The essentials for the trip

When packing for a vacation with your dog, it can be helpful to base it on the dog's normal daily routine. What do you use from morning to night at home? Most of it will likely need to come along on the trip as well.

Start with the dog's food and treats, and be sure to bring enough of the food the dog is already used to. Also remember water for the journey itself and a food and water bowl, so you can easily give the dog food and water along the way and at your destination.

In addition, a dog harness, collar, and dog leash are of course some of the most important things to bring. Also pack waste bags, their favorite toy, and any medication the dog may need.

A dog blanket or something else familiar from home may also be worth making room for – especially when the dog will be staying somewhere new.

Pack the dog's things in one place

When both your own and the dog's luggage need packing, small items can quickly end up in different places. Therefore, it can be practical to give your dog its own weekend bag where food, treats, toys, leash, bowls, and other essentials can be kept together.

Our Lou Weekend Bag is made with both small and large trips in mind. The bag has several compartments, making it easier to organize the dog's things, while the separate organizer can be used for the smaller items you want to have quickly at hand.

Lou measures 36 × 20 × 25 cm and weighs 1.4 kg, so it is convenient to take along on, for example, weekend getaways, car vacations, or other trips where the dog's own things need to come along.

This way, the dog has its own travel bag, and you always know where its most important things are.

Taking your dog on a flight?

If your vacation starts at the airport, there is a little more to prepare. Some airlines allow smaller dogs in the cabin when transported in a suitable flight bag, but the rules vary from airline to airline.

Our Atlas Flight Bag is developed with flying and transport in mind. It measures 40 × 25 × 23 cm, weighs 1.6 kg, and can be opened from both the side and the top, making it easy to access your dog along the way.

The bag's dimensions are, for example, within the specified maximum dimensions for pets in the cabin with SAS and Lufthansa.

However, it is important to be aware that airlines do not only have requirements regarding the size of the bag. There may also be requirements regarding, among other things, the dog's size, the total weight, age, and how the dog must be able to move inside the bag.

With SAS, the maximum size for the transport bag is currently 40 × 25 × 23 cm, and the dog and bag together may weigh a maximum of 8 kg. 

With Lufthansa, the current limit is also 8 kg for the dog and transport bag together, while the permitted maximum dimensions are larger than those of the Atlas.

The rules can change, and there may be differences depending on the route and the flight. Therefore, always check the specific airline's current rules for traveling with a dog before booking your trip and again before departure.

Make the journey safe for your dog

New scents, sounds, people, and environments can be a lot of new impressions all at once. That is why it can be a good idea to consider the dog’s comfort even before the trip.

Bring something familiar from home
A blanket, a favorite toy, or something else familiar can be nice to bring along. When you arrive at the hotel, summer house, or another new destination, you can create a small area with the dog's own things.

A dog blanket is also easy to bring along and can be used both during transport and as a familiar place to lie down when you arrive.

Get the dog used to the transport bag before the trip
If the dog is to be transported in a bag, it is a good idea not to let the first encounter with the bag be on the day of the trip itself.

Leave the transport bag out at home well in advance, so the dog has the opportunity to investigate it in calm and familiar surroundings. Acclimatization should happen gradually and at the dog's own pace.

Remember breaks on longer trips
If you are going on a car vacation or traveling a long way in another manner, the trip should be planned with breaks along the way. Ensure access to water, and give the dog the opportunity to get out, move around, and have a break from transport.

Pack according to destination and weather 

What your dog needs to bring on holiday naturally also depends on where you are going.

If you are going on a summer holiday somewhere hot, access to fresh water and shade is particularly important, perhaps a cooling mat. If, on the other hand, the trip is to a cooler area, it may be relevant to pack dog clothes, such as a dog sweater or dog jacket - especially if your dog normally needs extra warmth.

Therefore, check the weather forecast for your destination before packing your bags, and think about what your activities will look like. An active holiday with long walks may require different equipment than a quiet weekend getaway.

Remember your dog's passport and destination rules

If you are travelling abroad with your dog, it is not just the packing list you need to get in order.

For travel between EU countries, dogs must generally have a valid EU pet passport, a valid microchip, and meet the current requirements for, among other things, rabies vaccination. Some destinations have additional requirements. Therefore, it is important to check the rules for the specific country you are visiting well in advance of departure.

You can find the current Danish regulations and select your destination in the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration's guide to travelling with a dog. If you are travelling to another EU country, you can also read more about EU rules for travelling with pets.

You can also read our guide Can I take my dog on holiday?, where we have gathered more of the practical considerations regarding holidaying with a dog

Packing list for a vacation with your dog

As departure approaches, there are many small things to keep track of – including those for the dog. That is why we have compiled the most important items into a simple packing list that you can use when it's time to pack your bags.

Remember that the packing list may vary depending on the destination, the season, and how you are traveling. Use it as a starting point and adapt it to your dog and your vacation.

Now all that’s left is to pack your bag and look forward to the trip.