My听dogs, Hitch and Porter, represent two extremes when it comes to traveling with pets. Porter, a rescued Lab-boxer mix who鈥檚 afraid of his own shadow, is an absolute joy in the car. He curls up quietly in the back seat, doesn鈥檛 make a peep, and occasionally rests his head on my听shoulder or balances on the center console to get a look out the windshield. Hitch, an 11-year-old Lab-pointer mix with the disposition of a toddler who loves everyone just a bit too much, is a terrible road-tripper鈥攈e barks incessantly every time he gets in the car. It got听so bad that our vet recommended a mild听sedative for long rides. To our great听misfortune, we found out on a 14-hour trip that it only revved him up more. Miraculously, my marriage survived that drive. A few months later, I bought a truck, in part听so that听Hitch could ride in the camper-shell-covered bed and bark to his heart鈥檚 content, far away from our ears.
Over the years, we鈥檝e taken a lot of road trips with our pups and tried out a lot of dog gear. While I鈥檇 argue that buying a pickup was the best thing I ever did for my dogs, because they get to go more places and I don鈥檛 have to worry about them tearing up the back seat, there are a few other things I鈥檝e used over the years that keep us all鈥攖wo- and four-legged creatures alike鈥攈appy.
Orvis Dog Weekender Travel Kit听($89)
Keep your pup鈥檚 food fresh, dry, and organized with . It comes with an airtight nylon-canvas carrying case that holds a four-to-five-pound food bag and two bowls, more than enough for a long weekend. The interior lining is BPA-free and easy to clean, and exterior pockets keep accessories like leashes organized.
Lazaga Ultrasonic Bark Controller听($25)
I never thought I鈥檇 be able to ride in a vehicle with Hitch again, but made it possible. This tiny box attaches to your dog鈥檚 collar听and emits an ultrasonic frequency when they听bark that humans can鈥檛 hear, but听annoys the dog enough to get him to stop. It鈥檚 harmless听but very effective.
Ruffwear Pack Out Bag听($35)
I am not a fan of leaving bagged dog poop on the side of a trail to pick up when you return鈥擨鈥檇 love to see the numbers on how much of it actually reaches the dumpster. solves the problem by making carrying your dog鈥檚 poo听on the trail easy and hands-free. Its waterproof nylon lining keeps a full bag from smelling, and the low-profile design fits comfortably against your waist.
Nemo Helio LX Shower听($150)
Rubber floor mats can help keep your car clean during an adventure, but if you鈥檙e on a long or particularly muddy mission, you鈥攁nd your pet鈥攁re going to need a bath. Unlike other portable gravity showers that need to be hung up and provide minimal pressure, Nemo鈥檚 lightweight construction听rests听on the ground and is pressurized by a foot pump; a few stomps give听you a seven-to-ten-minute full-power rinse. The听 won鈥檛 leak, and the setup doubles as a great tool for rinsing gear and dishes.
Nite Ize SpotLit LED Carabiner Light听($9.50)
are indispensable for camping. They鈥檙e not much bigger than a dog tag听but put out enough light to keep track of your pup in the dark from dozens of feet away. Like a headlamp, you can set it to flash or glow, and it lasts up to 20 hours before you need to change the batteries.
Carhartt Chore Coat听($40)
The quilted nylon lining in helps dogs stay warm on chilly nights, and its听duck canvas outer has a water-resistant coating that keeps them dry if things get wet and windy. Most important, this workwear-inspired chore coat will make your furry friend look way more stylish than all the other dogs at the campground.
Ruffwear Highlands Sleeping Bag听($100)
Dog beds are too big and bulky to travel with, but weighs just over a pound and packs down into a 12-by-7-inch stuffsack. Your pet can lay on top of it in the car听and curl up inside it on cold nights.
Whistle Go GPS Tracker听($100)
is waterproof up to three feet deep听and features real-time GPS location tracking via AT&T鈥檚 cellular network and Google Maps. Aside from offering great peace of mind when on the road with your pet, it can be programmed to track vet appointments and medication听as well as monitor scratching, sleeping, and licking.
Yeti Boomer 8 Dog Bowl听($50)
Don鈥檛 bother with flimsy, collapsible, or fabric dog bowls; they won鈥檛 stand up to听long-term abuse and will eventually leak. Like all things Yeti, is built to last. It holds up to eight cups of food or water, and the double-walled, non-insulated stainless-steel construction ensures it will hold up to tough trips (and the dishwasher) for years to come.