Carefully choosing car travel supplies can make road trips with your dog much more enjoyable – for both of you. Some helpful things to consider when choosing car travel supplies include a carrier or car restraint, leashes, ID tags, food and water bowls and carriers, blankets or towels, and toys. The specific supplies you need will depend on the details of your trip, but having a basic set of travel supplies can make trips with your dog easier.

The safest way for your dog to travel in the car is either in a carrier or in a dog car seat. When looking for a carrier, be sure it is large enough to comfortably fit your dog, with enough room for her to stand or lay, and turn around. Carriers should be attached to the seat or placed on the floor, in the back seat. If you opt not to keep your dog in a carrier while in the car, consider a dog safety seat. Dog car seats include models that boost a dog up to enable her to see out the window, folding seats that can be kept in the car, and hammock-style seat covers with safety harness attachments. Dog car seats keep your pet safely restrained. In the event of an accident, your dog will usually fare far better if restrained. Dog car seats also keep your dog from distracting you while you are driving, keeping everyone safer.

Always carry at least one leash with you when you travel; having a spare is always a good idea. When you return to the car with your dog after a “rest stop,” be sure he is in the car and secured in either his carrier or car seat before removing the leash. Stow the leash somewhere convenient for you to retrieve it before letting him out at the next stop. Make sure you keep some type of “poop bags” in an easily accessible spot in the car, to clean up after your dog at each stop.

When traveling, your dog should have two ID tags: one with your home address or contact info and one with your contact info at your destination. Many dog owners now opt to put their cell phone numbers on their dogs’ ID tags, rather than or in addition to a home number, to make an extra tag unnecessary. The important thing is that your dog can be easily returned to you if he gets away while you are traveling.

To minimize some of the stress while traveling with your pet, bring both food and water from home. Unfamiliar water in a new environment can lead to unnecessary additional stress for you pet. Since travel can be dehydrating to pets and humans alike, be sure to bring along plenty of fresh water for the trip itself. Either bring along your dog’s regular food and water bowls from home, or purchase collapsible bowls that make storage during travel easy. Always keep water and dry food in tightly closing containers to avoid spills and to keep dry food from becoming stale.

To help keep your dog comfortable and happy during the trip, you may want to bring along a favorite blanket or soft towel from home. Add a few new toys as well as old favorites when choosing car travel supplies, to give your dog some distractions along the way. And don’t forget to pack some treats, to reward her for her good behavior on the road.