Travelling with Dogs: Your Packing Checklist

Owners will know all too well about the stress of packing for a holiday and making sure you have everything you need along with a few extras just in case, nobody likes to be caught short when you’re away from home.

Whilst it can be an extremely exciting time to have your pup coming along on the family holiday, their usual routine will experience a big change, so it can be a little daunting for your four-legged friend. It may even cause anxiety for pups who often feel overwhelmed with change, so making sure you pack their favourite things from home can help comfort them.

It might seem like a big task to have to pack an extra bag just for your dog, as if packing for a holiday isn’t already stressful enough, but you more than likely have most of what you need, if not everything already at home.

It’s essential to bring some home comforts for your pup to make a home away from home as relaxing as possible for them. The environment is going to be a big change so everything else should stay relatively predictable. Bringing their dog toys along can help their stress stay off their mind as they settle into their new temporary space. But toys aren’t the only essentials owners should pack.

One thing that should remain consistent when you go away is your beloved pet’s diet. It can be easy to be laid back whilst on holiday, but changing their feeding times can be a contributor to their current anxiety or stress.

It’s also important not to change their diet. Changing a dog’s diet usually takes several weeks to perfect, so staying consistent with their favourite kibble can help ease the change. Make sure to take an extra supply of their usual food with you to ensure you don’t run out whilst you’re away. 

Having a healthy supply of dog treats is where you can really treat your canine friend on holiday with extra chews. A small bag of treats in the car like Wagg Training Treats with Chicken, Beef & Lamb Dog Treats can also help reward them for being so patient during the car ride.

It’s a legal requirement to have a collar and ID tag for your dog in the UK and while that doesn’t change when you go on holiday, it can be useful to take an updated tag. In such a strange environment, if you’re letting your pooch off lead or if there’s a garden for them to explore, there’s always a minor risk of when wandering off.

While your home details will allow anyone who finds them to get in touch, it won’t have your holiday home address on it. Getting a new tag with your temporary address on it can make it a lot easier for passers-by to help your missing pooch find their way back faster.

You shouldn’t go on holiday assuming the place you stay will provide things for your pooch. Even if they specify, they do when you book it, it’s a good idea to take your own. Keeping things consistent and using a bowl your dog is used to will help them know where their water is and will encourage them to eat their meals rather than trying to coax them to eat out of a strange dish.

You also need to consider a bowl to take with you for the actual journey to make sure your pooch stays hydrated in the car. This Happy Pet Anti Splash Pet Bowl Green will make sure no water gets all over the car so you can keep them hydrated while keeping the car dry.

While it isn’t something you have to pack to take on holiday with you, making sure your pooch is prepared for the journey is important. If they don’t often go in the car and suddenly, you’re driving several hours to go on your staycation, it’s important to know how to travel safely with your dog in the car.  

Building up car rides gradually will get them used to longer trips and helps you to work out if your pooch could suffer from travel sickness. There are many ways to help them with their travel sickness and our handy sickness in dogs guide will help to answer all your questions.

Dogs are sensitive and creatures of habit. For long car journeys you may find, they might want to rest their head during the journey. In an ideal world it’s best to bring their dog bed and blankets from home, but if they don’t fit in the car, you may need to buy something more appropriately sized for the holiday.

Rather than buying a brand new dog bed just before you leave, introduce it a few weeks before you go away so it will become familiar to them. Dogs love nothing more than cuddling up in a bed that already smells like them so you can avoid any undue anxiety.

While it should be a relaxing holiday for everyone, sometimes accidents can happen so having a doggy first aid kit ready can help get you out of a pinch and even avoid costly vet bills if it’s only something minor!

When you go on UK holidays it’s hard to predict the weather and if you’re taking your pooch with you, chances are you are probably planning some nice scenic walks. Long walks can lead to a soggy and muddy pup, so be prepared to give them a bath if you need to. Leaving them with a dirty and unwashed coat may cause matting by the time you get home.

Make sure you go armed with shampoo and brushes so you can keep them nice and clean during your getaway.

While you can plan everything to have a great time, you can’t predict the UK weather so even if your holiday is in the height of summer, taking a dog coat along with you can cover all basis. They don’t take up much room at all, you can pack it away and hope you don’t need it but if you do, it’s useful to have with you.

Other essentials you should make sure you have with you includes things like poo bags and any medication they may need. It might seem like a lot of effort to bring your pup along on holiday but it’s so worth it when you can all have fun and enjoy your family staycation together.

To make sure you have everything ready for your UK holiday with your pooch, you can find all your dog holiday essentials and more in-store and online.