Road Trip with Dog

Hugo has been traveling by car with us since he was eight weeks old. The first trip home from the breeder was 45 minutes – he threw up before we even got onto the highway. It turned out to be the beginning of a long struggle.

Our 10-kilo Cavapoo is now a completely different car traveler. He jumps in voluntarily, curls up, and falls asleep before we leave the driveway. But the journey to get there? It was longer than any of our vacation trips.

Here’s everything I’ve learned – the mistakes, the solutions, and what actually worked for us.

Why the car works best for us

With two kids, a Cavapoo, and all the luggage that comes with it, the car is the only realistic option. Sure, Hugo at 10 kilos could technically manage a train – but the logistics with a stroller, bags, and a furry friend wanting to greet everyone in the carriage quickly becomes chaotic.

The car gives us:

• Full control over when we stop
• Space for everything: dog crate, dog food, kids' stuff
• The ability to take detours to dog-friendly rest areas
• No schedule to stress against

The only problem was that Hugo hated the car.

Motion sickness – our biggest challenge

I’ll be honest: the first few months were hell.

Hugo threw up every trip. Not sometimes – every time. Five minutes to the store? Throws up. Ten minutes to the in-laws? Throws up. We had towels and wet wipes as standard equipment in the car. The smell of dog vomit lingered in the upholstery for months.

We tried everything.

Crated in the back seat – thought that safety and stability would help. All guides said a crate was best. Hugo threw up in the crate instead. Easier to wash than car upholstery, but no solution to the actual problem.

Own seatbelt harness – bought a harness that attached to the seatbelt buckle. The idea was that he could sit up and look out. He threw up anyway.

Hugo on my lap – a desperate attempt when nothing else worked. I sat in the passenger seat with him on my lap, held him, spoke calmly. And it actually helped. He was calmer, threw up less. The closeness and security seemed to break the pattern.

But sitting with the dog on my lap is neither safe nor legal on longer trips. So it became a temporary solution – a way to train him at all without every trip ending in disaster.

What actually worked:

• No food 4 hours before the trip. Not 2-3 hours as many guides say – Hugo needed longer. Empty stomach = nothing to throw up.
• Extremely short trips. We backed all the way to the start. Literally drove 2 minutes the first week. Stopped, got out, celebrated with treats. Then home. It took weeks before we dared to increase to 5 minutes.
• Lap as a transitional solution. Short distances with Hugo on my lap broke the connection between the car and nausea. When he stopped throwing up on my lap, we could gradually move him back to the crate – first short distances, then longer.
• Window open. Fresh air right in his nose made a big difference. Even in winter, we drove with the window slightly open.
• Cerenia from the vet. On really long trips, we used motion sickness medication. No shame in that. It gave Hugo (and us) a chance to actually create positive car memories instead of every trip being a trauma.

It took almost three months of consistent training before we could drive an hour without vomiting. Three months of short trips, washed towels, and slow ramp-up. Today he sleeps after five minutes on the highway.

If you’re struggling with a motion-sick dog right now: it gets better. But it takes time, and there are no shortcuts.

Safety by law – and how we solved it

The traffic regulations state that cargo (which includes dogs) must be secured so that it cannot harm people during braking or an accident. An unrestrained dog in the car is therefore illegal – but above all, life-threatening.

In a crash at 50 km/h, a 10 kg dog becomes a projectile with around 350 kg of force. This can seriously injure both the dog and the passengers.

Our solution today:

Hugo travels in a belted transport crate in the back seat. It is just the right size for him – spacious enough to lie comfortably, small enough to feel secure. We secure the crate with the seatbelt through the loops on the sides.

It took time to get him used to the crate after all the negative associations, but now it is his safe place. He goes in by himself and lies down.

Options for small and medium-sized dogs:

• Dog car seat: Perfect for dogs that want to see out the window. Raises the dog up and attaches to the seatbelt. We used it for a while – Hugo liked to see out, but fell asleep easier in the crate.
• Seatbelt harness: Attaches to the car's seatbelt buckle. Can work for shorter trips, but buy a crash-tested version. Cheap ones are available everywhere, but they don’t hold up in a real crash.
• Transport crate: Safest, especially if crash-tested. Available in sizes that fit a Cavapoo perfectly.

My recommendation: Start with what works for your dog, even if it’s not the "optimal" solution according to guides online. A dog that feels good in a car seat is better than a dog that throws up in a crate. Safety can be fine-tuned once the basic problem is solved.

Breaks – more important than you think

The rule of thumb is every 2-3 hours, but it depends on the dog and the trip. Hugo, with his smaller bladder, sometimes needs to stop more often, especially if he has drunk a lot of water.

In the beginning, when we were still training away the motion sickness, we stopped much more often – sometimes every 20 minutes. It felt excessive, but it was part of building positive associations.

What a good break includes:

• Water first. We have a collapsible bowl that always stays in the door pocket.
• Bathroom break. Give the dog time to sniff and find the right spot – don’t rush.
• Movement. 10-15 minutes of walking, not just a quick pee at the parking lot.
• Mental stimulation. New smells = mental training. Let them sniff properly.

Our favorite places to stop:

• Rest areas with dog forests (marked with a dog symbol on the Swedish Transport Administration's maps)
• Nature reserves with parking near entrances
• Swimming areas out of season
• Gas stations with grassy areas behind the building

We now plan our stops in advance. Search for "dog rest areas" or "nature reserves" along the route in Google Maps.

The temperature in the car

You already know this. But every summer, dogs die in cars in Sweden. So I’ll say it anyway:

Outside Temperature	In the car after 10 min	After 30 min
20°C	29°C	38°C
24°C	34°C	45°C
28°C	39°C	52°C

Open windows barely help. Shade barely helps. AC that turns off when the car is turned off helps not at all.

Our rule: Hugo is never left alone in the car.

If we have to stop quickly – gas station, toilet – one adult goes in while the other stays with Hugo, windows open, AC on. Are we alone? Then he gets to come inside. A 10-kilo Cavapoo can be carried in arms or in a bag if needed. Or we simply don’t stop.

Packing list

In the crate/back seat:

• Favorite blanket (smells like home = security)
• Water bottle + collapsible bowl
• Treats
• Poop bags
• Towel (old habit from the motion sickness days)

In the glove compartment:

• ID tag with current phone number
• Insurance papers
• Vet's number
• Motion sickness medication (Cerenia, if you have it)

In the cooler:

• Dog food portioned in ziplock bags
• Cooling mat for warm days

Things I wish someone had told me

"It’s okay that it takes time." All guides said "train gradually for a few weeks". For us, it took three months. Every dog is different.

"Listen to your dog, not the internet." Hugo felt better on my lap than in the crate at first. It wasn’t the "right" solution according to experts, but it was what worked for us.

"The vet is your friend." Motion sickness medication felt like a failure. It wasn’t. It was a tool that helped us break a vicious cycle.

"Drive smoothly." Harsh braking and sharp turns make the dog anxious and more motion sick. Since I started driving as if I had a cup of coffee on the dashboard, Hugo is much calmer.

"Tired dog = good traveler." A long walk before departure means Hugo falls asleep immediately. With a Cavapoo's energy level, it’s almost a must.

Traveling by car with a dog requires planning and patience – especially in the beginning. But it gets better. Hugo, who threw up every trip, is now Hugo who sleeps all the way to Skåne.

It was worth every towel.

Popular road trip destinations

Once you master the car trip, Sweden opens up. Some of our favorites for road trips with a dog:

• Dalarna – Perfect for those who love forests and lakes
• Småland – The Kingdom of Glass and lots of nature
• Skåne – Shorter driving distance from the south and good rest opportunities
• Kalmar/Öland – Popular for summer trips

/Love & Hugo