The van life offers freedom, simple living, and an inimitable sense of self-sufficiency. However, it’s one thing to live the van life by yourself or with human companions. Going out on extended road trips with a dog or several dogs in tow is a different thing altogether.
Fortunately, it can be done. With planning and a lot of patience, both you and your dogs can safely travel the world and live a meaningful life out of a van or RV. Let’s look at nine important tips that will make van life more enjoyable for both you and your furry companions:
1) Have the Right Supplies on Hand
Before you start your journey, make sure that your van is kitted out with the appropriate pet merchandise. Remember that accessories that work in a normal house might not necessarily be a good fit for life on the road. Make sure you have enough of the following for each of your furry companions:
2) Make Sure Your Dogs are Properly Socialized
Throughout the course of your journey, your dogs are likely to encounter an assortment of different humans, animals, and social situations. Properly socializing them before your trip will ensure their safety and help them adapt to the ever-changing environments of van life. Don’t step on the gas until you’re sure each of your dogs can safely socialize with a wide range of both human and animal personalities.
3) Schedule Vet Check-ups Before Traveling
For a safer experience on the road, have your dogs undergo comprehensive veterinary checkups shortly before your journey. While they’re at the vet, make it a point to do the following:
4) Make Regular Stops
If you’re not in any particular hurry, you should aim for a minimum of 15 minutes rest for every two hours of driving. Regular stops are important not just to avoid driving fatigue, but also to ensure that your dogs can go to the bathroom and let off some steam, relieving anxiety and preventing unfortunate messes in your van.
5) Never Leave Your Dogs in Your Van Unattended
When making a stop, never leave your dogs out of your sight. Leaving your dogs unattended in a parked vehicle is not only dangerous; it’s also illegal in several jurisdictions. To avoid any problems, try to plan stops at pet-friendly establishments and prioritize activities where your dogs can accompany you.
6) Research Pet-Friendly Facilities and Veterinarians Along Your Intended Route
Coming off the previous tips, it’s important that your dogs are actually able to enjoy the places the van life takes them. Try to prioritize stops that accept dogs or offer pet-friendly facilities so that your furry companions can leave the van with you. Also, take note of any vets along the route you’re taking, especially if you have dogs that will be due for a regular checkup.
7) Establish a Regular Routine
The unpredictability of van life is not a good fit for all dogs. To keep your dogs emotionally healthy, try to establish a consistent daily routine for important activities like feeding, walks, and playtime. Keeping things grounded in this way creates an element of predictability that puts dogs at ease, helping them better adapt to the controlled chaos of nomadic living.
8) Get Your Dogs Used to Widely Available Food
It may not always be easy to find your dogs’ preferred brands of food when you’re traveling. Even if you do stock up on their favorite brands, a van can only offer so much storage. If you have larger breeds like Golden Retrievers onboard, each one might go through a large bag of kibble in just a few weeks, further complicating the challenge of maintaining an adequate supply in such a limited space.
To avoid dietary issues and save space in your van, consider gradually transitioning your dogs to a widely available brand of dog food. If your dogs don’t have any specific dietary needs, you can also consider training them to accept a wider variety of different brands.
9) Make Safety Your Top Priority
One important thing to remember is that you and your pets will be susceptible to a wide range of risks when you’re all traveling in a van. Unsecured pets, for example, can distract you while you’re driving and increase your chances of getting into an accident.
To avoid escapes and serious incidents, never let your dogs freely roam about your van, sit on your lap, or stick their heads out the windows. Make sure your doors are properly secured when the van is moving and invest in sufficient vehicle harnesses, suitably sized pet crates, and medical supplies to prevent tragedies.
Preparing Adequately for Your Next Van Life Adventure with Your Dogs
If you haven’t made the above arrangements, you may need to consider putting off the van life until you’re certain that you’re prepared. Take the time to consider every aspect of your journey so that both you and your cherished canine companions can travel with ease and maximize the unique joys of living life out on the road.