Ten Travel Tips for Dogs: A Conversation with Veterinarian Professionals

I had the outstanding opportunity to attend the Overland Expo Pacific North West this year. Prior to this summer I had never heard of Overlanding and truly had no idea that I was living an overland lifestyle for 5 years! My passion for camping, exploring, being off-grid and my goal to motorcycle all contribute to the definition of Overlanding. When I learned there was an entire expo with classes, vendors, give-aways, inspirational movies and speakers I was floored! I attended the expo this year with my partner’s friend group (but without my partner himself) and had a blast.

Seth (my partner) works at a veterinarian clinic and has connections with an entire group of incredibly dog-intelligent humans. Attending this expo with them all was a blast! When I found myself in a class where the instructor forgot to show up, I was a bit surprised! Naturally the class was titled: Traveling with Pets, a conversation. And even more naturally, I was there with my friend and Vet Tech, Lindsey. Since noone arrived to facilitate the discussion, Lindsey and I offered to share our knowledge and experience! The conversation and questions that were asked by those who loved to adventure with pets were amazing! So I compiled this list of 10 tips for traveling with your pet. I decided to use a Q&A structure here, since these were questions asked by folks during our class at the expo.

Q: What training should you focus on with your traveling pet?

A: First, if you have a puppy gradual exposure to a variety of new experiences (after vaccinations) such as being in a car, or sleeping in a tent are very important. Socializing with humans and dogs is massively important for traveling adventures! Even new rescue dogs benefit from this type of bonding and training experience. For emergencies, muzzle training is essential to prevent anxiety during a car accident, or anytime an injury might occur. Crate training so your pup is comfortable in all environments is essential, and reliable recalls are also essential in case your dog escapes and you need them to come back to you. Check out my training for travel series here.

Q: What do we need to know about Dog medications on the road?

A: Lindsey S., CVT brought up a few important points. If you are crossing any border (even Canada) keep medications in their original containers. The same goes for dog food. You can also purchase smaller dog food bags to present to border agents. Often times border agencies need to go through the ingredients to make sure no cross contamination or invasive species can spread into their country. Lindsey also reminds to bring extra medications on traveling adventures, because you never know what might happen to keep you from going home on time.

Q: What do we need to know about traveling internationally with a pet?

Flying with a pet is VERY tough at this time. There are a few reliable airlines but it is always a risk to leave your pet in the cargo hold. If it’s possible to leave them at home for short term adventures, it may be the best option.

You may need to research a rather expensive charter flight or dog shipping company for in cabin dog travel. However, there are strides forward toward pet friendly airlines at this time. Pets who fly will likely need a “good dog citizen” proof of training, as well as a behavioral check prior to boarding.

If you are bringing your dog on an international trip (or even to Hawaii) you will need a vet visit prior. Lindsey discusses how sedatives can be dangerous for dogs on airplanes, but anti anxiety meds may be more effective. “It is very important to trial the medications a couple of weeks prior to flying,” Lindsey explains. “Some anxiety meds take two weeks to become effective, and we must be watchful of any adverse reactions before boarding a plane.”

Also it is important to know that you might need to quarantine upon arrival depending where you are traveling to. Australia and Hawaii are a couple mentioned countries that have strict policies regarding rabies vaccinations and require a quarantine period for all dogs coming into their borders. Bear in mind, it is because they have eradicated rabies in certain countries; so it is an effective method to keep the horrible illness eradicated.

If you are in Europe, a “puppy passport” makes train travel run smoothly between countries. This is also helpful to have for any abroad dog trips, as you need to show proof of vaccination status of your dog at most borders. A puppy passport keeps everything in one place making European adventures easy and fun with your dog.

Q: What’s the best dog breed for aging travelers who want to have a pet?

A: Rescue puppies are always a good option. Ensuring to communicate with the shelter about temperament and veterinarian care is essential. Truly, its about finding a dog that matches your energy- low energy vs high energy. Lindey piped in at this moment, with a few specific smaller breed suggestions. “Corgi’s are a great option, however every dog has a different temperament and can have behavioral issues traveling if not trained properly. Breed is less important than the dog’s history.” Spaniels or hounds are also good options.

Q: What equipment is best to use for your dog while on adventures?

A: During the expo, Lindsey’s dog Fendy and my girl Chloe Rue were rocking their dog booties. Many people commented on the benefits due to the hot pavement, and asked about how you can train a dog to wear booties. “Fendy learned the hard way.” Lidsey explains, “she was on an endurance horse run with me, and was running from shadow, to shadow. When I put on her dog booties that day, she did not make any fuss about it. Ever since, she allows me to put them on, knowing it is for her own protection.” Chloe learned in a similar fashion, but still occasionally protests about her booties. I always wait until she is lifting a paw, either due to cold or heat until I put them on. Then she is happy to be wearing them. I have both cold booties and warm booties. The cold are a ruffwear brand, and do an amazing job keeping the snow out of her paws. I also will use mushers paw to keep her pads healthy in the cold. Her hot boots are an amazon brand. We ensure there are always two straps, to prevent Chloe’s paws from escaping.

Other equipment essentials for hot days are a cooling vest; especially for dark coated dogs like Chloe. Chloe also sports a dog coat, harness, and fold up bowl. Check out my post about the 10 dog essenTAILS here.

Q: What are ways to leave your dog alone, when you need to stop in to a not dog friendly pit stop?

A: Since we were at an overland expo, of course we had to talk overlanding vehicles (meaning campers/vans etc). One participant of this conversation uses a pop up camper and advises to make sure it’s insulated, and temperature controlled.

There is also the option that I use frequently, of keeping my vehicle running with reliable AC. My door has a keypad code, so I can lock Chloe inside and keep the AC running.

Some cars even have “dog mode” including police vehicles and tesla vehicles which makes keeping your dog inside your car with temp controls activated, easier.

Temperature monitoring systems are hugely helpful and also keep your dog safe, regardless if you need them to stay in your car, camper, van or RV. I use arlo2go with a thermometer in sight of the camera. I also recommend Waggle, which is not a camera but a temperature alert system. It works with cell reception, similar to the arlo2go. I like these options as wifi is not required, and most folks on adventures do not have easy access to wifi. If you do have wifi access, there are a LOT of options available for you to keep an eye on your pet.

A very simple option if there are two people in your group, is to have one person stay outside and walk your adventure pet, while the other goes inside the not dog friendly place.

Last, if you are going to something like a national park and need extra time away from your dog, look into rover.com or use the wag app for doggy daycare options for the day.

Q: What are some good pit stops for dogs?

A: It is always safest to call ahead to a restaurant or museum (or any destination) to check on pet friendliness. You can also use:

SniffSpot app- fenced in dog run areas for a small fee, safe zooming zone.
LOVE gas stations/ labeled Rest Stops- some will include dog parks
National Forest areas- usually quiet and peaceful for a nice dog walk
BarkHappy app or Google dog parks
BringFido- for dog friendly locations

Q: What if you need emergency assistance on road?

A: I always recommend downloading the app called “Pet First Aid” by the Red Cross. It allows access to basic health info and also classes you can take for dog first aid and CPR. The app also helps to find an emergency veterinarian nearby.

Lindsey says, “Make sure to have savings set aside for your pet, or use pet health insurance. Keep in mind will need to pay out of pocket and then you will be reimbursed if using pet health insurance.” If traveling abroad, make sure dog health insurance is covered in the destination country.

If you are staying somewhere longer term, check with a vet at your destination to see if any vaccinations, or preventatives are necessary for safety. Some pests like ear mites or wood ticks are more prevalent in different parts of the world. Also, some vaccinations are required in different parts of the U.S. When I moved to Oregon, I learned Chloe needs a yearly “lepto” vaccination that she did not need in the Midwest.

Q: Where do you normally overnight when adventuring?

A: Everyone in the group conversation used a vast variety of options for pet friendly lodging. From hotels such as La Quintas to the Super 8; airbnbs, free camping, or paid campgrounds- these are all great options for traveling with your dogs. Crate training is very helpful to keep your pet’s “home” with them while they’re on the road. Check out my blog post here for more info!

Q: What are some helpful tips you’ve learned on your travels?

A: I have learned for safety reasons to always read the signs at a trail head to make sure there have been no signs of dangerous algea for dogs. It is also helpful to ensure on leash/off leash status for any dogs with some leash aggression issues.

Keeping food in a cooler while on the road has saved me many headaches. While Chloe typically ignores food, there is always the chance for a surprise if she find something she REALLY can’t resist. Like beef jerky. She LOVES jerky. Lindsey also piped in about safely storing medications, or any potentially dangerous items such as weed or edibles. These can be very traumatic for dogs, and safe storage can mean avoiding an emergency vet trip.

Most importantly, when on dog adventures its very important to be attentive to your dogs needs. Are they too hot, too cold, or overwhelmed by too many people? Dogs will need breaks on occasion, and listening to their needs makes a huge difference for how rewarding dog adventures can be.

The Overland Expo

I hope this information was helpful for you today! And I hope you are feeling inspired to travel with your pup! It was such an amazing opportunity to talk with fellow dog travelers and future dog adventurers, and compare notes on what works best for everyone; especially having that extra piece of veterinarian advice from Lindsey! A huge shout out to Lindsey S, CVT for her contribution to this post AND for helping run the class with me at the expo! Also, here’s a shout out to the Overland Expo which is amazing in its dog friendly atmosphere, promotion of travel and adventure; and most importantly the inspiration to get outside and explore! If you ever see an overland expo near you (Colorado, Arizona and now the PNW hosts yearly) I highly recommend attending, and bringing along your pup! I also would like to thank the Overland Staff for the gift provided to us when they found out we ran the class.

So where is your next dogventure taking you? What tips have you found on the road, especially related to health/wellness of your dog? In the meantime, Chloe and I wish you all many happy trails and happy tales until next week.

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