The last thing you want when you go camping is to leave your four-legged companion behind, but travelling in a campervan with a dog can be tricky to navigate.
If you don’t usually bring your dog on adventures, you might have many questions including what you should bring when travelling or how to keep your dog safe in the campervan. Worry not!
In our article we’ll cover everything you need to know about travelling in a campervan with a dog. Continue reading to find our expert tips!
Safety Comes First!
The very first thing to consider when you’re on the road with your furry companion is safety. It might seem like a great idea to have your dog sitting next to you while you’re driving, but you gotta remember the highway code.
Make sure you have a designated dog crate in the back that complies with the legal road requirements. This way both you and your pup will be safe on the road.
If you would like your dog to ride in the front with you, you should have a proper doggy seatbelt.
How to Ensure Comfy Travels?
So how do you ensure your dog is comfortable when you’re camping? Here are some of our top tips!
Cosy Dog Bed
A dog bed is a must if you’re travelling in a campervan with your dog. After a day full of adventures, you want there to be a cosy space where your dog can relax. In addition, a designated doggy bed will prevent your furry pal from jumping in your bed.
To help your dog settle faster in your home on wheels, it’s a good idea to bring their dog bed and blanket from home.
Keeping Your Pet Clean
If there’s even a bit of mud, you just know your dog will find a way to roll around with it. A campervan with an outdoor shower or hose is the best solution in this scenario. This way you can quickly wash off the mud without bringing any dirt inside your camper.
Staying Cool in the Summer
One of the particularly important factors to consider when camping in summer is dealing with the extreme temperatures. You shouldn’t leave your dog unsupervised in a closed campervan for too long as it can get too hot for them.
A few things you can do to keep the inside of your campervan cooler in summer is installing thermal screens. Although it might sound a bit counterintuitive, thermal blinds will help keep the sun out.
Another effective way to keep air circulating in your van is roof fans. Depending on your battery set up you might even be able to keep the fans running for a bit while you’re out and about.
What to Pack when Travelling in a Campervan with a Dog?
It might seem obvious what you need to pack for your dog, but in the rush of getting everything ready, it’s easy to forget things. The last thing you want is accidentally leaving behind your dog’s food bowl! Here is our checklist to help you when packing everything you need for travelling with your dog:
- Food and water bowls
- Dog food
- Dog bed
- Towels
- Lead
- Any medications your dog needs
- First aid kit
To save space in your campervan, you can consider some great travel-friendly essentials such as collapsable dog bowls.
What Do You Need when Travelling Abroad with a Pet?
Since Brexit a lot of the requirements for travelling abroad with your dog have changed, so if you’re planning to travel to an EU or non-EU country, you have to make sure you follow the latest guidelines.
Before being able to travel abroad, your dog will need a pet passport as well as various injections.
As a guide, when travelling to countries in the EU your pet needs the following:
- Microchip
- Valid rabies vaccination
- Animal Export Health Certificate(unless you have a valid pet passport issued in the EU).
Depending on where you travel your pet might have to get more vaccinations or tablets as you travel between countries. For instance, if you’re visiting Norway, Finland, Ireland or Malta a specific deworming tablet needs to be administered by a vet, who then needs to stamp your pet’s passport before you can cross the border.
Find Your Perfect Campervan
Looking for a campervan for adventuring with your dog? Here at Redline, we have the perfect campervan for you!
Converted in house using the most popular VW models as a base, our campers are designed and built for the great outdoors.
Our premium VW camper conversions are packed with features to offer you and your furry companions the ultimate comfort on the road. Browse our current stock online or visit our Daventry or Hitchin dealership today!
If you wish to view a vehicle in particular, please get in touch to arrange an appointment.
