RV adventures: A guide to travelling with pets

Ready for an Aussie road trip with your pets? Navigate challenges with our guide — safety, gear and adventure tips included.

There’s a lot that goes into travelling with your pets — but with some proper planning and preparation, you’ll be able to make some unforgettable memories.

Bringing your pet along on an RV adventure is by no means a new idea, but it is a popular one, and thankfully Australia offers plenty of accommodation options and picture-perfect destinations that are pet-friendly.

But before you lug your furry best friend onboard and set off for the next great road trip, there’s some important planning and preparation you need to consider first.

Taking a pet on a road trip, particularly an extended one, is a lot of work and can potentially be very stressful for both you and your pet. If you have reservations about how your pet will cope while on the road, and there is an alternative to bringing them, you should give the situation serious thought.

Also, it’s worth remembering that while Australia has plenty of beautiful locations where pets are allowed, there are many popular national parks or iconic tourist attractions that do not permit pets, so you may have to compromise on your bucket list or accept you’ll have to pay for a pet sitter or putting your pet in a kennel or cattery at times.

While dogs might be the most common pet to take on the road, cats, birds and other small animals aren’t completely unseen sights on road trips around Australia. Cats may take a little more time to get accustomed to the travelling lifestyle, but depending on their age and temperament, you may be able to train them into being the prefect adventure companion. For many, the best way to ensure your pet will enjoy the travelling experience (both driving and wearing harnesses) is to start when they're young. But it's not impossible to acclimatise an older cat if you think the lifestyle will suit them.

Please note, different states and territories around Australia have different rules regarding pet cats roaming outdoors, so it’s best to train your cat to wear a harness so that they don’t wander off and get lost, or attack wildlife.

Likewise, birds and rabbits are two common pets you may see during your travels and can be trained to wear harnesses to ensure their safety when outdoors. Simply ensure you’ve got all the appropriate gear and travel setup.

Is your pet travel-ready?

While the idea of travelling with your pet might sound fantastic, and you may have encountered many like-minded travellers who have had success, one of the first things to consider is your pet's temperament and needs.

Motion sickness and anxiety

Consider if your pet suffers from motion sickness, and how severe it is. Take your pet on some short practice trips to monitor their behaviour, how distressing it is for them and how you might be able to reduce it from happening. Some pets may not be able to acclimatise to the movement, and in those cases, it might be best to make alternative arrangements for their own health and happiness.

Likewise, consider if your pet suffers from anxiety or finds changes in routine or being around strangers stressful. Camping can be a less-stressful environment compared to a busy pet-friendly caravan park.

Training and temperament

It’s important that your pet (dog or cat) is accustomed to walking on a lead and with a harness, as when travelling to new locations it’s best to keep them leashed to ensure they don’t run off or become a danger to themselves or others.

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Additionally, consider how well your pet interacts with other pets or strangers. If you’re staying at pet-friendly accommodation or visiting dog parks, beaches or so on, you’ll most likely encounter other pets, some of which may be off-lead. If you know your pet gets aggressive or anxious around other pets or humans, this may be a problem.

Consider how obedient your pet is and if they will respond to calls or commands from not only you but also others you are travelling with. There will be many temptations at caravan parks or beaches, and you should feel confident that you’ll be able to call your pet back or stop them from running off.

And for dog owners, don't forget to take the breed of your dog into account. Will they sit still for extended periods of time in your car or RV, or need extra work or stops to ensure they don't become a disturbance. Breeds like border collies and other working breeds need a lot of exercise, so you may need to stop more than every couple of hours or allocate longer stops to give them a long walk.

Vaccinations

Ensure your pet is completely vaccinated, wormed, has a current registration and their microchip information is up to date. It’s best to keep a copy of your pet’s immunisation record handy in case of emergencies.

Preparing for the trip

If you decide you’re ready to hit the road with your pet, it’s important that you’ve got all the necessary gear for everyone’s safety, comfort and general happiness.

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Travel safety

Check that you have all the equipment you need to carry your pet safely while driving. Pet carriers work best for cats and small dogs, and putting a light blanket over it will keep the environment dark and calming, and placing puppy-training pads down can help avoid messes becoming disasters. Larger dogs will need an appropriately sized car restraint. While you might feel confident in your dog not moving around or distracting you while driving, consider the danger your pet will be in if you brake quickly while they are sitting or standing free in the car. If your car allows for it, adding a cargo barrier can be worthwhile addition.

Drivers can be penalised and even lose demerit points if a pet is considered a dangerous distraction or causes the driver to lose control of the vehicle, so it’s important to make sure your pet is secured safely.

Additionally, never leave your pet unattended in a car, particularly on warm or hot days. Animals don’t sweat the same way humans do and even seemingly mild days can be lethal to an animal.

Personal gear

It's also important that you’ve got all your pet’s personal gear, medications and grooming equipment, as well as their favourite blankets and plenty of toys to keep them entertained and calm while on the road or in new environments. Please note, while you may not be doing much fancy grooming on the road, having a brush or two may come in handy if you need to be cautious of ticks or simply to get prickles out of their fur.

Make sure you have packed several leads and harnesses (the last thing you want is to only bring one and have it disappear or break), and make sure your pet’s name and contact information are clearly displayed on its ID tag fastened to its collar.

Keep a pooper scooper and plenty of poop bags handy, and if you’re travelling with a cat bring a litter box and litter as well. Remember, you must pick up after your pet no matter where you’re travelling — dog and cat faeces contain harmful parasites that can injure or kill native wildlife, and you won’t make friends with the locals if they keep stepping in your dog’s messes.

Food

If your pet is at all fussy on what food or treats they will eat, ensure you bring some supplies, particularly if you’re heading into rural or remote areas where you may not be able to restock on the same items.

A safe place

Don’t forget to consider where your pet will live within your RV — you’ll need to figure out where you’ll keep their bed, food and water bowls, and in the case of cats, their litter box.

It is also worth organising a portable enclosure or fence to have around camp so that your pet can enjoy some outside time without fear of them disappearing or hunting local wildlife.

Final tips

Every pet is different and has their own needs depending on age, size and temperament, so it’s a good idea to do some short practice trips to assess how they’ll travel.

Before and during the trip

Feed your dog or cat at least two hours before travelling to help avoid any motion-induced consequences and take dogs on a long walk before getting in the car as this will give their legs a good stretch and relax them before the trip begins. And with luck, they’ll be tired enough to fall asleep once you start driving.

It’s important to take breaks every two hours (or more if needed) to avoid motion sickness, and this will also give your pet the chance to stretch their legs, do their business and get in a bit of play time. It’s best to keep them leashed during stops, and remember to pack plenty of poop bags, wipes, drinking water and a bowl. Ensure you’ve got a litter tray and litter ready in the cases of cats.

Do your research

Do research before your trip and, when possible, book ahead at pet-friendly camping spots or caravan parks, because the last thing you want is to get to the end of a long drive only to find out there are no spots available or the rules regarding pets have changed. Not all national parks allow pets, but there are some if you’re wanting to get some time away from the crowds.

But no matter where you’re planning on staying, always check the website or with the management team before booking to make sure that pets are still permitted. When planning your accommodation or travel itinerary, remember that restrictions regarding pets can change during school holidays and peak seasons.

Not all caravan parks or campsites will allow you to leave your pets unattended, even if they are in an enclosure, so this may limit the kinds of activities or sites you can visit unless you are able to arrange for a fellow camper to watch your pet or you’re prepared to hire a local pet sitter or book your pet into a kennel or cattery.

The dangers of nature

When camping or visiting national parks, bushland or even parks, be aware of the dangers of snakebites ticks and heartworms. If you think your dog has been bitten by a snake, take them straight to an emergency vet.

Ticks are common throughout Australia, particularly from spring to autumn although they can be found all year round. These can be extremely dangerous to pets, causing paralysis and even death. Be particularly judicious about checking your long-haired dogs and cats as the fur makes it difficult to spot the ticks. It’s important to regularly examine your pets while on holiday, particularly after walks. Check them thoroughly all over, paying close attention to their paws, between their toes and inside their ears. Don’t rely on sight alone — feel for the ticks at the same time. Bringing a good anti-parasitic spray, tablet, rinse or spot-on treatment is a good idea to help prevent ticks, but if you do find one you should consult a vet.

The wrap

There are many challenges to travelling with your furry friend, and in some cases, you may have to compromise on the kinds of activities you can do when you’ve got them along, but when done with the proper planning and preparation, the experience can be unforgettable.

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