Whether you’re planning a road trip to visit family and friends, explore back roads or go camping with your dog, the idea of an adventure on the open road is exciting not just for you but your furry friend too. As fun as this may sound, the reality of having your dog in the car can be quite different, with the constant coating of dog hair and muddy paws on your seats and roaming around on the floors and rolling the windows down.
To ensure a safe and sound road trip with your furry friend, you’ll need a handful of dog car accessories. Cars aren’t typically designed with canines in mind, so dog accessories for car exists to keep both of you safe and comfortable during the drive.
Dog Car Seat Cover
Having to clean the back seat of your car probably isn’t part of your perfect trip plan with your dog. To keep your car clean as well as to make sure your dog is kept safe while riding in it, one of the dog car accessories you’ll want to invest in is a dog car seat cover. These covers are designed with different layers to keep the seat of your car clean even if your dog is wet and can also be easily cleaned with a damp cloth or vacuum.
Dog car seat covers are easy to be installed and removed. They feature four headrest anchors and two seat anchors and the bottom of the cover is generally non-slip to prevent your dog from sliding around in the back seat.
Dog Car Seat Belt
Your dog is like a family member, so there is no reason why he should have less access to safety equipment than other car passengers. This makes a car seat belt a must-have car accessory to keep your dog safely secured while sitting on the back seat of your car. Simple in design, a dog car seat belt works by clipping in one end to the red seat belt buckle while the other end clips to the back of your dog’s harness. It should never be connected to your dog’s collar as the instance of severe braking or car crashing could choke your dog.
Dog Car Booster Seat
Do you want your small dog to be able to look out of the window and get a view of the road? If so, a booster seat can help you with that. Dog car booster seats allow you to elevate your dog to window height so he can see outside.
Dog car booster seats are strapped to the headrest of a car. They generally come with a safety tether and can be connected to a car seat belt to keep the pet in place. A quilted pad liner ensures an extra-plush feeling. Liners are often removable and can be washed so that the inside of the booster stays always clean. If your dog is a puppy, you may want to put a puppy diaper on him while travelling to ensure the booster stay clean and dry.
Back Seat Dog Bed
Get your dog a back seat dog bed to provide him with the most luxurious experience while riding in the car. Similar to a traditional dog bed, the back seat dog beg differs in the fact that it usually has a dog seat belt attached to the side or backrest to secure your dog. It’s secured into the care pretty much like a child booster seat.
Dog Travel Wipes
If your dog gets dirty while travelling, it’ll be more difficult than usual to find a place for a bath. That is where dog travel wipes come into play. With dog travel wipes at hand, you will be able to clean, moisturize and condition your dog’s fur and skin, so they’re clean and tidy for travelling. Loof for wipes containing natural ingredients and preferable 100% biodegradable. To protect your dog’s fur and skin, the wipes should be free of lanolin, paraben, and synthetic detergents sodium lauryl sulphate.
Car Window Sunshades
When temperatures get extreme outside, the interior of the car can heat up to uncomfortable levels – even with the AC on full blast. Sunshades are great at helping minimise the greenhouse effect inside the car by blocking the heat out. Keep in mind that these shades won’t help when the car is parked, which means the temperatures can skyrocket inside within minutes. So never leave your dog in the car, even with the windows down and even for just a few minutes.
Extra Tips for Road Trips With Dogs
To ensure your road trip with our dog is a success, aside from the dog car travel accessories listed above, you’ll also need regular breaks from the road. Stopping every few hours to get out, move around, and use the bathroom is a must.
If this is the first time travelling with your dog, he may also experience some car sickness. For dogs that are prone to nausea, things like holding food for a few hours prior to travelling and letting the dog see out the window can help. Also, open the window (not so low that your dog can thrust his head into the wind) for extra airflow.
Before embarking on a trip you’ll also make sure your dog is up-to-date with his vaccines and parasite control. For any concerns, consult your veterinarian. He/she can also provide you with anti-nausea medication if your dog frequently experiences motion sickness.