So, I don’t have a partner or kids to worry about this holiday season, but I do have a dog, and I love him like he is my own son. My parents also love him but less as a grandson-type but as a this-is-my-daughter’s-dog type. It’s okay – I know we have our differences. But because I only have my dog, and because I love him more than probably anything else in this universe, I bring him everywhere with me. This means that because the holidays are coming up, he’ll be making the five hour trip to my parents’ with me. I have a tried and true method for making sure he’s comfortable in the car, and I thought I would share it with y’all in case you also find yourself in this situation.

So, before traveling, make sure your dog is in good health. Toting around a sick human is no fun, but toting around a sick pup is worse. Take them to the vet and get a clean bill of health at least once a year so that you know you won’t be subjecting your fur baby to a horrible drive.

Make sure you have water on hand – either distilled or from your tap at home. Dogs’ digestive systems are super fragile, so having water that’s clean or water they’re used to is ideal. Stop frequently to let them drink.

If you travel with your dog in a crate, make sure it’s big enough for them to stand up, sit down, turn around, and lie down in. Don’t sacrifice crate size! If you’re more of a free-roamer type, make sure your dog knows what it’s like to be in a car, moving or not, beforehand. Consider getting a seatbelt collar or harness tie-down so that your dog doesn’t injure themselves by moving around too much in dangerous situations. Don’t roll the windows down too much, because this can actually hurt your dog by letting road dust, bugs, and debris hit their eyes and ears.

The final tip is to stop often not only to let your pup drink, but to let them walk around for exercise and to take potty breaks. Don’t feed them until the trip is over (barf alert) but definitely let them sip at some nice water.