Your dogs are members of your family too, so it wouldn’t be fair to leave them behind when going to a road trip. When in a “good mood” they can make traveling that much interesting and fun, but when they feel uncomfortable and impatient, they can make a huge fuss and make your driving impossible and even dangerous. Is this a good enough reason to leave them to your neighbor’s care? Well, no. If you prepare your dogs for the journey and ensure they are comfortable enough not to make noises and a mess, you can all have a fabulous time. Here are some tips that will get you there.

Prepare Them

If your dogs are not used to cars, you should help them get accustomed by going for some shorter drives at first. That way, you will be able to see how are they handling the situation and are they ready for longer trips. This can also be helpful if you are traveling by plane, since you have no other way to test them, you can just drive them around to get used to the movement. Some dogs get motion sick and need sedatives and supplements to make it through the trip. In that case, consult your vet. When there, ask for a full health check before the travel.

Crating the Dogs

Crating your fluffy pets seems awfully wrong, but it is necessary (especially when in an airplane). If you project your feelings to the dog you can only make things worse. Remember that dogs don’t mind the crate as much as people would, and especially in travels with bumps and high speed, they even feel safer in it. You can always make this more comfortable by equipping the crate with cozy dog beds which will prevent bumps and calluses. Make sure to remove all the potentially dangerous things, such as loose collars and leashes, from the crate. If the travel is not that long, and if you are going through states where crating is not necessary, you can get away with a dog seat belt.

Be Well Equipped

Besides the dog beds and seat belts, you should pack your dogs’ favorite toys and items, such as favorite blankets or rubber bones. You will also need plastic waste bags, flea and tick control, motion sickness medications (just in case) and plenty of toys. There are also several handy apps that can make the road trip easier. Installing Dog Park Finder Plus, for instance, can help you find a dog park anywhere, so when there is a need for taking a break for a walk, you’ll know where to go. By Bringing Fido, you might just find dog friendly hotels and restaurants with greater ease.

Bring Food and Water

It is important to provide your dogs with drinking water while traveling. Not all the drinking water is the same, so bring a few bottles from home, so that they can drink the water they are accustomed to. Keep some of the water in thermos, so it doesn’t warm up too much. Don’t feed your dogs right before you get in the car, because they can get motion sick. Feed them 2 to 3 hours earlier. Do not to feed them while in the car. Wait until you take a break and give them a small high-protein snack. Otherwise, keep their nutrition proper and regular.

Last, but not least, show your best friends some love, when stopping for a break. Nothing like a plentiful of belly rubs to de-stress and get ready for another round.