A Guide for Overlanding with Your Dog

Like many of us, your dog is your sidekick and constant companion. It’s natural you’d want to take your best friend along on your next overlanding expedition to share in the freedom of life off the grid. Your dog will not only love spending quality time with you, they won’t be able to get enough of the sites, smells and sounds of the wild.

We’ve put together some helpful suggestions on how to plan and pack for a successful overlanding adventure with your dog. With a little planning, everyone can learn some new tricks.

Are Dogs Allowed?

Always check if your destination allows dogs. Some well loved National Parks in the US have dog restrictions, or don’t allow dogs at all, so make sure you’re heading somewhere you’re allowed to bring your four-legged companion.

Assess Your Dog

The first step in preparing is actually quite simple. You know your dog better than anyone. Is your dog the type to enjoy traveling? Will it get stressed riding in cars or in strange environments? Make sure your pup has the desire or personality for overlanding. No one wants to be forced into doing something they aren’t meant to do, including animals. However, some breeds are born for adventure!

Medication

If your dog isn’t on year-round preventatives, you may want to schedule an appointment to discuss options with your veterinarian or request a prescription.

Flea and Tick Prevention: Your dog may have access to heavy brush and foliage – the perfect opportunity to pick up parasites. Flea and tick prevention will help prevent tick-borne diseases such as Lyme Disease. Here are instructions for how to safely remove ticks.

Heartworm Prevention: If you should catch your dog ingesting animal droppings during your hike, or you’re attacked by a swarm of mosquitos, you’ll be thankful you’re giving heartworm prevention to protect against heartworm disease and other types of worms that could cause serious illness.

Vaccinations

Make sure your dog’s vaccinations such as Rabies, Distemper, and Parvo are up-to-date. You never know if your dog may accidently surprise a wild animal along the trail and get a bite. Vaccines are critical to preventing further complications.
Also, if you’re crossing into another country, they are likely to ask about vaccines and may require documentation.

Inspect Tag and Collar

Inspect your dog’s collar to verify it’s in good shape. One suggestion would be to invest in a break-away collar so if your dog’s collar gets stuck on a branch, it will break open and not cause harm to your pup. It’s also important to inspect the tag to make sure contact information is updated and that it’s attached securely to the collar. Have an extra collar in your pack just in case one goes missing.

Brush up on Training

The wilderness will be an exciting environment for your dog so he’s going to be in a constant state of excitement. Never allow your dog to roam off-leash while hiking. Practice basic commands like stay, leave it, here, drop it, and quiet so you can keep control of situations and avoid having your dog get into dangerous situations.

What to Pack for Your Dog

Packing for your dog can be fairly simple if you stay organized. Try to think about activities you will both be doing during your expedition. Pack the appropriate items you’ll need such as old towels to dry off after swimming or a portable water bowl for trail hiking.

Also calculate how much food to pack based on the duration of your trip. Be sure to look up any local stores nearby where you can pick up extra supplies if needed. Your Off Grid Trailer will provide the extra space you’ll need to store the extra pet supplies you’ll need to bring along.

Use the following checklist to make sure you haven’t missed packing any essential items for your companion. Many of these items can be purchased at your local pet store or online.

• Portable Food and Water Bowls (indoor, outdoor, hiking)
• Food and Treats
• Any Medications your Pet Needs
• Poop Bags
• Portable Crate
• Pet First Aid Kit
• A Long Leash, Shorter Leash or Hands-Free Leash
• Dog Towels
• Dog Booties (if they will wear them)
• Dog Brush and Comb
• Tick Removal Kit
• Extra Collar
• Cozy Bed and Blanket for your Trailer
• Favorite Toys
• A Comfortable Outdoor Mat
• Pet-Friendly Sunscreen
• Hiking

It’s critical to make sure you have enough water for yourself and your pup. This is where your off road trailer can make things a bit easier. The Expedition 2.0 holds 31 gallons of water while the Pando 2.0 holds about 33 gallons to give you access to potable water when you need it.

There’s no doubt your dog will enjoy every second of your overlanding adventure. Not only will it give you companionship while off-grid, your bond will grow even stronger as you look out for one another in the wild.