Travelling with a Puppy: 7 Essentials for a Safe Trip

Serena Faber Nelson Founder & Pet Lifestyle Writer

Pet lifestyle expert Serena Faber-Nelson is the founder of Pretty Fluffy. A contributor to Everyday with Rachael Ray, Modern Dog Magazine, Cesars Way and more; her modern, stylized take on DIY dog treats has seen her recipes viewed millions of times over.

Serena is the author of the go-to dog mom bible, Dog Mama, and the popular dog treat recipe book, Healthy Homemade Dog Treats.

Whether you’re bringing your pupper home for the first time, or you’re just popping out to puppy preschool, it’s good to remember these trips are their first experience of a car. Ever. So you want to make it a good one.

When we recently brought our new puppy, Butters, home we had a 2 day car journey ahead of us…so the pressure was on to make our car his home away from home.

With these 7 handy essentials, we had the perfect trip!

Grab them for yourself and set your doggo up for sweet, sweet rides for years to come.

Car Seat Hammock

First up, you’ll want to get a waterproof pet car seat cover. There are so many to choose from these days it’s insane.

When deciding, it’s important to create a environment your new puppy will be comfortable in for their first car trip. The need to be able to sit, turn around and sleep in this space – and be free from falling or rolling around too much.

For our puppy, we chose to use a half hammock car seat cover that easily attached to the front and back seats, forming a little den for our new pup. (It also protected our car upholstery in case of any accidents!) I found this option was just as safe as a crate, but more comfortable and allowed easier interaction between us and our new puppy during the trip.

What I love about these hammock styles is they are super easy to use (you simply slide them over the head rests and voila!), they prevent your puppy falling down the foothold gaps, but are low enough for him to poke his head out and see you.

By adding a comfy bed inside, our new puppy had a secure, safe space to call his own for the car trip home.

With zippered sides and a velcro opening for the seat belt attachment it made access easy and super safe the entire time. I would recommend a car seat hammock to every person traveling with a puppy.

Car Harness & Seat Belt Attachment

Well this one’s a no brainer. Gone are the days where Fido could roam about the cabin…and while photos of puppies asleep on the console look adorable, they’re actually a dangerous projectile waiting to happen.

A soft chest plate harness kept our puppy comfortable, and attached to a seat belt attachment which locked into our seat belt lock – allowing our puppy to move about within reason while still being secure in an accident.

A harness is always preferable over a collar as it puts less strain on the neck and joints in the case of sudden jolts and crashes. So click, clack front and back and keep your new puppy safe.

Snack Duo Bottle with Travel Bowl

This little gem kept our dog fed, watered and on the road with absolutely no worries.

The design is simple and genius at the same time – with the Snack Duo one half keeps treats and/or food, while the other holds fresh water.

With a handy pop up bowl clipped on, your new puppy always has somewhere to eat and drink with no spills or fuss.

I particularly found this bottle was better than previous dog travel water bottles I’d used in the past. There were no spills, no drips and the bowl popped back to it’s flat shape with minimal effort.

It’s now a staple for long and short car rides – and the perfect accessory for weekend cafe trips!

Lead

While this sounds like the most obvious item, many people do forget to bring leads with them when taking their dog in the car. Maybe it’s something in our brain that says we’re not walking so we don’t need a lead?

Whatever it is – don’t forget a lead to keep your new puppy secure when getting out of the car.

While we found we were carrying our new puppy most of the time, a lead kept him safe when he was eating and toileting during designated stops.

Towel & Wet Wipes

Whether it’s muddy paws, travel sickness, or puppy toilet accidents…these things will come in handy at some point!

My current faves are the Well & Good Puppy Grooming Wipes for all our puppy messes.

Waste Bags

Picking after your dog is a fact of life, and there’s no better time to start than when they’re a puppy.

Having waste bags on hand at all times when travelling is a must.

First Aid Kit

Last but most certainly not least, a First Aid Kit gives you peace of mind, that even if you’re stuck on a freeway you have the tools you need to help your pup with minor or major injuries.

Whether you make your own dog first aid kit or purchase a pre-made one, they could very well just save your puppy’s life.

Shop the post >

Hammock Car Seat Cover $54.95

Snack Duo Bottle & Bowl $39.95

Well & Good Puppy Wipes $12.99

EzyDog Chest Plate Harness $39.95

Click Adjustable Car Restraint $23.95

Pet First Aid Kit $69.95