7 TIPS to Keep Dogs HAPPY and HEALTHY on the Road

We’ve been very fortunate with our two dogs, Kyia and Stella. They’re easy going and they very much look forward to outdoor adventures. Best of all? The two of them love being on the road. Here’s a few tips to keep your furry family members happy and healthy when they’re traveling on the road with you.

#ad This post is sponsored by WHIMZEES®, but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.

1. Let their legs stretch during long drives. Just like us, dogs need to step out and stretch their legs after a long time of being stationary. They may look comfy laying in the back seat, or their bed, but like us, they need to get their blood flowing to bits that have been laid on, or sat on, for hours on end. Plus, letting them run around wherever you stop is a good reason for their bathroom break as well.

2. Yearly vet check-ups. We're as guilty as anyone else in this regard. Sometimes we forget to take them into their yearly check ups. Some of those times we remember the big bill at the end of a check up because something came up with either of them that needed addressing. But we’ve now corrected ourselves and gotten off our butts to take them every year --without question. It’s always good to know how your dog is doing, if any health changes happened in the year prior, and to keep them up to date with their vaccines. We make sure to treat them for fleas and ticks since they’re outside romping around in different environments on a fairly regular basis.

Another reason for the yearly check ups is to keep your dog’s paperwork up to date. Want to travel with them to a different country? Your dog’s paperwork would be in order. Though, depending on which border you’ll cross with them, it might require an additional visit just for travel & wellness documents.

3. Self-Service Doggy Spas. We normally don’t travel with any kind of shower system. On top of that, we also have two very, very curious dogs that absolutely love to roll in anything with a pungent smell. These two things together create, on occasion, some very, very stinky dogs. We’ve found the best remedy to this is keeping in mind knowing where self service dog spas are. These are the places that you pay a fee to use their dog washing facilities.

The other, much smarter, option is to bring a portable shower system and biodegradable doggy shampoo with you. We now carry a shower system and shampoo, but also keep a very keen eye on where nearby doggy spas are just in case incredibly stinky situations arise.

4. Dental Hygiene. On our last vet checkup with Stella, we were told we need to start brushing her daily due to build up on her teeth. Yes, brushed daily. To be transparent, some days, when we are on the road, or when we’re working from home, we forget to brush our own teeth, much less our dogs. The toothbrush is despised by them both so it’s been quite the experience for everyone. BUT, we continue the effort till it is comfortably part of their routine. We have noticed each time we brush Stella’s teeth, Kyia has become more and more curious about the toothbrush. We got one somewhat-welcoming toothbrush session in from Kyia.

This year Kyia, our Shiba Inu, had to under-go surgery to remove six teeth. We learned that 80% of adult dogs have dental disease. Periodontal Disease is caused by the buildup of plaque and tartar on the teeth, which can lead to gum infections, bone loss, loss of teeth and other terrible health problems. We were told by our vet that if Kyia did not under-go treatment, there would be an increase in the probability that internal organ damage could occur later in Kyia’s life. From that moment on, we knew we needed to take dental hygiene seriously --for Kyia’s and Stella’s sake.

5. Let them run free. We’re lucky that we have two dogs that listen and can go about their happy lives mostly leash free. But there’s a lot of places in the United States where dogs aren’t super welcome. National parks and state parks being some of those. Prior to our travels, we look up the rules to the area’s and trails we are visiting. Sometimes dogs are not allowed on trails, other times they may be allowed on paved trails only and most always they must be on a leash. Stella doesn’t mind this too much. Kyia, on the other hand, tolerates it.

We keep our visits to national and state parks short and sweet. If we spend too long visiting these places, we start to have some unhappy sassy dogs. We head straight to public land (if it’s close by) to camp, and to let the dogs have a little more freedom for a few days. During those days, they get their morning sun soaks in, their camp sniffs in, and afternoon naps under the shadow of our rig. They stick close to our area and we do not allow them to wander from our sight. Most often we have a long cable, especially if we hear wildlife or notice squirrels tempting their very nature. Training and trusting our dogs is key, but if I said I’m not a helicopter dog mom it would be a lie. At least keeping such a close eye on them makes it easy to pick up their poop and leave a clean campsite behind for the next person to enjoy. Free dogs and clean spaces make for some very happy dogs.

6. Kicking Anxiety. Playing with our dogs prior to a road trip, taking them on a solid walk before loading up in the car and giving Kyia some time to bask in the sun like a lizard. If we do all those things, anxiety during the drive will usually be at bay. With age, Kyia has become more anxious. What triggers it varies. A poop is a brewing. A bug hit our windshield or a branch skimmed the truck on a trail. A loud muffler back-fired while driving past us on the highway. Kyia is very much the protector of our home on wheels. When we start to see anxiety unfolding, we give her CBD or any other natural stress reducing remedy for dogs and do our best to comfort her back to a state of calm.

7. Treats, treats, treats! When in doubt, give them treats. Have they been good dogs during the drive? Let them know with a treat! Are they staying near camp when they’re leashless? Let them know with a treat!

Our dogs’ health is a priority in this family. There are many adventures and road trips ahead for our two very loved and appreciated ladies. The amount of joy they bring us at home, and on the road, is, well, priceless. Healthy dogs make for happy dogs.

—Karissa