Is a vacation with your dog truly a vacation? I didn’t know until it came time for my boyfriend, John, and me to plan our annual road trip. We wanted our 11-month-old goldendoodle, Millie, to come along.
People are also reading…
Dog days of travel: 6 accessories for a trip with pups
Pack the travel bag with fun
SodaPup's line of American-made, FDA-compliant treat dispensers, tug toys, frisbees, chewers and more is a great way to train a new dog and soothe for travel.
Hit the road with enrichment toys and accessories that feed pup’s spirit while soothing his soul. SodaPup offers a collection of American-made, FDA-compliant items, including natural rubber chew toys that double as treat dispensers. The corn on the cob treat dispenser ($11.99) helps focus a dog’s energy, calms anxiety and provides a puzzle as he figures out how to get to the food inside.
For power chewers, the mod bone ($10.99) has small holes that can be filled with peanut butter or other soft foods and lets your dog go to town, chewing as aggressively as he likes while discouraging problem chewing. An enrichment mat ($11.99) featuring a fun jigsaw pattern can also be spread with a soft treat to entertain, reduce anxiety and promote fresh breath. sodapup.com
The don’t-leave-home-without-it kit
The herbal tincture formulas in Animal Essentials' natural pet travel kit come with a detailed instruction card that doubles as a spill-proof platform to prepare each dose.
Pack Animal Essentials’ natural pet travel kit ($39) for those little hiccups that seem to accompany any trip. Formulas include Tranquility Blend, Super Immune and Daily Digestion — a certified-organic combo of peppermint, fennel seed, chamomile and ginger root, for fresh breath and a healthy tummy.
Each all-natural herbal remedy can be served on little Wellness Bite treats, made with wholesome ingredients and designed to absorb up to 20 drops of the tincture formulas. Each kit includes three 1-oz formula bottles and the Wellness Bites and comes in a hemp-gusseted zipper bag. animalessentials.com
Snuggly sleep
The PupShow orthopedic cuddler bed ensures dogs get the best sleep possible in order to stay relaxed, happy, healthy and anxiety-free.
Bring along PupShow’s orthopedic cuddler bed (from $54.95), a puffy, fluffy new favorite spot for him to snooze. Running from small to extra-extra-large, the beds are made from human-grade materials and designed to ease joint pain. These cuddle cups are also proven to ease anxiety, creating a sense of security that will have pups nodding off almost as soon as they make their nest – thanks to the construction of the bed’s center. It is made of multiple pieces a puppy can happily rearrange or dig into to find his most comfortable position. The bed has a protective and waterproof (and washable) foam cover (no zipper) with a non-skid, rubberized bottom. pup-show.com
Travel like a (furry) king
Four-legged friends love to travel as much as their two-legged counterparts, especially when doing so in the comfort of their own carrier.
Pups travel in comfort and style with Bark n Bag’s fashionable and eco-friendly CheckerBarc pet carrier ($80/small; $85/medium) in hand-loomed cotton canvas. Featuring locking zipperheads and ventilating mesh on two sides, the carrier has a machine-washable polar fleece liner, plus top and side entries and roomy pockets. It is a comfortable carry with padded handle wrap and shoulder strap. Bonus: it fits under most airline seats. barknbag.com
Unleash your dog’s style
For those who always have a furry adventure sidekick with them, look no further than Wolfgang Man & Beast for collars and leashes.
From Wolfgang Man & Beast’s aptly named GreatEscape collection are a collar, leash and comfort harness (from $19.99) featuring outdoor-themed patterns that inspire trotting off into the great unknown. These machine-washable dog accessories are designed to work together to give the human and the human’sBFF a sense of security while also giving Fido a style upgrade. wolfgangusa.com
A spa treatment in hand
Available in several colors, HandsOnGloves feature a tactile touch that gently cleans your pet's legs, faces and body contours.
Pamper your pooch with the award-winning HandsOn Gloves’ all-in-one shedding, bathing and grooming mitts ($24.99). Not only do these nylon gloves with their non-abrasive rubber nodules quickly clean up pup after a day at the park, beach or trails, but they also let you give him a gentle, relaxing rub-down. The gloves come in multiple sizes and wear comfortably, with scrubbing nodules on the palms and fingers and a secure hook-and-loop fastener. They stimulate circulation and distribute natural oils for a healthy skin and coat. handsongloves.com
