Preparing for a road trip can be stressful, and adding woman’s best friend, aka a dog, can add a greater sense of responsibility.
I wanted to make sure my dog and I would be prepared for any situation that could potentially happen. Here are the things I brought on my road trip with my dog, Bowie, to ensure a stress-free ride!
1. Foldable Water/Food Bowls
Not every hotel will offer doggy bowls, in fact, most won’t. It is important for your dog to have something to eat out of, and it is maybe even more important for your dog to have something to drink water out of while hiking/in the car. I noticed Bowie got dehydrated on longer rides, so having a foldable water bowl handy while driving is something to keep in mind. The ones I purchased came with clips, so I was able to strap them onto my backpack when we went hiking.
2. Flea/Tick Comb
Though Bowie is short-haired, all dogs can pick up all types of little pests while spending more time in the great outdoors. I purchased a $3 flea comb from PetSmart which came in handy when Bowie started itching a bit more than usual in Utah. I brushed it through and luckily, no bugs were found, he was just a little dirty from our hike! But it’s still better to know than to wonder.
3. Treats
Good boys and girls deserve some treats every now and then! I brought a bag of bully sticks for Bowie to munch on after long car rides, and sometimes even during to keep him occupied. He particularly liked them when we got to hotels after long days on the road.
4. A Ball/Non-Squeak Toy
Along with the treats, having a ball to throw after long stagnant car rides was extremely helpful. I advise against a squeak toy for sound purposes, since you will have neighbors wherever you choose to stay. This ball came in handy, arguably more than anything else. I let Bowie run around hotel rooms where he got the zoomies, and I would throw the ball to try to let him release some of his energy. In vacant areas in Kansas, Utah, and New Mexico, I let Bowie run off leash where I would throw the ball, which he absolutely loved. Understand that any time a doggo is off-leash, you are taking a gamble. Bowie has good off-leash manners, but I was still aware of the risks and understand it’s not always a safe or even wise idea.
5. Hiking Boots
Not only do humans need hiking boots, but doggos can use them too! I will say, we only ended up needing these in Colorado where it was icy, and Bowie was not into it. He is a particularly stubborn dog and was not a fan of the boots, so I would say, before leaving for your trip, try to train your dog to wear the boots at home so he/she does not feel like something foreign is happening to them while traveling.
6. A Doggy Backpack
I don’t mean a backpack for your dog to wear, I mean a backpack for you to wear your dog! Obviously, if you have a bigger pup like a husky, this item can be opted out. Bowie is a good walker so we also never really needed to use this, but it would be useful for places where the sand/pavement is too hot or too cold, or if your dog grows tired from long walks and needs a little break. Despite not needing it, I’m glad we had it just in case. Also, an added perk to this is you’ll get a better workout from wearing your dog!
7. A Doggy Coat
Dogs can get cold the same way humans can. Having a doggy coat for rainy/snowy days was completely necessary. Even if you think you’ll only be heading to nice weather, bring one just in case. I assumed Utah would be sunny and hot, but the nighttime temperatures dropped to below 20 degrees Fahrenheit.
8. More Food Than You Think
I thought I brought more than enough food for Bowie, but I ran out about a week before we were back home. This ended up being fine as there were pet stores where we were, but it’s better to be prepared. For reference, I brought 12 cans of Merrick’s dog food, and one bag of Merrick’s dry food. We went through all of it in about four weeks. Bowie typically eats twice a day, but he got hungrier than usual after long days of being out, the same way a human would, so keep in mind your dog may need some extra fuel.
9. Granola/Snacks for You
Not only does your pupper need some treats for long boring days in the car, but so do you! Pack a variety of nonperishable items. I brought two different boxes of Kind Bars, a bag of chocolate hemp-seed granola, trail mix, dried fruit snacks, almond butter, and crackers. Remember that being with a dog, not as many restaurants will let you in. Also remember that typical drive-thru food is unhealthy. These snacks all came in handy at one point or another. I felt unsafe in Louisville late at night to go out and grab a proper meal, so I had a dinner of granola and almond butter. There was nowhere to stop for a long while en route from Quinter to Boulder, so I ate a Kind Bar to hold me over. I did not end up going through all of the snacks, but it was both convenient and a way to save money while on the road.
10. Instant Coffee
One might say I have a caffeine addiction. I know it sounds dramatic, but if the coffee is not strong enough, I basically cannot go about my day. This is always an issue when I travel as I’m used to having strong espresso at my convenience. I purchased a $6 jar of Instant Café Bustelo, and it helped tremendously when I was at places that had subpar coffee. I went through the whole jar over five weeks. Another coffee tip: download the Starbucks app, add a good chunk of money to it (I added $100 before the trip,) and pre-order coffee/espresso for pickup wherever you are. Though Starbucks is not advertised as being dog-friendly, I was able to run in, grab my drink, and leave with Bowie, all in under ten seconds due to pre-ordering.
11. Benadryl
Luckily, this is another one we never had to use, but bringing Benadryl can help a pup who gets sick. Double-check with your vet beforehand to make sure it is safe for your pup. I have gotten cleared to give Bowie a Benadryl from his vet, so I knew it would pose little to no harm. This can be helpful if your dog gets stung by a bee, scorpion, or just gets car sick. We never used it, like I said, but it helped alleviate some anxiety knowing I had it just in case.
12. Fresh Water
There are several spots in the US where the drinking water is not safe, and with all of the hiking and driving you’re bound to be doing, it’s important to stock up. I brought almost 40 Liters of water with us that I bought ahead of time at Target, and it only lasted us from New York to Vegas, meaning we had to restock. I used InstaCart to have more water delivered to our hotel in Vegas. Don’t underestimate how much water you’re bound to go through while traveling!
13. Dog Shampoo and Dog-Specific Rags
Your dog is going to get dirty after all of the outdoor activities you will be doing. This can be annoying as not every hotel will have a bathtub (most just had a shower.) I would often run a wet towel/rag over him to try to get any excess dirt off, but when I was finally able to give him a proper bath, the color of the water let me know just how dirty he was. Clean your pup so he/she feels good as often as you can!
14. A Dog Tag
Every pet owner’s worst nightmare is somehow losing an animal. Though Bowie already has his vaccination records on his collar, I made a special tag for him for information to contact me if he was missing. Luckily, it served no purpose for this trip, but I will be keeping it on him for the duration of his life just to be safe! I got mine printed at PetSmart in about five minutes for ten dollars. You can also order it online and have it shipped to you.
15. Paw-Pad Protector
This was maybe the most useful thing I brought, along with the ball/toy. Bowie’s paws were getting extra dry and cracked from all of the walking. I bought Natural Dog Company Paw Soother Trial Stick, which is like a little Chapstick that you can apply directly to your dog’s paws. Bowie seemed to like it, he even licked his paws sometimes after applying (and don’t worry, it’s non-toxic!) We went through almost the entire tube and I plan to purchase a larger quantity for future use.
16. Poop Bags
This should go without saying, but I will include it to remind you to pick up after your pet. It is important to never leave waste around, especially at National Parks where anything left behind can disrupt the eco-system. Stock up on poop bags beforehand so you don’t have to worry about it while on the road. You’ll need them!
17. Yoga Mat
Someone advised me to bring a yoga mat on our trip, or a mat of some sort, so when Bowie and I wanted to take a break and chill, we had a comfy spot to sit. This worked out great! We mainly used it in Utah at our camper van to sit outside and eat. I think you can get by without it, but if you have one, it won’t hurt to bring it.
18. Entertainment!
The best gift you can give to yourself for spending over 30 hours in a car is ENTERTAINMENT! Buy some audiobooks (my favorites are: Bossypants by Tina Fey, Know My Name by Chanel Miller, A Very Punchable Face by Colin Jost…to name a few.) Make some awesome playlists on Spotify, and maybe even tune into the news every now and then (BBC Radio is quite entertaining.) You can subscribe to Audiobooks for 30 days free with three books here.
Kaitlyn and Bowie spent five weeks on a road trip across the United States.
