A holiday with your pet is a time of great excitement and happiness.

But road-tripping with dogs can have its challenges.

With that in mind, we've put together a paw-ful of handy hints to help you and your pet have a smooth journey.

1. Give your dog a check up

Shhhh – don’t say the V word too loudly. However, before you take to the highways, it’s important that you visit the vet to ensure your furry friend is healthy, up-to-date with vaccinations, and equipped to travel.

2. Take a trial run

If your pet has never been on holidays, consider taking it on a trial run. A test run or two with your dog can familiarise it with the vehicle’s surrounds and allow you to gauge how well it might travel when it comes to the real thing. Hopefully, this groundwork will provide you with peace of mind, too.

3. Avoid pet sickness

It’s important to minimise the chances of your pet being sick while on the road. One way to help avoid travel sickness is ensuring your furry friend has been fed prior to departure; at least three to four hours in advance. Your vet may have also recommended ginger-based tablets in case of travel sickness.

It also helps to exercise your pet long before you hit the road to ensure they aren’t dehydrated while travelling.

4. Take rest stops

It's best to be prepared if your pet can’t read the sign that states ‘next toilet stop 20km away’. Depending on the length of your road trip, be sure to factor in rest stops. A quick break to give your canine the chance for relief, fresh air, a stretch of the legs, and water will provide great benefit.

5. Safety first

This obvious but important advice can’t be stressed enough: never leave your pet alone in a parked car. Even if the weather is only mildly warm, leaving a pet in a parked car can result in heatstroke after as little as 15min.

Time for a road trip with your dog? Check out BIG4’s pet-friendly accommodation options. See more below.