# Road Trip Safety Tips To Keep Your Dog Safe and Happy *By James Hills, mantripping.com — Updated August 2020* Road trips can be an amazing experience for both you and your dog. However, if not done properly it can be a dangerous and uncomfortable environment causing man's best friend to be an uncontrollable beast or worse. Before she passed away, I traveled a bunch with Niki. She was an awesome road trip companion. and so it's really important to make sure that she's safe when we do. Ultimately most of this is the same as making sure your human children are safe in the car but here are some things to consider ... ## Pet Restraints: While most people don't do more than simply putting their dog in the back seat (or even the front), there are some cool products out there that you should check out to keep them safer. For instance, you wouldn't want your kids sliding around in the back without a seatbelt ... so why do you let your dog to that? ## Heat Concerns: While it may be comfortable outside the car, the windows create a greenhouse effect inside. Because of this, a "comfortable" 80 degrees could rapidly get to 90 or even 100+. That could potentially be deadly depending on how long your dog is left in the car. ## Bathroom and Walking Breaks: Just like you need to stop and stretch your legs and use the bathroom ... so does your dog. The general rule of thumb when I travel is to make sure that when you stop ... you take care of the dog too. Even if you have an iron bladder though, make sure to stop every 2-3 hours to let them do their thing.  ## Plenty of Food and Water: Your dog needs plenty of food and especially water as well. Depending on your dog's constitution they may even need extra water since they might be nervous. Painting leads to dehydration so make sure they not only have water ... but a non-moving time to drink. ## Be Sure to Give Lots of Love: This part should be easy - don't just leave your pet in the back seat ... make sure to give him or her lots of love.  Details Written by: James Hills Published: 27 October 2018 Last Updated: 30 August 2020 #### Jowissa LeWy 9 Review: Swiss Chronograph Elegance That Earns Its Place on Your Wrist Mar 31, 2026 [Jowissa LeWy 9 Review: Swiss Chronograph Elegance That Earns Its Place on Your Wrist](https://www.mantripping.com/stuff/jowissa-lewy-9-swiss-chronograph-review.html) #### This Step2 Raised Planter Box Is My Herb Growing Secret for Grilling Season Mar 28, 2026 [This Step2 Raised Planter Box Is My Herb Growing Secret for Grilling Season](https://www.mantripping.com/stuff/step2-raised-planter-box-review.html) #### Kenmore AquaLite Wet Dry Vac Review: I've Been Using It Weekly and It's Replaced My Mop Mar 26, 2026 [Kenmore AquaLite Wet Dry Vac Review: I've Been Using It Weekly and It's Replaced My Mop](https://www.mantripping.com/stuff/kenmore-aqualite-wet-dry-vac-review-ive-been-using-it-weekly-and-its-replaced-my-mop.html) ### Related Articles #### Five Tech-Forward Ways to Kill Time on a Road Trip [Five Tech-Forward Ways to Kill Time on a Road Trip](https://www.mantripping.com/stuff/tech-forward-ways-to-kill-time-on-a-road-trip.html) #### The UnWipe Founder Jim Kaslik on Why Flushable Wipes Are the Travel Problem Nobody Talks About [The UnWipe Founder Jim Kaslik on Why Flushable Wipes Are the Travel Problem Nobody Talks About](https://www.mantripping.com/stuff/the-unwipe-founder-jim-kaslik-interview.html) #### Why 255/75R17 Tires Might Be the Perfect Upgrade for Your Next Adventure [Why 255/75R17 Tires Might Be the Perfect Upgrade for Your Next Adventure](https://www.mantripping.com/stuff/tire-upgrade-for-your-next-adventure.html) #### What Nobody Tells You Before You Start Building a Backyard Pool [What Nobody Tells You Before You Start Building a Backyard Pool](https://www.mantripping.com/stuff/backyard-pool-planning-what-to-know-before-you-build.html) #### The Top Tax Mistakes Young Entrepreneurs Make and How to Avoid Them [The Top Tax Mistakes Young Entrepreneurs Make and How to Avoid Them](https://www.mantripping.com/business-man/the-top-tax-mistakes-young-entrepreneurs-make-and-how-to-avoid-them.html) - [**](https://www.mantripping.com/search.html) - [**](https://www.mantripping.com/sitemap.html?view=html&id=1) - [** Polls](https://www.mantripping.com/polls.html) - [Community Login](https://www.mantripping.com/registration/login.html) - [Brand Engagement Newsletter](https://www.mantripping.com/pr-ops-newsletter.html) - [Links](https://www.mantripping.com/links.html) - [Pitch Portal](https://www.mantripping.com/pitch.html) - [Men's Travel Survey](https://www.mantripping.com/the-mantripping-guys-trip-report-spring-2026.html) --- ### Need help planning? **Heather** is a cruise and travel specialist at mantripping.com with over 15 years of experience in personalized trip planning. 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