Essential Gear for the Dog-Friendly Road Trip

by Kevin Roberts

Published: October 3rd, 2018

essential gear for the dog friendly road trip

Pet Parents often won’t leave their furbabies behind when embarking on a road trip. Make the trip as comfortable and safe as possible with our tips for essential gear.

Road trips happen all year long, and they should include our furry friends when possible. We have reviewed some options for hauling fuzz butts and the gear you need to get out and have a great time.

Crates

By far the safest option for crate trained dogs, is to secure them in crates in the back of the vehicle. The crates mean they have a designated spot in the car, but also a little piece of home once you arrive at your destination. When you open the door, a crate will hold your dog securely so they aren’t jumping out, until you are ready.

A downside of crates can be the lack of airflow. A metal wire crate gives air a better chance to flow, but it doesn’t contain the mess and isn’t as secure in an accident. More heavy duty crates will withstand a traffic accident better, but accommodations must be made to ensure there is proper ventilation, especially on hot days.

Crates take up a lot of room. Creative packers will utilize all the space around the side of the crate, and even on top. But again, don’t pack too tightly lest you limit the airflow.

Multiple dogs mean multiple crates, and that can quickly become an issue when trying to find space to secure all the crates in the car.

Gates

Those with a SUV can look into getting a barrier to secure pets in the cargo area. A barrier will keep the dogs from roaming about in the vehicle while you are driving, but still allow them plenty of room in the back to move around. Barriers allow for plenty of air flow as well, meaning your pet is going to get access to all that cool AC air. Plenty of air flow can also mean that small tornadoes of pet hair can fly about your car, but what’s a little (or a lot) of pet hair to a pet parent?

Pet barriers give the driver some peace of mind, allowing the dog to remain contained in one area, away from the gear and other passengers. With the dog safely secured behind the barrier, there’s lots of room on the back set for stashing gear or kids. Yet for those in the back seat, it is easy to reach through the bars of some barriers to offer a pet to a furry best friend.

As pet barriers are pressure mounted, there is a chance they will come loose especially if you have a large dog who likes to lean on things. Other times just driving over bumpy roads is enough to wiggle some of the components lose. If you use a pet gate, ensure that you are checking it regularly.

Pet barriers are not crash tested, so they offer limited safety in an accident. Ensure you have followed the installation instructions and check it routinely.

Hammock/Seat Covers

For back seat dogs, pet parents have the option between seat covers or hammocks. Seat covers are either sold specifically for a vehicle model or generic one size fits all. Both form a protective shield against slobber, dirt and hair. Keeping your dog on the seat and allows plenty of room for stashing your junk in the trunk.

Hammocks are available in a variety of materials, some of the best feature anti-slip and waterproof materials. Some include side flaps to protect the door from becoming scratched, and will allow you to create a space to store things on the backseat floor, away from the dog. Hammocks are great for keeping a dog from toppling to the floor, but won’t stop a dog from flying into the front seat in a sudden stop or accident.

Seat covers can be a better fit for a vehicle, and allow you easier access to the floor of the back seat. They fit snugly over a bucket or bench seat and are held in place with straps. Be sure to check the compatibility of the cover with your vehicle’s make and model. Not all seat covers are created equally and not all are created to withstand a pup’s nails. Your best bet it to use one of the many seat covers manufactured for pets.

If you use a hammock or a seat cover, it is recommended that you use a seatbelt for safely securing your dog.

Roof racks

Once you have everything sorted out inside the car, you might still find that you need a bit more room. Roof racks and cargo systems are a great option for hauling toys and gear. With roof racks, you usually get what you pay for. A higher tech, more secure roof rack is going to cost you more money, but less headache in the long run. Check the compatibility of the roof rack with your make and model of vehicle. Once you have the crossbars the options are endless. Specialty racks are made to carry canoes, kayaks, bikes and cargo boxes. Research carefully for what you plan to haul.

Kevin Roberts

Kevin Roberts lives for adventure. Together with his pack of rescue dogs and his husband, he spends as much time outdoors as possible. Kevin lives by the motto: "Get outside and play with your dogs!

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Whether you’re stumped for a name for your new dog or cat, or you’re just curious to know what people are naming their pets these days, Rover has some answers for you. The company released a list of the most popular pet names of 2023, and the 11th annual Top Pet Names Report also sheds light on the inspiration behind the names.Here are some of the interesting findings that Rover shared.

World’s Largest Cruise Ship Welcomes a Super Cute Dog as a Resident

“Icon of the Seas” might have been known as the largest cruise ship until this year, but now, everybody will know it as the ship with a permanent doggy resident – Rover, a cute Lab with (apparently) four sea legs!Ever since coming on board, Rover has been the focus of social media posts by the cruise ship’s crew members. Based on the posts, the adorable pooch boarded the ship while it was stationed in Ponce, Puerto Rico, just as it was about to finish its journey in Miami, Florida. And soon enough, Rover, who is a young  Labrador Retriever, became the ship’s very own mascot and likely everybody’s favorite resident.After all, Rover was so friendly and loveable that it took only one day for the crew to decide that he would become the permanent resident of the vessel – that takes some serious charm, ya know?“Meet Rover,” one Instagram post said, “the Resident Mascot of the Icon. He just came on board today. He’s a friendly Labrador who’s going to be the permanent resident of the World’s Largest Cruise Ship, Icon of the Seas.”The crew all quickly gathered around to ensure that Rover would be given the best possible care in his new role of “Chief Dog Officer”. Allison, one of the crew members is originally from Australia and has been a member of the crew for five years. She ensures that Rover receives plenty of treats and a ton of love. "As a crew member on Icon, Rover's job is to bring joy to her fellow crew and guests onboard. All the while, she gets to explore the Caribbean shores and beautiful ports," she said. Even though Rover had been on the ship for just a short time, he did not fail to capture everyone’s heart. He enjoyed walks on the “lido” deck and even visited the Captain in The Bridge - a privilege reserved only for the select few. And, in no time, many other crew members chimed in on social media welcoming the doggo onboard. "We are absolutely thrilled to introduce our newest team member, Rover, who has joined us as a permanent resident aboard the magnificent Icon of the Seas," said  @godwin_fernandes2000.So much so, that even Royal Caribbean, the company behind the Icon of the Seas, posted about Rover on their own official account! Now, Rover found his new forever home – in the unlikeliest of all places: a cruise ship. And if you want to follow the adventures of this sea-faring puppy, be sure to check out his Instagram account  @chiefdogrover where they’ll be documented!

How Can I Reduce My Dog's Environmental Pawprint?

In today’s day and age, with the climate and environment at great risk, we want to do anything we can to minimize our own carbon footprint and the damage we do to Mother Nature. Of course, our pets also have an environmental impact – and eco-conscious pet parents are always on the lookout for simple ways to reduce their pet’s carbon footprint (or pawprint if we’re being precise). Luckily, there are a lot of small but important steps that you can take in order to make your pet’s lifestyle and care much more eco-friendly without compromising the quality of life they are used to. Here's where to start if you want to become a more eco-friendly, sustainable dog owner!5 Ways You Can Reduce Your Dog's Environmental PawprintCaring for your pet can be challenging, and that’s no secret. However, the things that make it easier are not often very good for the environment, and can make your pet’s environmental pawprint significant. Luckily, it does not take too much of a change to turn that completely around and start improving that environmental impact, day by day. What follows are just a few of the basic steps you can take as a caring and responsible owner.#1 Be Responsible About Your Pet’s Waste Disposal:

Cat Chattering: What Is It and What Does It Mean?

Cats communicate with each other and their humans in a variety of ways through vocalizations and body language. While you may be able to figure out what your cat is saying when they meow or hiss, you might be at a loss for an explanation when you see them chatter for the first time, especially if you’ve never seen cats do this before.What does it mean when cats chatter? Check out the information below to learn all about it so you’ll be able to figure out what your kitty is thinking and feeling the next time you see them exhibit this odd behavior.What Is Chattering in Cats?Chattering usually happens when a kitty sees something that they want to get their paws on. Many times, they’ll be looking out the window when a prey animal, like a chipmunk or bird, comes into view. Or, if your kitty spends time in a catio or outdoor enclosure, they might start chattering when they see small wildlife. As soon as your cat sees their intended prey, they may be ready to go on the hunt, and might express this feeling by chattering.This behavior doesn’t only happen when your kitty sees wildlife, though. It can also happen when you’re using a toy to play with them. The movement of the toy can get them excited and ready to pounce on their “prey,” and they might chatter as a result.Once you know what cat chattering looks like, you’ll be able to recognize it right away. But if you’ve never seen it before, it can be described simply as your cat making quick movements with their jaw, showing their teeth while staring intently at their target. Sometimes, no sounds will come out, but other times, they’ll make chirping sounds or even little meows. Some people even describe chattering as “ekekek”.To see what it looks like, here’s a compilation of cats chattering:

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