What Are the Tricks That Will Keep Your Dog from Being Stressed During Travel
✨ Key Points
- Travel can stress your dog—but the right prep (like a comfy dog box) makes a huge difference.
- Let your dog slowly get used to the crate and short trips before the big journey.
- A little planning and patience — and knowing how to keep your dog calm during travel, turns any trip into a fun bonding adventure instead of a stressful one.
Seeing other people travel with their dogs makes it look effortless and joyful, and it’s only natural that you want that same experience with your own.
Your dog is part of your family, and the idea of exploring new places together, creating shared memories, and strengthening your bond is incredibly appealing.
At the same time, there’s a very real concern sitting underneath that excitement: what if the trip is stressful for your dog?
That concern is completely valid. Research shows that up to 40% of dogs experience travel-related anxiety, and many display signs such as excessive panting, drooling, trembling, whining, restlessness, or even vomiting.
Motion sickness alone affects a significant number of younger dogs, and anxiety can increase if a dog is suddenly introduced to long journeys without preparation.
When your dog feels overwhelmed, you feel it too, and what was supposed to be a bonding experience can quickly turn into something you regret.
The reassuring part is that travel stress is often preventable with thoughtful preparation. Instead of hoping your dog “just handles it,” you can take practical steps that make the journey smoother and safer.
Here’s what truly helps:
Invest in the right travel crate or dog box , making sure it is well-ventilated, secure, and appropriately sized so your dog can stand, turn, and lie down comfortably.
Introduce the crate at home well before the trip, allowing your dog to explore it at their own pace and associate it with positive experiences like treats and calm praise.
Start with short practice drives, gradually increasing the duration so your dog builds confidence instead of associating the car with long, stressful trips.
Maintain familiar routines as much as possible, including feeding times, walk schedules, and rest periods, since predictability reduces anxiety.
Bring comfort items from home, such as a favorite blanket or toy that carries familiar scents and creates a sense of security.
Ensure proper ventilation and temperature control, as overheating or poor airflow can increase discomfort and anxiety during travel.
When you approach travel intentionally instead of impulsively, you shift the experience from overwhelming to manageable.
Dogs thrive on gradual exposure and consistency, and when you respect their pace, they adapt far more successfully than most people expect.
With the right preparation, patience, and a clear understanding of how to keep your dog calm during travel, you are not just preventing stress — you are building confidence, safety, and trust.
That preparation transforms travel from a risky experiment into a shared adventure that strengthens your bond and allows both of you to genuinely enjoy the journey.
Give yourself ample time to prepare
Travelling with a dog entails a lot more preparation than just travelling on your own.
This is why it’s very important to give yourself ample time to prepare so you can travel smoothly and avoid stress for both you and your pet.
If you’re going on a road trip, for instance, you need to secure your dog with the right dog box that will keep him safe and comfortable while on the road.
You also need to learn about the legal requirements for dog owners to ensure that you won’t have any problems during the trip.
Let your dog acclimatise to travel
Dogs generally get stressed when they are placed in new environments or situations, which is why it’s very important to let your dog acclimatise first.
If your dog isn’t used to riding in a car, you can start by sitting together in your parked car and rewarding it for good behaviour.
Then, you can start taking your dog on short trips around the neighbourhood to make it more familiar with riding a car.
If your dog needs to be in a dog box or crate for your trip, buy it early so you can introduce it to your dog at home.
You can open the door to the box and put your dog’s favourite toys inside so he can voluntarily get in and spend time in it.
If you’re flying or riding a train, it’s best to take your dog to the airport or bus station a few days before the trip so it can be familiar with the place.
Get your dog ready for travel day
Most dogs get really excited and anxious when travelling.
So if you don’t want to deal with that burst of energy while you’re on the road, it’s best to take your dog on a long walk or let it play before leaving to help get rid of that excess energy.
It’s also very important to feed your dog at least three hours before leaving so that you can keep it from getting motion sickness and throwing up inside the box or in your car.
Create a calm environment for your dog
Dogs are just like kids.
They get really stressed mostly because of separation anxiety.
To reduce this feeling, it’s best to create a calm and familiar environment for your dog to make the travel a lot easier.
Bring its favourite blanket or toy to give your dog a sense of security even if you’re away from home.
If you’re travelling by car, it’s very important to put it in a secure dog box to make sure that it’s comfortable during your trip.
Of course, you can’t forget about packing your dog’s favourite food and snacks so you can feed it during your trip.
Take breaks if you’re on a road trip
If you’re driving to your destination, make sure to take breaks every three hours or when your dog needs to go potty.
This is also a good time to feed your dog food and water and go on short walks for some stretching.
If you’ll be travelling for a few days, you can plan some rest stops in pet-friendly hotels along your route.
This will give you and your pet some time to rest, so you can be energised for the next leg of your trip.
It also helps your dog feel more relaxed even if you’re on the road for days.
Stay as close to your routine as possible
Dogs thrive in having a routine, so taking that away can cause a lot of anxiety and stress to them.
This is why you need to stay as close to your routine as possible, even if you’re in another city or country.
For instance, it’s best to follow the same feeding, resting and walking schedule so that your dog can still feel comfortable even when you’re travelling.
Finally, if you want your dog to be calm during your trip, you need to start by being calm.
Dogs are known to mirror their owner’s emotions, so if your pet sees that you have the trip under control, it would also feel a lot less stressed.
Keep your voice steady and reassuring when talking to your dog, don’t panic if some hiccups come up and just make sure to have a good time during your trip.
Now if you’re buying a dog box for the first time and you still haven’t found the perfect fit for your dog, get in touch with us so we can show you some good options.
