It’s fun to travel with your furry best friend and can save money on boarding costs, but traveling with an anxious dog is not easy. There’s no ifs, ands, or buts about it. My dog Coco Chanel is a really chill dog most of the time, but gets very anxious while traveling. With each trip I’ve learned more about what she needs and how to help her through it so I thought I could share some of that today. Let’s take a peek inside her travel bag. Here’s my practical guide of travel essentials for anxious dogs to alleviate stress for you and your furry loved one while on the road.
What’s In Coco’s Travel Bag? – Travel Essentials For Anxious Dogs
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The bag (the best travel bag for dogs)
I’m so glad I got this bag and wish I got it sooner. This stylish bag makes traveling with a pet much easier because it has a lot of storage space inside and comes with useful extras to organize everything.
It came with the bag, two containers for storage, and two collapsible bowls. The front section opens out and lays flat to double as a feeding mat which is pretty convenient while you’re on the road.
The only downside for me was that the bowls it came with were cheap, thin plastic that Coco tore up quickly. I had my own collapsible bowls anyway and use them when we travel so it wasn’t a big deal, but something to be aware of if your dog likes to chew things.
I’ve had mine for 2 years and it’s still in great condition after many trips. At about $80 it was great value for money and I’d absolutely recommend it.
ThunderShirt
If you have an anxious dog then you’ve probably heard of the ThunderShirt. They’re spoken of with the same level of sacredness as the invention of electricity, the Sonic drive through, or Channing Tatum’s abs.
A lot of people say it is like an instant cure for their dog’s anxiety, where they go from anxious to calm as soon as the ThunderShirt is on. For Coco, it doesn’t fix her anxiety completely, however, there’s a huge and noticeable difference when she wears it.
She definitely calms down a whole lot so we always bring it when we travel and use it when she is most anxious.
Carrier
This carrier has been another valuable investment for traveling with an anxious dog.
I originally got it because it met all the requirements for traveling with her in the cabin for a flight I was taking.
However, over time it became much more useful than just a carrier for plane travel.
One big tip I have is to leave it out in the lounge room (or wherever your dog likes to hang out) with the door to it completely open and a t-shirt of yours or blanket they like inside. Let the dog explore it on their own and get familiar with it.
We did this before we used it as an actual carrier for the first time, and it made a huge difference. Now she views it as her safe place to sleep. We don’t have to struggle to get her into it, she will just walk in and lay down.
Plus, when we go to a new place she has something she knows is her place to hide in until she gets comfortable.
Aside from that, it’s great quality. Ours is a few years old, done many trips, and is still in great condition. It’s also very comfortable to wear when you are carrying your dog.
Treats
Treats are another little trick I have up my sleeve to help with Coco’s anxiety and she loves these. They help her anxiety because they are longer lasting chewy treats which keep her mind busy.
She loves being out adventuring, but gets quite stressed in the new ‘home’ of whatever accommodation we are staying in.
As soon as we get there, I give her a high value treat. It’s always something I know she will love and something she doesn’t get in everyday life. I want it to be something so good that she develops a positive association with the new environment.
Like the Thunder Jacket, it doesn’t completely fix everything. But, one thing I’ve learned about dealing with an anxious dog is that there’s not one fix. Instead, there’s a combination of tools and every little thing works together to help alleviate some of the stress.
Composure treats
Another thing I sometimes travel with are these Vetriscience composure treats.
These small treats are designed to calm your anxious pup without sedation for up to 4 hours. Even if you’re not traveling, they can be helpful for stressful times at home like thunderstorms or trips to the vet.
I found them helpful especially when used in combination with the other things mentioned in this post.
Blanket
Lastly, I always pack some of her favorite things so that she has familiar creature comforts to help alleviate anxiety.
The first of which is her favorite snuggly blanket. Coco is obsessed with blankets and would be shocked to learn that there are dogs in the world who sleep in dirt!
Like the high value treat, I leave it out in the accommodation we are staying in so that she has something she loves there to ease anxiety.
Exploring in Germany
Favorite toy
The other creature comfort I always pack is at least one of her favorite toys. Usually Mr Squirrel likes to go on vacation with her, but I keep an eye on whatever she is obsessed with at the time.
Between this, the blanket, and her carrier, she has a lot of things she loves from home to help her adjust.
A lick mat soother like this one could also be an option for a treat toy to keep your dog’s mind occupied.
Food
Of course, Coco’s travel bag always has food in it.
We travel with her food because if you completely change a dog’s diet overnight it can cause digestive issues. I don’t know about you but I don’t want to be dealing with a sick dog or messy poop while traveling.
I usually just take a gallon zip lock bag with her normal dry food and store it in one of the containers in the travel bag I mentioned.
The carrier doubles up as a safe place to rest while out and about – in this case, stopping for a picnic in Charleston, SC.
Water bottle
I always keep a water bottle in Coco’s travel bag so she can stay hydrated when we are out and about exploring.
Mine is like this one and has a scoop attached to use as a bowl which I really like because it streamlines the process. I don’t need to also set up a bowl, she can drink quickly from her water bottle. It’s been very convenient for travel days, road trips, and outings.
I also travel with collapsible bowls and save those for the accommodation. Then I use the water bottle when we are out and about.
Other guides you might enjoy:
Travel Diary Ideas – 21 Thoughtful Prompts For Your Travel Journal
Tips For Flying With A Dog In Cabin For A Stress Free Journey
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