Dog Car Travel Checklist
This is the free checklist we email to subscribers — kept on this page too, so you can bookmark it or print it before a trip. Work through it top to bottom and the car, the dog and the driver are all ready.
Pack the Night Before
- ☐ Water and a travel bowl — more than you think you need
- ☐ Food and treats for the trip, measured out
- ☐ Leash and a spare — one lives in the car permanently
- ☐ Waste bags
- ☐ An old towel and a blanket your dog already knows the smell of
- ☐ Any medication your dog takes, in its original container
- ☐ Your vet’s phone number saved in your phone
- ☐ Collar with ID tags on the dog before you leave the house
Set the Car Up
- ☐ Seat cover, hammock or cargo liner fitted and strapped down
- ☐ Harness on the dog; tether clipped to the harness, never the collar
- ☐ Booster seat secured with the seat belt or headrest straps (small dogs)
- ☐ Ramp or steps in the cargo area for senior or heavy dogs
- ☐ Loose items in the cabin secured — anything loose becomes a projectile in a hard stop
- ☐ Rear child locks on if your dog can reach a door handle or window switch
On the Road
- ☐ Stop every couple of hours for water, a toilet break and a short walk
- ☐ Offer water at every stop, whether the dog seems thirsty or not
- ☐ Windows up or barely cracked — a dog’s head out of a fast-moving car risks eye and ear injuries
- ☐ Never leave your dog unattended in the car, on any day, in any weather
When You Arrive
- ☐ Leash on before any door opens
- ☐ Shake out the cover and wipe it down — two minutes now beats a deep clean later
- ☐ Check paws for cuts, burrs or hot-pavement soreness
- ☐ Restock the car kit (bags, water, towel) while you are thinking about it
New to dog car gear? Start with the seat cover buying guide — it explains the cover types this checklist assumes, and which one suits your dog.