Traveling Dogs: Traveling Supplies

It’s almost the end of summer! If you’re a traveling healthcare professional and you are headed toward your next late summer/fall contract I am so excited for you! I hope this post is a great guide for all things you might need to bring traveling between contracts with a dog.

The 10 EssenTAILS

For those who have spent time hiking, you’re probably familiar with the ten essentials for safety. I’d like to propose the ten essenTAILS for dog traveling! No matter where you’re headed, you’ll need the following for your dog:

Collar with Tags
Medical Info backed up on Google Drive
Fold Up Water Bowl or Dogmugg
Easy Access Dog Food Storage
Leash/Extra leash
Headlamp or Flashlight
Fanny Pack with poop bags and treats
Safety items
- Chloe has a muzzle she’s familiar with for “just in case” scenarios
- She has a special lift harness in case she needs to be carried due to an injury
- Dog/human first aid kit

Roadtripping

this one was taken by my brother in law!

This is my favorite way to travel between contracts because it’s so easy to see the entire continent from the road! It’s also probably the easiest way to travel with your dog. If you’re going on a roadtrip to connect with your next contract, you’ll need the ten essenTAILS, but also consider:

Cooler for human and dog food
Chews and Toys
Check out “Bring Fido” for pet friendly destinations
Halter
Safety items- crate or seatbelt

Road trips are so much fun. Oftentimes your dog will want to stop for bathroom breaks, and my favorite way to find great stops is using the roadtrippers app or Bring Fido! We have found some awesome local dog parks, and some great restaurants on the way! We also love getting take out and enjoying local parks on a picnic ♡

I’ve run into the awful situation of my alarm going off to feed Chloe, and realizing her food is BURIED in the back end, or back seat! It is so helpful to make sure you have easy access to food and water!

Chews or toys are great for use at rest areas or dog parks to allow your pet some great exercise. Of course be sure to supervise the use of chew toys at all times.

Camping

For those adventure dog road trippers who plan to camp their way around the U.S. you guys are awesome! Tent camping, RV camping or living the van life, you all have a great idea. Check out my post here on how to find free camping! Remember to bring:

Cooler for Food
Propane for camping or your RV fridge
Your dog’s favorite Pillow or Sleeping bag
Long Leash

The long leash is especially helpful if your dog is a wanderer, like Chloe. This way she can safely explore the campsite, and bring me sticks for firewood; but I don’t have to worry about her wandering after a deer, neighbor dog, or any other smelly distractions.

Train Travel

Thankfully, Amtrack has recently adjusted its pet travel rules in the United States! If your dog is under the weight restriction of 20 pounds, they can travel by train!

Europe is far easier for doggy train travel, where you just need your EU passport, provided by a veterinarian within the EU. You can hop on board and travel into different countries, as long as you have that puppy passport! It basically has proof of important doggy vaccinations. It’s a whole other thing to be a traveling healthcare working abroad (that I’ve never done but always thought would be cool) but I do think the European train system is SUPER cool. Hopefully the US will adopt its methods someday! For train travel you will need:

Comfortable, approved crate
Fanny Pack with poop bags and treats
Your pup must stay in the crate at all times, and not cause disruption
Read for more US train travel by Amtrack info here!
Read for more European train travel here!

Hotels/Airbnbs/BnB’s

You might be roadtriping from one hotel to the next, or one campground to the next; or maybe a nice mix! I just wanted to add a list of helpful items when you’re in community living spaces. Check out my post here on how to find dog friendly lodging on the road!

Crate/familiar bed
TWO doggy bowls- The water bowl and one for food
White noise can be helpful
Toys/bones/quiet distractions

I am the luckiest dog mom with Chloe Rue as she doesn’t tend to bark (even when we are 10 feet from a mountain goat) and does extremely well in community living situations like hotels or bed and breakfasts! However she does get more anxious at night, and I’ve found white noise (I just use the App headspace on my phone, or YouTube white noise) will help her sleep and not be alerted to every noise outside! I cannot say how many times I’ve brought just Chloe’s water bowl into hotels *insert face-palm here* She loves when I remember two separate bowls, because she drinks and eats in the same go.

More Methods

I didn’t talk about planes or dog shipping methods because I’ve never done these before! However I’ve recently learned about private charter planes that allow you to travel with your pet in the cabin to different places like Porto Rico or Alaska. I’ve also been reading about the Queen Mary boat to travel across the seas, and other ways to travel by sea with your dog. As far as getting from one contract to another as a traveling worker; I’ve found road trips and camping the easiest and most fun for Chloe and I!

With the COVID Delta variant exploding out west, I also want to reference my previous post HERE about roadtrips during a pandemic! It’s a great guide for traveling while spreading the least amount of germs as humanly possible!

Where is your next traveling destination? What are your upcoming goals for your adventure dog this summer? I hope you are all staying safe and cool! It’s 103 degrees in Oregon today, so Chloe and I are taking it easy in our air-conditioned home! Happy trails and happy tails to you all!

Barking Embarkers