Road Trips and Staycations: Tips for Travelling with Your Dog This Summer
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Time to read 7 min
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June is here, and the UK staycation season is properly underway. The boot is packed, the dog friendly cottage is booked, and the excitement is building. But if your dog gets wobbly in the car or needs time to feel safe in a new place, going on holiday can feel more stressful than exciting.
The good news? A bit of planning makes a huge difference. With the right approach, your dog can go from anxious passenger to full holiday mode. Here are our best dog travel anxiety tips, from the car journey right through to the cottage door.
Car Sickness or Anxiety? It Is Worth Knowing the Difference
If your dog always seems to struggle in the car, it helps to work out what is actually going on. Car sickness and travel anxiety look very similar. But they call for slightly different fixes.
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Physical motion sickness
Physical motion sickness happens when a dog's inner ear cannot keep up with the movement of the car. It is most common in puppies and younger dogs. Many grow out of it over time, with positive car experiences helping a lot. Signs include drooling, yawning, licking their lips, and being sick. -
Travel Anxiety
Anxiety in the car looks almost the same, but comes from a different place. If your dog has had a scary journey in the past, or simply finds car travel too much to cope with, stress alone can make them feel sick. You might also notice trembling, whining, heavy panting, or a dog who cannot sit still.
Knowing which one you are dealing with helps you find the right dog car sickness remedy. Dogs who are prone to physical car sickness can improve a lot with short practice runs and keeping car trips positive. Anxious dogs need help with the emotional side of things too.
A few simple things help in either case.
- Keep the car cool with fresh air coming in.
- Do not give your dog a big meal just before you travel.
- Take regular breaks on longer journeys so your dog can walk about and have a drink.
If you want to give your dog some extra support, our Peaceful Pooch Calming Chews are a great addition to the kit. Start them a few days before your trip, not on the day itself. This gives the calming ingredients time to work. Your dog will already feel calmer before you have even loaded the boot.
If travel stress is part of a bigger picture for your dog, take a look at our guide to managing hyperactivity and stress alongside this one.
"Your dog will already feel calmer before you have even loaded the boot."
Creating a Home Away From Home
Dogs love routine. A brand new place, with different smells and sounds, can make even a relaxed dog feel unsettled. The best thing you can do is bring a little piece of home with you.
Here is what to pack:
- Their bed or a blanket they sleep on every night. This is the most important item on the list. Your dog's bedding smells like home. That smell is really comforting in a new place. Do not wash it before you travel. Scruffier and smellier is better.
- Their usual bowls. Keeping mealtimes feeling normal helps more than you might think. Same bowl, same food, same timing, even if the kitchen looks completely different.
- A favourite toy. Something they know and love from home gives them something safe to turn to when everything else feels new.
- Something that smells of you. A worn jumper or t-shirt tucked into their bed can be really soothing, especially for dogs who are closely bonded to their owner.
On top of what you pack, try to keep your dog's daily routine as close to normal as you can. Morning walks at the same time. Meals at the same time. The same wind down routine before bed. Routine is one of the most powerful tools for settling a dog in a new place.
The Arrival Strategy: Why the First Hour Matters
How you handle that first hour in the cottage can shape how your dog feels about the whole holiday. So it is worth slowing right down when you arrive.
Do not let your dog run free through every room straight away. Too much space too quickly can feel just as overwhelming as too little. Bring them in on the lead and let them sniff their way around at their own pace. Give them time to take it all in before you expect them to relax.
Setting Up Their Space
Set up their sleeping area as the very first thing you do. Get the bed down and the blanket in place before anything else. If your dog uses a crate at home and loves it, get it up straight away too. A familiar crate in a strange room can act as a real safe spot. It gives them somewhere that feels like theirs in the middle of all the newness.
The First Day
For that first day, try to stay close rather than heading straight out. Separation anxiety can flare up badly in a new place, even in dogs who are perfectly settled when left at home. If you do need to pop out, keep it short at first and build up from there.
Keep a close eye on your dog's body language as they settle in. Yawning, licking their lips, a low posture, and turning away are all signs that they are feeling anxious. Give them space, keep things calm, and let them come to you rather than crowding them.
Before you try to settle them indoors, take your dog for a good sniff around the garden or the area nearby on a long line. This helps them take in the new environment. It also lets them use up some of that nervous energy before they have to sit still inside.
Off You Go, Then
Holidays with dogs are honestly some of the best. Watching your dog find a new beach, bound through a woodland they have never explored, or sigh happily on someone else's sofa: it makes all the effort completely worth it.
Give yourself the best chance of a smooth staycation with your dog by planning ahead. Start your Peaceful Pooch Calming Chews a few days before you leave. Pack everything that smells like home. Take the arrival slow. Your dog will get there.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I stop my dog being sick in the car?
First, work out whether your dog is physically car sick or anxious. Both look similar but need different approaches. Keep the car cool with fresh air coming in and avoid a big meal before you set off. For physical car sickness, short practice runs help a lot. If anxiety is behind it, a calming supplement can make a real difference. Our Peaceful Pooch Calming Chews are a great option. Start them a few days before the journey, not on the day itself, for the best results.
How long does it take for a dog to settle in a new place?
It varies a lot from dog to dog. Some settle within a few hours. Others need a couple of days. Bringing familiar items like their bed, bowls, and a favourite toy speeds the process up. Keeping their routine the same on holiday and staying close on that first day also helps a lot.
Should I give my dog something to calm them before a long journey?
If your dog finds car travel or new places stressful, a calming supplement can help. Our Peaceful Pooch Calming Chews are a good option for dogs who need a bit of extra support. Start them a few days before you travel rather than on the day itself. This gives the ingredients time to build up so your dog gets the full benefit.
Can I leave my dog alone in a holiday cottage?
Yes, but take it slowly at first. A new place can trigger separation anxiety even in dogs who are usually fine at home. Keep your first absences short. Build up the time gradually over a few days as your dog gets used to the new space. Make sure their bed and familiar things are in place before you head out.
What should I pack for my dog on a UK staycation?
The most important things are their bed or a blanket they sleep on every night (do not wash it before you go), their usual food and bowls, a favourite toy, and something that smells of you. These familiar items help your dog feel at home much more quickly.
How do I know if my dog has travel anxiety?
Signs of travel anxiety include trembling, whining, heavy panting, and not being able to settle in the car. Some dogs also drool, yawn a lot, or lick their lips repeatedly. Nausea and vomiting can happen too. If your dog shows these signs on a regular basis, anxiety is likely playing a part alongside, or instead of, physical car sickness.
Helena Lawrence
Helena leads marketing & e-commerce at Buddy & Lola, making sure dog owners can find exactly what their pet needs as easily as possible. She's passionate about spreading the word on healthy dog digestion and getting the right products in front of the right people.
