Road Trips With Dogs California – Life with a sled dog is amazing. If you follow us on Instagram, you know our dog Charlie (he even has his own Instagram account – @charlietheadventurdog). He is a border collie / Australian mini with crazy smart, a little neurotic (because of his breed) and amazing energy. He also spent most of his life with us in Sprinter Wanda, covering over 50,000,000 miles from southern California to upstate New York.
I get a lot of emails asking me about car life with dogs… like, what do you do when you leave your dog in the car? How to find nature or dog friendly place?
Road Trips With Dogs California
Living in a car with pets is totally doable and I believe that dogs in cars have the BEST life. They spend most of their time outside, meeting other dogs, and sometimes getting a treat from your camp stove.
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That said, there are definitely some considerations to make sure your dog or other pet is as happy as you are. I also know people who live with cats, so if you are a cat person, know that you can bring your cat too.
Here are my top tips and tricks for car and dog life and car and pet life in general.
You may be surprised to know that some camps require vaccination records from people who bring dogs. It didn’t happen in the West, but it did happen in more than one camp in New York, where free camping was more restricted. So keep a copy on your phone or somewhere in the van so they are there. If you have a medical problem with your dog and need to travel, it is best to consult a veterinarian.
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You want your dog to be comfortable on those long drives. If they spend time on the floor, it is good to provide a pillow to sleep on. Get a dog mat, yoga mat, blanket, or even a Thermarest sleeping pillow. This foam pad is also great for colder backpacking trips when you want to isolate your doll from the ground. When we’re on the road, Charlie often hangs out on the dog bed between the two seats.
Charlie goes through a big bag of dog food every month. This means that the dog’s food supply must be replenished frequently along the way. It’s hard to keep food in a dog’s stomach forever, so you’ll want to make sure your dog’s food is available at a big box store or pet store so you can find it when you’re in town. Fortunately, stores like Petco and Petsmart carry great brands of dog food these days, and they are everywhere. If your dog is looking for something special that cannot be found in a big pet store, go to the dog food brand’s website and see if there is a way to find a warehouse in your current location.
Bathroom life can be difficult on a dog’s diet. Our dog Charlie does not like to eat while the van is moving, so it is important to give him time to eat his breakfast before driving away… otherwise his whole schedule for the day will be messed up. Every dog is different, but pay attention to their eating habits and try to stick to the regular ones so they don’t get hungry or eat lunch and go to the bathroom. We also like to give him a bottle of water at night. We found that this collapsible dog cup is great for riding and doesn’t leak even on rough roads.
Van life with dogs requires you to consider your dog when planning routes and schedules. As pet owners, we learn to prioritize where our pets are adopted. After a while, you will learn to plan your car’s ability to do the job with your dog. Maybe that means avoiding the hottest part of the summer or avoiding national parks and other public places that allow dogs to run.
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Check the dog rules first before looking for your epic spot. The last thing you want is to travel far to find where you’re going, like the Wizards in Washington or the Wasatch in Salt Lake City. This also applies to visiting National Parks, some of which are dog-friendly – check out my guide to dog-friendly National Parks. A little advanced research can save you a lot of headaches later.
If you’re looking for a place to take your dog, first check if it has a dog-friendly yard. If not, go out and find a picnic spot for both you and your dog to enjoy!
I’ll start by noting that Charlie is Ryan’s type 1 diabetes service dog, so we rarely leave him in the car…but share some tips about car life with dogs that touch the lives of many concerned people. important point.
You may ask if you can leave your dog in the car during dinner. What should be done when visiting a national park or walking where dogs are not allowed?
Dogs In Cars, Getting There Safely
Whether it’s okay to leave your dog in your car depends mainly on temperature and safety, as well as local laws that may prohibit keeping your dog in your car.
When it comes to temperature, if it’s too hot to be comfortable in the car, it’s too hot for your dog. Use common sense. Dogs can die in the car, they can die in the car, and you do not want to lose your best friend carelessly.
It takes a while to realize how hot your car gets after sitting in the sun for a while. Our car has two roof vents, one near the cowl and one above the bed. If we close the top and slide the window down next to our bed, we can get a nice breeze. We also insulated the curtains to keep the car cool even on hot days.
That being said, we are still very careful when we put our dog in the car and always evaluate. We also do not travel to the hottest places in the summer – you will not be caught in Arizona or southern Utah between June and mid-September. Charlie is usually easy to put in the car
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If it’s not too hot, for example we want to go out for dinner.
Do not leave your dog in your car all day unless you are going to drive through an area that is not pet friendly. If it’s hot enough, at best you’ll end up with an angry dog lover, and at worst it could be very dangerous for your dog.
No matter where you are, dog day care is almost always an option. There is also a rover where you can sit your dog for a day or two.
A few years ago Ryan and I backpacked Gavasupaya, which is not a good place to bring your dog when it comes to tribal dogs, and where the stairs go to Munei Falls. We found a great dog walk in Flagstaff with a great view and Charlie took a break while exploring Havasu Falls. It’s really good.
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An anxious dog is a bad dog. Charlie and I spent a long day on the road. Although we were in a hurry to get to our destination, Charlie preferred to exercise. Vacation homes are great because they usually have a lot of space or pets. You can also use BringFido.com to find a dog park in your current location. Bring something like a frisbee, ball, or other toys to run around outside the car (glow in the dark for nighttime parking), because this occasional little race will help keep your dog calm on a long drive.
Most established play areas require your dog to stay within 6 feet of you
