Any tips on traveling with a dog?

We are driving 24 hours down to Key West with Brutus. Does anyone have any tips for taking a long trip with your pet?

Re: Any tips on traveling with a dog?

We've travelled with all of our dogs down to SC (12-14 hours depending on traffic) and since pretty much I've always required "potty" breaks, it's worked out for the dogs too!!

We'd also try to keep them on a semi-normal food schedule (but maybe just a little less quantity - one of them would get car sick if he ate too much or if his belly was too empty).


I think I drive DH nuts because I would be willing to stop any time someone was "fussy" because hey, I'd rather take the time and stop instead of cleaning up any mess in the car ...


The last trip we made was with one dog, our new puppy (she was 4 months) and we had only had her for a month. She was AWESOME. She pretty much slept or chewed on a rawhide or a chew toy.

Our older dogs never relaxed as much. We'll see how Maddie does now that she's older, likes to stick her head out the window and gets that when she's in the car she's "going somewhere" .

Re: Any tips on traveling with a dog?

Thanks for the detailed response!

The only problem I see having is that Brutus usually sits in the front with me and he will be in the back for this long trip. . .well, we shall see. As DH says. . .it is much more likely that *I* will be in the back and Brutus will be in the front!

Re: Any tips on traveling with a dog?

LOL! I realized I didn't really give tips, just rambled a lot about my experience!!

Hershey (who was not SMALL - she was 28lbs) would NOT sit or lay down, EVER, for the entire trip. Even once on a pill from the vet, she stood all drugged up (we felt AWFUL) for 12 hours. Anyway, the only was she would relax at all was on someone's lap. (She was never a happy car dog we think maybe because she was deaf and the movement (without hearing sounds) was unsettling.


When I would take over driving from DH he would usually go in the back and nap with them (he can sleep anywhere) so they got some company!

Re: Any tips on traveling with a dog?

The longest we've ever driven with ours was 5 hours, but we made sure they could see out a window (they love that!), took one or two bathroom breaks, and we got them a "non-tippable" water dish they could reach if they got thirsty. Once we got to the highway they pretty much settled down and slept. Good luck!