by Jennifer Geitenbeek

Created on: January 28, 2011   Last Updated: January 31, 2011

Some dogs thoroughly enjoy going for a ride in the car, and in order to make this as fun and safe as possible, there are a few essentials that should be included on each, and every trip.

Seating arrangements.

Every person that travels in a car is required by law to wear a seat-belt. The reason for this is for safety.

If a car comes to a sudden stop (as happens in motor vehicle accidents), the seat-belt stops the human body from trying to continue travelling at the original speed of the car before it was stopped, and from crashing into either the back of the front seat, or the dash.

Dogs must be restrained for exactly the same reason, so a dog seat harness, pet transport crate, or cargo barrier is essential, not only for the safety of the dog, but also for the other occupants of the vehicle.

Also, small dogs that are unrestrained can quickly, and easily, get under the feet of the driver, which can lead to an accident.

Leash and collar

No dog should be in a vehicle without a collar on. The collar should have, at the very least, the contact information of the owner so that, should the dog become lost, he can be returned to his owner. A collar and leash is also necessary for walking control and toilet breaks.

Water and bowl.

Even in cold weather, dogs get thirsty. To be prepared, a bottle of water and a bowl should be included in the vehicle. By having these on hand, it is possible to give the dog water wherever you are, and takes out the many hours of searching for a suitable watering hole.

Towel or rag.

Some dogs get so excited by the prospect of a road trip that they start to drool. Many dogs have also been known to vomit because of excitement. This is where a towel comes in very handy, for wiping up those little messes.

Plastic bags and gloves.

Hopefully the dog that is going in the car has been trained not to toilet on the seat. Nervous dogs seem to have little control over their bladder and bowels in times of stress, so it is essential that a small plastic bag, and some disposable gloves are included in the pack to clean up those messes.

Even if the dog does not mess in the car, these items are needed for cleaning up, and dispose, of poop on those toilet walks.

Vaccination certificate

Something that is important, and hopefully never needed. By taking along the vaccination certificate of the dog, should he become ill on the trip and the cause is unknown, by having the vaccination certificate on hand, the veterinary surgeon will be able to rule out some illnesses and diseases.

This can rapidly reduce the time spent on diagnosing the problem, and get the treatment started quicker.

Travelling with a dog can be a fun outing for all involved.

While it is essential that we include all of those things that are needed for the human occupants (drivers licence, insurance papers etc), it is equally important to pack the items listed above in order to make the trip a lot more fun, and a lot less stressful.

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