Caring for your dog on holiday starts with the right preparation and the right essentials. When your dog comes along, your care routine changes. The trusted grooming salon isn’t there, a proper bath isn’t always possible, and on the road you depend on what you’ve packed. This article is for dog owners who take their dog on trips and want a compact, thoughtfully curated care kit that’s practical—whether you’re driving to the Mediterranean, hiking through forests, or exploring a city.
We’ll walk you through five products that keep your dog clean, comfortable, and healthy on holiday, even when conditions are less than ideal: a dry shampoo, a paw balm, a dog brush, a versatile leash, and compostable poop bags. Alongside these products, you’ll also find practical information on preparing for your trip, motion sickness, hot weather, enough food and water, and the legal requirements that apply when you travel abroad with your dog.
What to consider when your dog comes on holiday
Good preparation is anything but an exaggeration when your dog is coming along. It starts well before you leave. If you’re travelling abroad, your dog must be microchipped and have a valid EU pet passport. Mandatory vaccinations, including rabies, need to be up to date. Depending on the country you’re visiting, there may be extra requirements, such as a health certificate from your vet or a compulsory parasite treatment. When you travel through multiple countries, each country’s legal requirements may apply separately. Some countries have specific rules for certain breeds. Check the requirements beforehand, so you’re not faced with surprises at the border.
Motion sickness is something many dog owners only encounter once they’re already on the road. Most dogs get used to travelling by car, but a dog that’s not used to long journeys may become restless, drool, or even vomit. Let your dog gradually get used to the car in the weeks before you leave: start with short drives and build up to longer distances. This approach takes a few weeks, but it makes the holiday much calmer. During the trip, things go more smoothly if you stop regularly, offer your dog water, and let them stretch their legs. In cases of severe motion sickness, some vets prescribe medication. Ask for this in good time so you have it with you when your trip starts.
Also make sure you bring your dog’s regular food: a sudden change in diet can upset your dog’s stomach, especially while travelling. Pack their usual food in an airtight container and plan your supplies based on the number of travel days, plus a few extra days as a buffer. Your dog doesn’t need more food than at home, but it should be the same food at the same time of day. Routine has a calming effect on a journey full of new impressions.
Be careful in hot weather
Hot weather requires extra attention, especially in destinations like the Mediterranean, where temperatures can rise quickly. In the heat, paw pads can burn on hot asphalt much faster than you might think. After just fifteen minutes on a dark road surface in the sun, asphalt temperatures can rise above fifty degrees Celsius. In hot weather, try to walk early in the morning or in the evening, and use the cooler parts of the day for longer walks. Offer your dog fresh water regularly, at least every hour and a half, and watch for signs of overheating: heavy panting, lethargy, or a dog that seems completely apathetic.
If you suspect your dog is unwell or showing signs of heat stress, move them to a cool place quickly and contact a local vet. When travelling by public transport, each country and operator may have its own rules for bringing pets. Look these up in advance. Sufficient food and sufficient hydration are the two basic principles of good care on the road.
1. Dry shampoo: clean without water
Why dry shampoo is essential on holiday
On holiday, your dog often needs more care than at home. Sandy beaches, forest floors, hot asphalt, eating outdoors—after an active day, there’s dirt in the coat, sand clinging to belly fur, and a smell you’d rather not bring into your apartment or hotel room. Planning a bath isn’t always practical or possible: there may be no outdoor hand shower, you might be far from a groomer, and your dog may simply be too tired to stand still.
Pawness Pooch Polish Foam Dry Shampoo solves this without using any water. The foam formula, made with 100% natural, vegan ingredients and free from parabens, sulfates, and harsh chemicals, removes dirt, refreshes the coat, and neutralises odours. The scent blends lemon, lavender, rosemary, and nerolina: light and never overpowering.
The application is simple: shake the bottle, pump a small amount of foam into your hand, massage it into the coat, and pat dry with a towel. Then give a quick brush and your dog is good to go again. The dry shampoo is also safe for puppies from twelve weeks, so even young dogs can be treated without concern.
A practical tip: keep dry shampoo in your bag. After a long day at the beach or a walk through the woods, you can freshen up your dog on the spot, without having to go back to your accommodation.
Foam Droogshampoo – Pooch Polish
2. Paw balm: protection on the go
Protecting paw pads from sun, sand, and rough terrain
Sand can be tougher on your dog’s paws than it first appears. Fine sand dries out the skin. Coarse sand and gravel paths can cause tiny wounds that you may not notice until your dog starts limping. Hot asphalt, even in coastal towns and on campsites, can burn paw pads. Dogs walk on their pads, not on shoe soles, and that skin is vulnerable when it’s exposed to extreme temperatures or abrasive surfaces for longer periods.
Pawness Cuddle Cure Dog Balm is a 100% natural, vegan balm without palm oil, specially developed for paws and nose. The combination of shea butter, aloe vera, avocado oil, and apricot kernel oil nourishes and protects the skin. The balm absorbs quickly and doesn’t leave a sticky layer. The scent of lavender and cedarwood is subtle. Apply the balm before walks over hot or rough ground and again in the evening as a recovery treatment after an active day. It’s suitable for puppies from twelve weeks.
Older dogs benefit even more: as dogs age, the skin on their paw pads often becomes drier and more prone to wear. Preventive daily use helps avoid cracks and sore spots and is part of a basic care routine that’s useful all year round, not just in summer.
3. Dog brush: keeping the coat in good condition
Preventing tangles and removing dirt after every day outdoors
Your dog’s coat has more to endure on holiday than at home. Swimming in the sea or a lake, rolling in grass, weaving through bushes on long walks. Loose hairs build up, dirt gets trapped, and in dogs with longer or thicker coats, tangles can form in just a few days. Those tangles aren’t just uncomfortable: they pull on the skin with every movement and can lead to irritation or small infections if they’re not removed.
The Pawness Gentle Touch Dog Brush has rounded metal pins that are gentle enough for even the most sensitive dog, from young puppy to senior. The brush detangles without tugging or scratching, removes loose hair, and helps to brush out dirt and sand after trips to the beach or walks. The handle is made from FSC-certified beech wood. You can use it daily without irritating the skin, making it suitable for dogs with sensitive skin.
A quick brushing session in the evening, together with balm for the paws, is part of a good on-the-road care routine. It takes five minutes and helps your dog relax after an active day full of new stimuli and unfamiliar surroundings. For dogs with a long or dense coat, this is not a luxury but the bare minimum of daily care. Tick and flea protection, along with a tick remover, are also essential in your kit for forest or countryside holidays. Check your dog after every walk, even if you’ve already brushed the coat.
4. Dog leash: control and freedom in unfamiliar places
A versatile leash for both city and nature
On holiday, you explore new environments: narrow streets, busy beaches, quiet forest paths, and campsites with many other dogs. The leash you use on your familiar route at home is not always the best choice. A short leash offers control in busy places and during unexpected encounters. A long line offers freedom on quiet trails and open ground. Hands-free use is convenient when hiking uphill or when your hands are full.
The Pawness Trix Dog Leash combines all three options in a single 200 cm leash. It’s made from recycled polyester and vegan leather, handcrafted in Italy, with nickel-free hardware. The D-ring on the leash has room for a poop bag holder or treat pouch, so you don’t have to carry loose items. The leash is light enough to wear all day and sturdy enough for active dogs.
Your holiday becomes much simpler when you don’t have to switch between different leashes depending on the situation. With one leash and three configurations, you’re prepared for any terrain—from city centre to forest path—and for public transport too, where a short leash is almost always required.
5. Poop bags: the basics you should never forget
Cleaning up, even on holiday, makes all the difference
Half of a successful holiday with your dog comes down to the small logistical details that run on autopilot because you don’t have to think about them. Poop bags are part of that. Whether dogs are welcome on beaches, in parks, and at campsites across Europe often depends on how their owners behave. Cleaning up after your dog is the bare minimum—and rightly so.
Pawness compostable poop bags are made from cornstarch and are 100% compostable. Each box contains eight rolls of fifteen bags, giving you 120 bags in total—enough for a longer holiday. The bags are turquoise, measure 22 by 33 cm, and fit the Pawness poop bag holder you can attach to the Trix leash.
Before you leave, make sure you pack a full box. It’s the kind of product you don’t think about until it runs out, and on holiday you use more bags than at home simply because you’re outside more often and for longer.
Caring for your dog on holiday: the five products at a glance
A compact kit with the right products makes the difference between daily hassle and effortless care on the road. The five products you don’t want to forget:
- Pooch Polish Foam Dry Shampoo: refreshes the coat without water, safe from twelve weeks
- Cuddle Cure Dog Balm: protects paws and nose from heat, dryness, and rough surfaces
- Gentle Touch Dog Brush: prevents tangles, removes dirt and loose hair after every day outside
- Trix Dog Leash: three lengths in one, for every situation on the road
- Compostable Poop Bags: the practical essential, 120 bags per box
Also remember to put together a small first-aid kit with bandages, disinfectant, and any prescription medication from your vet for unexpected situations that can happen on holiday, too. Always bring more of your dog’s regular food than you think you’ll need and make sure there’s fresh water during the journey. A foldable water bowl fits in any backpack and makes it easier to regularly offer your dog a drink.
When your dog comes along on your trip, it does require a bit more planning than a holiday without a pet—but with the right essentials and good preparation before you leave, caring for your dog on the road soon becomes a natural part of your daily routine. Explore the full care collection at
shop-pawness.com.
Ik ben Denise, oprichter van Pawness. Ontstaan vanuit de liefde voor mijn hond Bo en de zoektocht naar eerlijke, mooie producten voor honden. Ik geloof dat elke keuze telt: voor je hond, voor de planeet en voor de mensen erachter. Met deze blogs help ik puppyouders bewuster te kiezen, zonder dat het ingewikkeld hoeft te zijn.
