dog’s travel checklist into manageable bits helps to remove the overwhelm. It also helped me to make sure I didn’t forget any of the essential items for Henry while on vacation.
Forgetting half his supplies while traveling is one lesson I only needed to learn once. Although I’m certain he loved the extra bag of cookies he got from my absent-mindedness.
