Travel can be stressful for you and your pup, so we’re here to ease your dog’s travel stress with five tips for keeping your dog calm while you travel.
Key Takeaways
- Prepare your dog for travel by gradually introducing them to the car or carrier before a long trip.
- Pack familiar food, water, treats, mental stimulation puzzles, and comfort items to help maintain your dog’s routine while traveling.
- Plan potty and water breaks every 1–3 hours to help your dog stay comfortable during long trips.
Get your dog used to the car or their carrier in advance
Your dog will be most comfortable if their first time in the car or a carrier isn’t on their first long trip! Several weeks ahead of time, make the car or the carrier a comfortable and relaxing place for your dog by introducing them to the area with lots of tasty treats and familiar smells, like a t-shirt or a blanket that smells like you. Make sure to reward behaviors you want them to continue, like laying down and relaxing! Keep it short at first with lots of positive reinforcement, and increase the time they spend in the car or the carrier over several days.
Pack food, treats, water, etc. in dedicated bags and containers
Keep your pup’s items in their own bags or containers, so they’re easier to locate during your trip! You can prep each meal in its own baggie or airtight container to make mealtime simpler, or you can transfer the amount of food you’ll need into a larger container for easy access. Collapsible bowls for water and food take up less space and can be put away after each stop. And don’t forget to pack water from your home or bottled water to keep your dog’s tummy happy and healthy on the road!
Make frequent stops for potty breaks
When dogs are stressed, they may need to use the bathroom more frequently. You know your dog’s needs best, so plan to stop every 1-3 hours to allow your dog to relieve themselves! Of course, be sure to pack waste bags and clean up after your dog at rest stops.
Keep your dog entertained with puzzle toys or chews
Many dogs would rather play than sleep on trips, so pack your dog’s favorite treats in a puzzle toy they can easily work on while traveling. Frozen Kong toys with peanut butter or Greek yogurt keep lots of dogs entertained for hours! Natural chews like bully sticks, split antlers, water buffalo or goat horns, and beef femurs are a great option for heavy chewers as well. Puzzle toys and chews give dogs the mental stimulation they need to stay relaxed!
Consider a calming supplement to keep your dog comfortable
Some pets may do best during travel with a bit of help from a calming supplement. Nulo’s new calming soft chew supplements contain a variety of natural ingredients like hemp seed oil, chamomile, ashwagandha, L-tryptophan, and L-theanine to help calm your canine! Give your dog the recommended amount of chews for their size 30 minutes to an hour before travel, and your dog should stay stress-free during your trip.
faqs for easing travel stress
Tips For Your Dog's Travel Stress
Plan to stop every one to three hours as a general guideline. Travel can be unsettling for dogs, and when they're unsettled they often need bathroom breaks more frequently than usual. You know your dog's normal patterns best, so use that as your baseline and plan for more frequent stops rather than fewer. Puppies, senior dogs, and dogs with smaller bladders will likely need the shorter end of that range. Each stop is also a good opportunity to offer water and let your dog stretch, move around, and reset before getting back in the car. Bring waste bags, keep your dog on leash at rest stops, and take a few minutes to let them decompress before loading back up. Consistent, predictable stops help establish a rhythm that many dogs settle into over the course of a longer trip.
Start with the basics: food pre-portioned into individual bags or an airtight container for easy access, water from home or bottled water (sudden changes in water source can cause digestive upset), collapsible bowls, and waste bags. Bring your dog's regular food rather than switching to something new on the road, since travel already disrupts routine enough. A familiar blanket, a worn t-shirt, or a beloved toy adds a layer of comfort by keeping familiar scents close. A properly fitted harness or secured crate keeps your dog safe during car travel. For air travel, confirm your carrier meets airline size requirements well in advance and label it with your contact information. High-value treats are useful for positive reinforcement during new situations. If your dog benefits from calming support during travel, Nulo Calming Chews contain hemp seed oil, chamomile, ashwagandha, L-tryptophan, and L-theanine, and are best given 30 minutes to an hour before departure.
The most effective options are ones that require sustained mental engagement. Puzzle toys stuffed with high-value fillings like xylitol-free peanut butter, plain Greek yogurt, or a Nulo treat keep dogs occupied and mentally focused. Freezing the toy before the trip extends how long it takes to work through, which is especially useful on longer drives. For heavy chewers, natural chews like bully sticks, split antlers, water buffalo horns, or beef femurs provide long-lasting engagement and are a better option than toys that get solved quickly. The key is choosing something your dog already enjoys and has experience with, since introducing a brand-new toy or chew during travel is hit or miss. Pack a couple of options and rotate them across stops to keep things fresh.
For many dogs, yes. Natural calming supplements can be a useful tool when travel disrupts a dog's normal routine and makes them less settled. Nulo Calming Chews are formulated with a blend of natural ingredients including organic hemp seed oil, chamomile, ashwagandha, L-tryptophan, and L-theanine, all of which have recognized roles in supporting a calm, settled state. Give the recommended amount for your dog's weight 30 minutes to an hour before travel to allow time for the ingredients to absorb. Supplements work best as part of a broader approach that also includes crate or carrier conditioning ahead of time, familiar comfort items, regular stops, and mental enrichment during the trip. For dogs who are significantly unsettled by travel, a conversation with your veterinarian before the trip is a worthwhile step.
Dogs communicate discomfort through behavior and body language before it escalates, so knowing what to watch for helps you respond early. Common signs include excessive panting or drooling beyond what the temperature explains, yawning repeatedly, lip licking, restlessness or an inability to settle, pacing, whining, excessive shedding, or a sudden need for more frequent bathroom breaks. Some dogs become very still and tense, while others become more vocal or clingy. Loss of appetite during or after a trip can also be a signal that the experience was harder on them than it appeared. If you notice any of these signs, a stop, a short walk, fresh water, and a few minutes outside the car can help your dog reset. Building up your dog's tolerance to car travel gradually before a big trip makes the experience easier on both of you.