Whether you're heading to a nearby park, beach, or hiking trail, it's always a good idea to pack a dog bag! Check out Proud Dog Mom's list of 10 essentials.

The Perfectly Packed Dog Bag: 10 Essentials For Any Day Trip

Whether my dogs and I are heading out to the nearby park, beach, or hiking trail, I always pack a tote bag filled with their stuff. While I may throw a few extra things in there depending on our destination, there are a few essentials that always make it into the dog bag. Let this list serve as your checklist next time you’re heading out with your canine kid.

10 Dog Bag Essentials

1) Water Bottles

Avoid doggy dehydration by packing a few water bottles. If you notice your dog panting or slowing down, stop what you’re doing and offer him/her some water. I recommend packing a few bottles because chances are you’ll get thirsty and wind up sharing a bottle or two!

2) Portable Water Bowl

You need something to pour that water into. I absolutely love this portable water/food bowl by Kurgo because it’s high quality and folds flat (meaning it doesn’t take up much room in the tote bag)!

3) Food/ Bag Of Treats

If you’re leaving home for the entire day then definitely pack some food with you so your pooch can satisfy his tummy grumbles. If you feed fresh food then you may need a cooler to keep the meal from spoiling. If you feed kibble then I recommend packing it in a wide Tupperware so you can simply pop the top off and use it as the food bowl.

If you’re just heading out for an hour or two and your pup has already eaten then at least bring along some treats. I never leave home without a little baggie of homemade biscuits because, not only are they a great reward, but they’re also a good distraction in case you’re trying to revert your dog’s attention away from something.

4) Poop Bags

Please be kind and pick up after your pooch … it’s that simple!

Whether you're heading to a nearby park, beach, or hiking trail, it's always a good idea to pack a dog bag! Check out Proud Dog Mom's list of 10 essentials.

5) Extra Leash

While you likely won’t need it, it’s always good to have an extra leash handy.

6) Towel

Even if you don’t expect your dog to get dirty on your day trip, a towel is a good thing to pack. If you don’t have room for a full-size towel then, at the very least, pack a washcloth.

7) First Aid Kit

I usually pack a travel first-aid kit in my dog tote bag in case of an emergency. Click here for a checklist of 18 pet first aid kit essentials.

8) Flea Comb and Tick Remover

There’s always a risk your pup will pick up an unwanted visitor when you’re out. Along with a flea comb, there is a special tick remover tool that you can order right from Amazon. Hopefully you’ll never have to use it, but it’s always smart to have.

*Check out this article for step-by-step instructions on how to safely remove a tick from your dog.

9) Dog Safe Sunscreen

Yes, dogs can get sunburn too. In fact, your pup is at risk of all the same dangers as we are when it comes to UV rays. I’m talking about painful sunburn, tumors, skin cancer, etc. Keep your pooch protected with a little dog-approved sunscreen, like this one:

10) Toys

A lot of times, when I’m out and about with my dogs, they’re too distracted to play with their toys. But I always bring them along just in case! I usually pack a tennis ball, a rope toy, and a few plush toys. While it’s tempting to pack your pooch’s favorite toy (you know, the one they always play with), I recommend grabbing another option. You never know if you’ll accidentally forget to bring the toy home or if another dog will grab it.


What travel essentials do you pack in your dog bag? Let me know in the comment section below!