A freckled field spaniel sits on a carseat protector in the backseat of a vehicle.

Tips For Road Tripping With Dogs

Kat and Ethan Pippitt own their own business, Standing Stone Kennels, where they have been training bird dogs and breeding German Shorthaired Pointers for over a decade.



Road-trip adventures are always more fun when your dog is along for the ride.

Here are three tips for successful road tripping with dogs:

A woman in a field with her squatting dog on a leash.

1. Train Your Dog To Go To The Bathroom On-Leash

Often, the safest option for our dogs to go to the bathroom while on the road is being on-leash. If your dog is used to being free range or off-leash during potty breaks, get them used to going to the bathroom while on-leash in places they are comfortable—like their backyard—before introducing new environments. It is also safer to avoid roadside dog parks. While a convenient option, dogs can easily pick up a sickness, especially younger pups building up their immune systems.

A woman giving her dog food in a blue travel bowl.

2. Develop Good Feeding Habits

It’s important for dogs to develop good eating habits so they know food is important no matter their surroundings. Establish a feeding schedule and practice giving and taking away food to help your pups learn when they should eat to avoid getting hungry later. These habits will help your pups know to eat whenever food is offered to them even when their schedule or environments change during a road trip.

Two dogs inside a travel crate in the back of a truck bed while a women is standing next to it.

3. Reduce Motion Sickness

Some dogs get sick while road-tripping. Crating your dog while traveling helps reduce pacing and moving, making your dog feel more secure and safe while in motion. Another way to combat motion sickness is to not feed your dog right before hitting the road. As a last resort, consult your vet for medication to help your pup with car sickness.

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