I have a dog who loves to go outside. Regardless of the weather, she loves to hike, run and play in the yard. She also loves parks, fields and hiking. Because she’s very outdoorsy and so is my family, we plan trips that include the dog. Traveling with a dog takes a little more planning, but it is doable and lots of fun. Here are some helpful hints on how to travel with your entire family, canines included.

My old way of traveling was to wait until the night before a trip and grab whatever I can, hoping to remember what to bring. The next time, I will have a plan to stick to prior to leaving. I am starting my planning about a month before the trip.

Get an ID tag for your dog. Make sure it includes your dog’s name, your name, address, and phone number. You also can include a secondary phone number just in case. I like to put the number of a friend who is NOT traveling at the same time I am.

Get a first aid kit for your pet. You don’t know what you may encounter when traveling. Especially when you stop frequently and let your pet relieve himself in high grass. He could pick up a tick or get scratched. Be sure to have something to handle minor injuries.

A visit to the veterinarian is a good idea if you’re like me. I tend to travel to camp grounds and state parks, i.e. heavily forested areas. They are great places for ticks to hang out and land on your pet. Also, I get Lyme’s disease vaccinations in case an infected mosquito attacks. As usual heartworm prevention medication should be administered in a timely way so your dog is ready for travel.

Pack dog food in an air-tight container. Pack dog bowls and a couple gallons of water for the trip. Youll most likely have access to water, but I like to be safe and bring a few gallons just in case. Get together your dogs collar, leash, snacks, toys, a brush, extra towels, clean-up bags and any medicines your dog needs. Also, figure out what your dog is going to sleep on. If we are going camping, I like to bring an old comforter for her to chill on during the day in a nice shady place. That way I can just throw it out when were done.

Have a basic plan together for eating while driving. You obviously cant go in for a 2 hour meal, especially if its too warm out. You can fast-food it, or just bring a cooler with lunch meat and easy to assemble foods. With a dog, depending on the age, plan on stopping every 4ish hours to let the dog stretch, get some water, and relieve himself.

** According to the ASPCA, on a warm day the inside of your vehicle can heat up to 160 in minutes? NEVER leave a pet in a car, even with the windows open, in warm weather! **

There are great places in the US to explore during summer with your dog. State parks and camp grounds are a favorite of mine. With a little planning, you should be able to have a great vacation and bring your dog with!