Travelling With Two or More Dogs: What You Need to Know

Travelling with a dog can be an amazing adventure—but when you’re travelling with two dogs (or more!), it’s all too easy for things to get a bit out of hand! In fact, the more wagging tails, the more you’re going to need to give the journey a bit of thought.

From managing space to balancing personalities, calm journeys don’t simply happen by chance—and everything runs a lot smoother when you plan ahead. Here’s what to consider when travelling with your dogs, especially when you’re figuring out how to travel with two dogs comfortably and safely.

Why Travelling With Multiple Dogs Needs Extra Planning

When you’re travelling solo with one dog, it’s relatively easy to focus on their individual needs—in theory, anyway (chaos can strike at any time!). Add another dog or two, however, and the dynamics change hugely.

Space, Movement, & Excitement Levels

Dogs take their cues from one another. Excitement, tension, or restlessness can quickly spread between travelling companions, particularly if space is tight. Crowding can increase stress and make it harder to settle, and even lead to disagreements during the journey.

Different Temperaments, Different Needs

One dog may hop into the car with a wagging tail, while another may feel unsure or overwhelmed. When travelling with dogs in the car, it’s important to support each dog as an individual with their own individual personality. Even when they’re sharing the same space.

Preparing Before the Journey

Preparation is the best way to successfully travel with two or more dogs. In fact, it’s also very important when travelling with one dog. In short, always prepare!

Health, ID, & Essential Kit

Especially before long journeys, it’s sensible to:

• Check microchip details and ID tags have your current contact information
• Ensure vaccinations and parasite protection are up to date where relevant

When packing, don’t forget:

• Food, water, bowls, and treats
• Leads and waste bags
• Familiar bedding for each dog
• Any medication needed or a simple first-aid kit
• Toys, chews, activity feeders or snuffle mats
• ADAPTIL Transport Spray (speaking of which, more below)

And if you’re in doubt about what to bring, check out our essential travel kit checklist for more handy advice.

Help Dogs Feel Calm Before They Get In the Car

When travelling with dogs in the car, we recommend spraying ADAPTIL Transport Spray at least 15 minutes before your dogs get in. The pheromone message helps create a reassuring environment that lasts up to 5 hours and is completely undetectable to human noses. For the best results, spray into your dogs’ bedding or carrier in the car to create an effective calming zone.

If your journey lasts longer than 4 to 5 hours, plan to reapply during one of your breaks to maintain that calming support.

Managing Space & Seating Safely

For any journey, how you organize space plays a huge role in both safety and emotional comfort, and this is doubly true when travelling with two or more dogs.

Give Every Dog Their Own Zone

First, it’s important to understand that dogs take up space. You can’t simply expect multiple dogs to cram into a space they don’t fit! Each dog should have their own secure, comfortable space, whether that’s separate crates or designated areas with dog guards.

Combined with crash-tested harnesses, this helps prevent movement, reduces travel stress, and keeps everyone safe if you need to brake suddenly.

Different Size Dogs May Need Different Solutions

If your dogs vary in size, you may need different restraint options for each. The key is ensuring every dog can settle comfortably without being squashed or sliding into another dog’s space.

Balancing Different Energy Levels & Temperaments

Just like people, dogs don’t all experience travel in the same way. Some may find it soothing, while others may find it a wild journey into the unknown!

Supporting these mixed personalities is vital to knowing how to travel with dogs in the car or elsewhere. Take a moment to understand each dog’s temperament and consider what they need in order to travel calmly and safely. For extra help, check out our guide to understanding your dog’s body language during car travel.

Supporting Nervous & Excitable Dogs Together

It’s common to have one dog who finds journeys easy and another who struggles. Try to:

• Place calmer dogs next to more anxious ones only if they’re comfortable together
• Avoid overstimulation by keeping the environment calm
• Consider additional support for dogs who find travelling more difficult

The goal is to help each dog feel relaxed without necessarily disrupting the other’s energy.

Keeping Dogs Calm During the Journey

So how do you go about making the journey itself a calm, stress-free experience? Well, it’s easier said than done, but there are plenty of steps you can take to help.

Familiar Comforts Make a Big Difference

Bring bedding that smells like home, keep ventilation comfortable, and maintain a steady temperature in the car. Soft background noise, like gentle music or white noise, can also help mask unfamiliar sounds from the road, with some studies even suggesting that classical music has a therapeutic effect on dogs!

Using ADAPTIL Transport Spray throughout the journey can further support emotional balance when travelling with dogs in the car, helping them to settle more easily.

Plan Regular Breaks

No one enjoys sitting still for hours on end, and the same is true for our pooches. When travelling with dogs, stop regularly so they can:

• Stretch their legs
• Have water
• Take toilet breaks
• Reset emotionally before continuing

Arriving at Your Destination

As you approach the end of your journey, it’s easy to think the work is done, but there are still a couple of things we can do to ensure the experience is a success.

Once you arrive, give each dog a quiet space to decompress. You should also try to stick as closely as possible to their usual routines. Familiar mealtimes, walks, and rest periods all help dogs feel secure in new surroundings.

Extra Tips for Stress-Free Travel

Learning how to travel with two dogs takes a little patience, but with preparation and the right emotional support, it’s something we can all achieve. Here are a few final pointers to help you along the way, whether travelling with a solo pooch or a whole bundle of wagging tails:

• Practice short car journeys before longer trips to build positive associations
• Reward calm behaviour in and around the car (it always helps to have treats on hand!)
• If one dog struggles more than the other, remember to tailor support individually—there’s no ‘”one-size-fits-all” approach to supporting different personalities

Travel Calmly Together

Every dog experiences travel differently, but it’s a journey everyone can get through with a little thought and planning. And with calming support available, such as ADAPTIL Transport Spray, there’s no reason it can’t become an adventure to look forward to!

For more tips on helping your dog feel calm at home and on the move, keep exploring the ADAPTIL blog. And while you’re there, don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date with expert advice, product guidance, and dog-friendly travel tips!