Pet Must Haves For a Summer Road Trip in Europe
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I promised you this one at the end of the last post. While the paperwork side of Cookie’s Europe trip turned into its own free guide (more on that below), the gear side deserved its own space too. “What do you pack for a dog doing seven hotels, five countries and a Channel crossing in July” is a genuinely different question to “what do you pack for a weekend in the Lake District,” and I learned that the hard way somewhere around the third Amazon order.
Some of what’s in there is obvious. Some of it I only know to pack because Cookie is Cookie – reactive, ridiculously fluffy for July, and a dog that’s not very keen on car journeys.
Comfort on the go
A dog who’s anxious about new places doesn’t need new things in the car too – he needs the car to feel like the one constant.
Car bed – for the longer stretches, somewhere he can actually lie down comfortably
Pet hammock – protects the seats, but more importantly gives Cookie one space that looks and smells the same whether we’re parked outside our house or somewhere in Luxembourg. Routine matters more to him than scenery does.
Travel calming spray – not a miracle cure, but it’s part of the routine now, and routine is half the battle with a dog like him.
Seatbelt – this is non-negotiable. He doesn’t love it, but he’s wearing it anyway.
The Paperwork
I wrote a full guide on this – it’s got the proper breakdown with every gov.uk link in one place.
Keeping Him Cool
July in Europe shouldn’t be brutal, but the weather is unpredictable and heat waves do happen.
Towel for the inevitable puddle – Cookie does not love being dirty and he won’t play in mud, but you never know what will happen, so out of caution we’re taking 2 towels
A cooling mat – Anything to prevent my dog from overheating.
SPF for his ears and any exposed skin (we went with this one, but if it’s not available, you can try this one)
A cooling harness from the local pet shop
The Pile I Hope We Never Open
First aid kit, antiseptic spray, tea tree cream for the inevitable scrape – the basics, basically (first aid kit here). Probiotics and his normal food are coming too, because travelling to new countries is not the moment to also experiment with his stomach. The treats bag has his favourites plus calming treats from the pet store, because Cookie is a reactive dog and we don’t want to take any chances.
Keeping Him Clean
Shampoo and conditioner – we try to give him a full bath every 2 week as frequent washing and conditioning will damage the fur.
No-rinse shampoo – this is a staple in our household. Everytime he needs a bath but can’t have one, this is our go to.
No-rinse paw cleaner – another favourite. It’s so easy to use and cleans his muddy paws without the need for a bath.
Pet wipes – for those dirty paws after 20k steps a day.
Paw and nose balm – His little pads need a little pampering after seeing so many places.
Teeth cleaning wipes – I’m not sure he will enjoy brushing his teeth with a toothbrush when he’s tired, so this is the next best option.
Ear wipes and eye wipes – These ones from Bugalugs work a treat!
Pawfume – He is a pampered boy and needs to smell good for the ladies. We got this as a gift, but there are plenty of options from Bugalugs.
Everything Else
Cookie’s usual food and treats. He will only eat James Wellbeloved and his favourite treats are those from Lily’s Kitchen. He is obsessed with their sausages!
Some of his outfits – not sure if the weather will allow Cookie to wear them, but they are there just in case.
His favourite toys – he is the most playful dog I know!
A Quick Honest Note
Every link above is something we genuinely use, not a list padded out to look thorough – that’s exactly why probiotics, his food, and the cooling harness aren’t linked at all. Anything you’re unsure about for your own dog is worth running past your vet rather than copying my list blind.
If you’ve got questions, want to share your own experience, or just want to say hello, I’d love to hear from you.
Welcome to the travel diary. I’m glad you’re here.
– Elena (and Cookie 🐾)
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