Last week we went to my parent’s house for the Victoria long weekend and to celebrate my nephew’s birthday and mine. Whenever my husband and I are both going away overnight we almost always bring Marlee along. Especially if it?s to my parents house because Marlee loves her Nana and Grandpa. So this blog post is to help you pack a dog overnight bag. Some people may think some of these things are straightforward. Others may never bring their dog overnight and not know what to pack. While others may think that some of these things are excessive and not necessary, but we always like to be prepared and lets face it, Marlee is a high maintenance dog. So we bring to you, What?s in Marlee?s Overnight Bag!
Sweater and Rain Jacket
Now that it is spring/summer this isn?t as necessary as usual but we always like to have at least one sweater on hand. Marlee recently had her hair cut which means she really doesn?t have much left. When she has short hair she gets cold really easily. Our Canadian weather is so unpredictable that sometimes the temperature will be low in the evenings and hot during the day. So we find it important to always have a sweater with us so that we can go for evening walks with no fear of Marlee getting cold.
A rain jacket is also important especially like I said with our unpredictable weather. When we left last Saturday to go to my parent?s house, it was pouring rain. Due to that reason we brought along Marlee?s Canada Pooch Perfect Poncho rain jacket. We ended up not needing to use it but we felt better knowing that we had it with us if we needed it. When Marlee gets wet since she has curly hair is really holds the water and makes her freezing cold. Sometimes this is nice, such as in the middle of the summer when it?s stinking hot out, but not so much when the temperature drops. That?s why we like to include a jacket of some kind in Marlee?s dog overnight bag. We highly recommend it for any dog overnight bag.
Harness, Leash and Poop Bags
These items are pretty straightforward and are no brainers. But you always want to make sure that you put them on your list when you?re packing. We often let Marlee out to go pee before putting her in the car and since we live in the country we don?t leash her to do this. I cannot tell you the amount of times that we have done this and it has resulted in us forgetting a harness or a leash. Marlee has to have a harness or she won?t walk on a leash. This is something that we learned when we first got her. Since she is a rescue dog and previous to us owning her, she had never worn a collar or walked on a leash its one of her quirks. We purchase Marlee?s harnesses from PetSmart?or Ren’s Pets Depot.
Marlee also prefers retractable leashes as many small dogs do. We pack one of these for our trips so that she can always go on walks even if there is a backyard. Whenever we forget a harness or leash we always end up going and buying a new one, which can get expensive. But there is nothing worse than your dog not being able to go on walks and get out their pent up energy or not get exercise. Also, don?t forget poop bags. If you?re bringing your dog on a walk it?s important for you to pick up your dogs poop.
The best way we have found to carry poop bags is with a pet waste bag dispenser. These just clips onto your dogs leash and then when they do their business it?s easy for you to just pull out a bag. I purchased our waste bag dispenser from our local PetSmart and you can also purchase extra poop bags their as well. I have also purchased some from Costco. Both stores sell the poop bags for somewhat inexpensive. Which is perfect since these are a must have item in a dog overnight bag.
Depending on if Marlee has a jacket on or is just au natural is how we decide which harness to put on her. In all honesty her favourite harness is currently missing so we will have to buy her a new one. However, if she has a sweater or jacket on we usually use a rope harness, the grey one in the picture. If she has nothing on, then we use the purple mesh harness since it is more comfortable against her skin and fur.
Toys
Some people may not think that toys are necessary for their dog, but Marlee loves to play and needs her toys. It?s always also really important for your dog to have things with them that they are familiar with. Just like children you want to give your pet their comfort items. For Marlee these are hers toys as well as a couple other items I will talk about later on.
We always make sure to add in some toys that are her favourite such as the Clam Overboard! toy that she received in her April BarkBox. This toy has three parts to it, which she loves. She is always chasing after and squeaking the little pearls from inside the clam. I also always make sure that she has a tug toy because she loves to play tug. We also add in a couple extra just for good measure.
Something we also always include that is not pictured, is that we bring a tennis ball along. That way we can play fetch with Marlee (even though she still doesn?t 100% get the concept of bringing it back). Marlee also loves to greet people at the front door with toys in her mouth. When someone comes in the door, she will literally run for a toy just to bring it to whoever came in and greet them. This is something she learned from my mother in laws golden retriever but it is pretty cute.
Needless to say, we always make sure that we pack toys in Marlee?s dog overnight bad and they are essential for any dog overnight bag.
Water and Food Bowls
This is another no brainer but very easy to forget. I find that if we don?t make a list of what to pack, we almost always forget something. Usually its Marlee?s leash or harness like I mentioned above, but we have also forgotten her water and food bowls. Depending on where you?re going you may be able to get by borrowing a regular bowl from someone.
However, if you have a picky dog or a dog that will only drink out of his or her own bowl you may be in for some trouble. Luckily for us, Marlee is past the point of not being able to drink out of a different bowl. But we still don?t like to forget to put her bowls in her dog overnight bag.
Treats
This is an absolute must! If your dog is used to getting treats as rewards you definitely don?t want to forget these. Marlee almost always gets a little treat when she comes in from doing her business outside as well as before bed. When we first got her, she was severely underweight so apart from her regular food this was a good way to help her put some weight on.
If you follow our blog and read our posts regularly you know how picky Marlee is about food. Therefore, her two favourite types of treats are the VitaLife Duck Tenders?and beef liver. We have recently started buying the Benny Bully Beef Liver treats. These come in so many different flavours. At home we keep a jar full of the regular flavoured beef liver, but when we are on the go we have smaller bags of different flavours. Marlee has recently started to love the Benny Bully’s Apple Beef Liver?and the Benny Bully’s Sweet Potato Beef Liver. So we bring those along with us because she loves them. We can break the pieces into smaller sizes so they last longer and they are in small reseal able bags, which is so convenient.
I don?t think Marlee would forgive us if we forgot her treats. In fact, I?m sure she would demand for us to make a trip to the nearest pet store to stock up. Therefore, make sure you pack your dogs favourite treats in their dog overnight bag, or you may be in trouble.
Food
This is also stating the obvious, but can you imagine if you forgot it? Your pets food is something you definitely want to pack or it could be costly. Depending what type of food your dog eats, you can potentially pack it in their bag in advance. But if your dog is on a frozen or refrigerated food like Marlee, make sure you do this last. Marlee is currently on two types of food since she is extremely picky. She has been on the raw food Instinct Raw?for a long time and has gotten bored of it. So we have started adding in food from Tom and Sawyer. Marlee sometimes loves this food and sometimes is indifferent towards it.
Regardless, both of these foods need to be either in the freezer or fridge. We pack these items last. If your dog is on a food like this, it is also important to consider putting it in a freezer bag or cooler with some ice packs. That way it won?t go bad in transportation, depending on how long your car ride is.
If your dog is on a dry food or a kibble, we recommend taking out your dog?s daily amount and storing it in a plastic freezer bag or a storage container. That way you are saving on space and not transporting the entire food bag. It will keep all of the food more fresh and cut down on the weight of the bag. My brother in law and his wife do this for their dog when travelling with him. They also add in a measuring cup so that they never over feed him. This is especially important if someone else is watching your dog and is in charge of feeding them. Out of everything on this list I would rank this as the number one important item to put in a dog overnight bag.
Blanket and Bed
Marlee being a spoiled little doggie needs her bed and blanket to come along with her overnight. She actually sleeps in bed with us, but she needs her bed just in case. Marlee sits in her bed in the car, which is a comfort for her. She also likes to sleep in it during the day while we are out or just doing stuff around the house. Marlee has a total of three beds in our house and one at my mother in laws. She treats all of her beds equally and knows that they are hers.
We only bring one bed along on overnight trips because truly any more than that is rather excessive. But remember before when I mentioned it being important that your dog had items that were familiar to them? Well this is another one that is very important. For other dogs this may be in the form of their crate. Marlee is crate trained but it never truly became her safe place. Her safe place is her bed.
Going along with her bed is her blanket. I know now she sounds like a child, but she loves her blanket. She has had it for a long time and loves to burrow in it. We keep it in her bed and she just digs and gets right under it when she?s cold and wants to take a nap. Since she does like digging and burrowing in blankets, it?s always important for us to bring this along. Otherwise she would be destroying everyone?s blankets, which would not be a good thing.
If your dog has something they are attached to make sure you bring that along. For many dogs that is their bed or their toys but for Marlee it is also her blanket. Make sure you pack what your dog is familiar with in their dog overnight bag.
Well that is what we packed in Marlee?s dog overnight bag. But like I said, these items may be different for your dog. You may see some of the items on this list and think that for you and your dog they aren?t necessary and that?s okay. Your dog may also need other items that we haven?t listed because they are important to your dog. Pack whatever works for you but don?t forget some of those important ones like food, treats and a leash! These items I would say are the bare minimum items. Then you can pack the extras like sweaters, toys, bed and blankets.
Let us know what you pack in your dog overnight bag and if you think we should add any essential items to our list!
Check out our previous post 5 Ways to Include Your Dog in Your Wedding!
Wet Kisses and Tail Wags!
Karlee and Marlee
