Summer travel accessories for your dog: what you can't leave at home

Summer is here and, with it, the holidays. And with the holidays, the same old question in the shop: "Mar, what should I take when travelling with my dog, I don't know where to start." It's a good question, because it's not the same to travel with a dog used to going out since it was a puppy as with one who has barely been out of the neighbourhood. And it's certainly not the same to travel with a dog by car as it is to take a high-speed train or a plane. I'll tell you which dog travel accessories you really need, in what order, and the mistakes I see every year in people who set off on holiday at the last minute. If you want the complete list of dog travel articles we use at Mascoboutique, this is our honest guide.

Before you leave: what you need to have ready

Even before thinking about carrier bags and water bottles, there's a basic kit that shouldn't be missing from any suitcase. It's the boring part but the important one. These are the points I go over with any client who comes in looking for accessories to travel with their dog:

• Up-to-date paperwork: vaccination record, microchip ID and, if you're leaving Spain or flying, a pet passport with a valid rabies shot. Do it well in advance: the rabies vaccine needs 21 days from the dose to be valid for entry into other countries.
• Visible identification on the collar or harness: an ID tag with the dog's name and, above all, your mobile phone number. The holidays are when most dogs go missing and, believe me, an ID tag means you'll get a call in five minutes. If you don't have an ID tag yet, in our ID tag section we engrave them on the spot in the shop. It takes two minutes and saves you a lot of trouble.
• His usual food for every day you'll be away (including a couple of extra meals in case you're delayed coming back). Switching food from one day to the next on holiday is asking for a guaranteed bout of diarrhoea.
• His toys or blanket from home. It sounds silly, but a dog arriving somewhere new with his familiar smell settles in twice as fast.
• An absorbent towel and a few extra poo bags. Dog-friendly hotels look much more kindly on a dog that comes in dry and clean after a walk.

One last note: if your dog has never been in the car for more than half an hour, do a test run before tackling a six-hour motorway trip. Some dogs get carsick — especially puppies — and you'd rather know that before, not 200 km in.

How to transport your dog according to where you're going

How you transport him changes a lot depending on the means of transport. Let's go in order.

By car

Travelling by car is probably the most comfortable option, but only if you do it properly. Spanish law requires the dog to be restrained somehow — not loose — and common sense says he should travel safe and comfortable. The most practical combination for small and medium dogs is a car bed or carrier on the back seat, secured with the car's seat belt.

Our specific car beds include a pass-through anchor for the seat belt and a soft cushion inside. The dog sits in his spot, doesn't slide around on every curve, and sleeps through half the journey. For large dogs, a rigid carrier in the boot or a separator grille is better. And please, never let the dog ride loose on your lap or with his head out the window: in a sudden brake, it's fatal.

By plane or train

This is where the typical client comes in, off to a wedding in another city, not knowing where to start. The basic rule: by plane and by train, the small dog travels with you in the cabin inside a bag or backpack that meets the size and weight limits set by the carrier. And mind you: there's no such thing as a universal "approved bag" — every airline, high-speed train or coach sets its own maximum size and weight conditions. The first thing, always, is to check the specific rules of the carrier you're travelling with. For dogs over seven or eight kilos (depends on the carrier), it's usually the hold or special transport, and then you need to look at specific fares well in advance.

For travel in the cabin, you need a dog carrier bag for plane travel that meets three things: regulation dimensions (check your airline or train operator's website before buying), good ventilation, and enough room for the dog to lie down comfortably. My favourite at the shop for this is the Hazel Brown Carrier Bag — I'll tell you more about it in the selection. If you prefer a dog travel backpack over your shoulders rather than a side carrier, we have that option too.

One important thing: if you're going to travel by plane or train for the first time with your dog, take him in the carrier on walks around the house a week before. The dog needs to understand that the bag is his, not a new trap. And give him treats inside. It's the difference between a calm trip and one where the dog spends four hours fidgeting.

And for dogs that don't travel well — the ones that tremble, pant or can't stay still no matter how well you prepare them — I recommend Calming Effect by Always Your Friend. It's a natural lavender-based calming spray. Two sprays on the blanket or inside the bag a while before leaving, and it really helps to settle the dog without sedatives or medication. It costs €19.95. At the shop we keep it as a go-to for clients flying for the first time with a nervous dog.

On foot or in a new city

When you're at your destination walking around a new city, the small dog can tire out faster than usual: more heat, more noise, more stimuli. For those long walks through historic centres, a front carrier or sling bag is a lifesaver. The dog rests when he's tired, you don't lose sight of him, and you can step into cafés and shops without having to argue with "no dogs allowed" signs.

Walking gear for new destinations

What you take on everyday walks isn't always enough on holiday. This is what I always check before packing the suitcase:

The fixed one-metre or one-and-a-half-metre lead you already use at home is perfect for a new city. If you usually walk with an extendable lead, better leave it for open areas: in cities you don't know, keep it short. If you need to buy something specific, in our lead section you'll find everything from the everyday polypropylene lead to the multi-position leather lead for runners.

About the harness or collar for holiday walks: every client has their own preference, and both options have their defenders. At the shop I tend to recommend a harness for small dogs, brachycephalic breeds or puppies that still pull a lot — it spreads the force better and takes pressure off the trachea. For well-behaved adult dogs, a well-fitted leather or fabric collar can be perfectly comfortable and elegant. The important thing is, whichever you choose, that it's well-fitted and the dog wears it comfortably. If you need to buy something specific, in our dog harness category you have the whole catalogue (Brott, Milk & Pepper, Hunter, etc.).

• Poo bags: more than you think you'll need. Hotels, terrace restaurants and the neighbours at your Airbnb really appreciate it when you pick everything up.
• A small towel to dry paws after the beach or river. If you're staying at a hotel, don't walk in with a wet dog through the main entrance — it's the fastest way to be told next time that dogs aren't allowed.
• A small blanket or cushion with the smell of home. Put it on the floor of the hotel room and the dog understands which is his spot in five minutes. It's worth more than any sedative.

Food and water away from home

Hydration in summer comes first. Before the bag, before the carrier, before the toy: water, water and more water.

The most comfortable way to carry water for your dog while travelling is a portable water bottle. It's the accessory that improves summer walks the most: you stop, squeeze, the dog drinks straight from the bottle's flip-out bowl without you having to carry folding bowls or a separate flask. For small and medium dogs, a half-litre bottle is enough for a full day's excursion.

On food while on holiday: take his usual food, don't use the chance to "let him try the local stuff." Switching food in summer and somewhere new is the perfect combination for a diarrhoea that ruins the holiday. If your dog eats wet food, take individual sachets and store the opened one in a cool bag.

And a little tip: if the dog is reluctant to eat in new places — it's normal the first two days — try giving him water before the morning walk, a longer walk, and then food. They usually take it better.

Our selection of travel accessories at Mascoboutique

Out of the whole travel category, these are the five models I most recommend at the shop. They cover the main scenarios: plane or train cabin, new city with a small dog, car travel, hydration and dogs that don't travel well.

Hazel Brown Carrier Bag. By the brand Muffin & Berry. One of the shop's best-sellers and, without a doubt, the carrier bag for small dogs I recommend the most for plane and train travel. Padded, with a top opening with mesh for ventilation, handles and an adjustable shoulder strap, and a brown finish that's practical and pretty at the same time. Made for toy and mini dogs, up to about six kilos. €159.

Margaret Backpack. Also by Muffin & Berry. If what you want is a backpack — rather than a side bag — to carry the dog on your back during long walks through a new city, this is mine. Padded, with a front opening, same usage sizes as the Hazel. I recommend it to very active families or those who use public transport a lot with their dog. €129.

Mary Car Bed. By AntePrima. This is the car bed we travel with the most — literally, as a family. Pass-through anchor for the seat belt, soft inner cushion, fully removable cover for washing and available in stitched pink or taupe depending on the colour of your car or your dog. €109. It's one of those accessories that seems like a luxury until you've travelled with it, and then you can't go back.

Flip Drinking Bottle. By Springer. The portable bottle with a leak-proof system and integrated flip-out bowl, 590 ml. It's my best-seller in summer: it fits in any shoulder bag, doesn't leak even when lying down in the rucksack, and the dog drinks directly from the bottle itself, no folding bowls needed. €32.90.

Calming Effect. By Always Your Friend. The extra I recommend more and more for long journeys. A natural calming spray with lavender, designed for dogs that don't cope well with the car, the plane or new places. Spray it on the blanket or the inside of the carrier a while before leaving and it helps the dog stay calm, with no sedatives or medication. €19.95. For clients who come in with nervous puppies or sensitive dogs, it's one of the first things I put on the counter.

If you want to see all the options at the shop, take a look at the full dog travel articles category and our dog carrier bags section. If you're unsure about the size, write to us on WhatsApp with the breed and weight of your dog and we'll tell you which bag fits him best.

In short: the minimum kit to travel with your dog

If you have to cut your luggage to the bare minimum to go on holiday with your dog this summer:

• Up-to-date paperwork (vaccination record, microchip, pet passport if needed) and an ID tag with your phone number.
• Food from home for every day + 2 extra days. Never change food on holiday.
• For the car: bed or carrier anchored to the seat belt.
• For plane or train: bag or backpack that meets the size and weight your carrier requires (every airline, high-speed train or coach has its own — check them beforehand).
• For dogs that don't travel well: Calming Effect by Always Your Friend (natural lavender spray), a blanket smelling of home and treats to associate the bag with something good.
• For city walks: short fixed lead, well-fitted harness or collar and plenty of poo bags.
• For the heat: portable water bottle, shade and walks at cooler times of day.
• Something from home: a blanket, his favourite toy. It helps him settle into the new place.

And, most importantly: if your dog has never travelled, try short trips first. A long improvised journey with a dog that gets carsick or stressed is an experience to forget. Better a couple of test runs and then you go off relaxed.

If you need help choosing the bag, backpack or car bed that best suits your dog, write to us on WhatsApp or drop by the shop. We always have the whole catalogue in mind and we sort it out in five minutes.

About the author

Mar is the founder of Mascoboutique. What started as an idea to dress and equip her own dog became, over the years, a reference boutique in Madrid for families with dogs. Every bag, harness or accessory that comes into the shop passes through her hands first: she tests the materials, looks at the stitching and pictures the dog who's going to use it. That classic exigency is what she also applies to the blog: here we don't recommend what sells best, but what she'd put on her own dog.