Dog Travel UK: Restraints, Water and Packing

Highway Code Rule 57 says animals should be suitably restrained so they cannot distract the driver or cause injury during a sudden stop. Choose a system appropriate to your dog and vehicle and follow its fitting instructions. A seat cover or ordinary lead is not automatically a travel restraint.

For a carrier or crate, compare its usable dimensions with the dog and the vehicle opening. Check how it is secured and whether doors can open safely at stops. A ramp or step also has its own load and grip requirements; assess the complete entry arrangement rather than adding accessories independently.

Carry water the dog will drink, a usable bowl and supplies for the planned destination. Consider how a container seals and how the bowl will stand on uneven ground. Plan stops around the animal’s needs and conditions, rather than assuming a particular portable bottle removes the need for breaks.

A washable cover can protect upholstery, but check that it does not interfere with the restraint, ventilation or vehicle controls. It does not make a vehicle safe in hot conditions. The RSPCA warns against leaving dogs in hot vehicles; cool-looking accessories are not permission to leave an animal behind.

Keep leads, waste bags and towels where they can be reached without releasing the dog in an unsafe place. Separate wet or muddy equipment from dry supplies. Check accommodation or venue rules before travelling and bring familiar bedding when appropriate, without assuming every destination accepts the same pet arrangements.