What I pack when traveling with my dog

I love making lists. When I plan for a trip, I am already in vacation modus. What I pack for my dog is different for each trip. I have some essentials, and then I look at the activities and weather.

Staying in a house

In May 2022, we went with some friends for a weekend to the Ardennes. This is a place in Belgium in the French region with lots of woods. We rented a chalet with a barrel sauna in the middle of the wood of Viroinval. The only activity booked for that weekend was hiking, eating, good wine and board games. The perfect combination to unwind a little bit.

Our dog sleeps in a crate. And she really likes it and finds her peace in this cozy space. So when we don't travel around, we take her crate with us. she also has a blanket that we carry with us and a travel pillow of the brand 51 degrees north that is waterproof.

For the dog food, I weigh it and always take one additional meal with us. Sloebie likes to chew, so I take one big bone with us and a few chicken warp bones. Because she is only eight months old, I need many reward snacks for training on the road.

Most of Sloebie's materials are from R uffwear. It was a little bit expensive, but it is very durable. Her harness is a front range. If it ever broke, I would buy a webmaster harness. It's a lot safer because the dog can't get out of the harness if she gets scared. With a front range, this is a possibility that did we learn on this trip when we tried to cross over a bridge. Sloebie did go over numerous bridges, but this one, she didn't want to.

We use a roll leash for our walks or let her free. Because we enjoy some drinks after a long walk, I also take a short leash. This way, it's easier to navigate through the café. I have recently bought the Ruffwear trail runner water bowl. It is very compact, and the unfolded size is perfect for my dog. I take a little store-bought plastic bottle of water with me and refill it every time. She will have her own backpack when she is older, but we will carry her stuff for now. At last, we also pack some toys for her.

Going camping

When camping, we wouldn't take her crate but a ground hook. She is still a pup, and we can't trust her (yet) that she will stay when people and dogs pass by.

And that is actually the only difference between staying at a house.

Climate and activities

We like to hike and spend time on or near the water. Therefore we bought a life jacket for our dog. Next summer, we will go to Sweden with Sloebie for a canoe trip. Also, we have shoes when we hike on a rough path or it is too hot for her paws. Of course, we don't walk with her when it's too hot, but we have a cooling vest when the temperature goes up. As said before, we buy a lot of Ruffwear.

Travelling with a young dog is sometimes a challenge. But it is fun, brings you closer to other people, and as a couple having her to care for brings us even closer than we were before. Of course, in time, she will learn more and be an even better travelling companion. But, for now, we enjoy every moment with her and feel very proud of every new thing that she learns.

In the fun, chaotic mess, I like to keep everything in order as much as possible. Here you will find my packing list when I travel with our dog.

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