Tips and Tricks For Overland Travel with Your Dog

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You’ll likely want to bring your dog along on your overland adventures. If you want to combine your favorite hobby and your best friend furrrever, you’ll want to take some things into consideration to make it the best experience for the humans and the furry friends in the family.

It might seem like a simple process, and once you’ve done it a few times, it is. In the beginning, however, it’s important to make some thoughtful considerations in terms of your furry buddy’s health and well-being.

XGRiD Campersis here to help! Let’s discuss important considerations, checklists, and everything else you need to successfully have your dog as your best overlanding companion.

Checklist: Your Dog’s Overlanding Needs

Here’s a great basic checklist to get you started on what to bring on your next overland adventure to ensure your pup — and you — has the best experience possible.

Collapsible portable water bottle
Water, at least one ounce for each pound of your dog’s weight, for each day. If you know you’ll have access to water along the trail you can bring purifiers instead, but make sure your concerns for your dog’s hydration level are as high as your own.
Enough treats and food for the trip in resealable bags
Plenty of poop bags
Pet first aid kit, including tick removal kit
Paw protection such as dog paw balm
Towels to help clean and dry your pup
Doggy brush
Some favorite toys
Doggy blanket
Warm blankets for overnight camping outdoors
Outdoor doggy bed
Leash, collar, harness, and tie out (heavy duty clothesline you can use to extend your dog’s leash so they may roam the site freely)
Make sure all information on your dog’s collar is up to date
Snap a picture or two of your dog just in case
Portable crate
Make sure your furry friend is up to date on core vaccinations:
- Rabies
- CAV-2 Distemper/ Parvo/ Adenovirus
- Leptospira
Doggy boots (if they’ll wear them)
Extra collar
Comfortable outdoor mat
Doggy hiking pack
Mat/mats for curling up beside you in your vehicle
Medications or other accommodations specific to your dog

Important Dog Overlanding Tips

Keep the following ideas in mind while you’re preparing for your first overlanding trip with your dog.

Keep Your Road Trip Free of Pests

Ensure that you treat fleas, ticks, and anything else that might be trying to hitch a ride on your furry buddy well before your trip. Examine your dog thoroughly before you leave, as well.

Secure Your Pet Whenever Your Car is in Motion

For the safety and security of your dog, yourself, everyone else in the vehicle, and your vehicle don’t allow your dog to wander freely in your vehicle. Tie them down appropriately so that nobody gets hurt.

Off road travel is notoriously unpredictable, and you don’t want to have to stop to chase down your buddy if they escape. Make sure you secure your dog.

Pack for Two (or More)

Your dog counts as part of your party, so make sure you don’t forget about them while prepping, loading, and throughout the trip. It’s so much better to have an extra chew toy, or an extra leash, or an extra half gallon of water, on the trail rather than run out far from where you can find what you need.

Make Sure Your Dog Is Welcome

Many State and National Park roads are not dog-friendly. They may not allow dogs on the trails, and most monuments won’t allow them on the ruins. You need to know what you’re getting into, so it’s important to investigate this well in advance.

Socialize Your Dog Well

To avoid being that person who showed up with the dog and ruined everything, make sure your dog is well-socialized before hitting the overland trail. Introduce your dog to as many people and other dogs as you possibly can before your trip, and continue to do so during and afterwards. You can hardly socialize a dog too much, and every interaction builds on their temperament and their abilities to handle different types of people.

Where Will Your Dog Sleep?

Whether you have a trailer, rooftop setup, or a ground tent, make sure your dog is as clean as possible before entering the sleeping area. You might consider allowing your dog to sleep inside of your vehicle, too, but make sure you know what the forest critters in the area will be looking for and if having your dog in your vehicle will attract them. Be prepared with alternative sleeping strategies, too.

Protect Your Dog From The Elements

Your dog can easily become overwhelmed, tired, frustrated, exhausted, and exhibit many different reactions than they do at home. Make sure they have a safe place with some shade, a nice bed or arrangement of towels or rags, somewhere cozy that they recognize as theirs and can feel at home.

Suss Out the Local Veterinarian

Make sure you figure out where the closest veterinarian is to your trip before you leave. Should you need a vet, you’ll know exactly where to go.

Consider a Test Run or Two

Take your dog with you on a couple of shorter trips before you commit to a big adventure. This will give you the chance to learn how your furry friend adapts to life on the road, handles camping, deals with other dogs, other animals on the trail, and more.

Pick Up After Your Pooch

Nothing like being “that guy” on the trail. Always, always, always clean up after your pet, every single time. Don’t be that guy.

Overlanding With Your Dog: Be Responsible

When you take your dog out into the wilderness, it’s important to recognize that you are the one held responsible for their actions. While your dog may be your best buddy in the whole wide world, there may be others who don’t feel that way, are afraid of your dog, or have their own pets or small children.

To make everybody’s day, be friendly but courteous. If your dog is approachable and others are coming up to pet him, indicate as much. If, on the other hand, your dog is not approachable, you need to keep them on a tight leash and make sure that others know your animal is not friendly.

No matter where your journey takes you, the memories you make with your furry friend will be treasured for a lifetime.

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