Van life, whether it’s in a campervan, motorhome, or caravan gives you the freedom to explore new places at your own pace, waking up to a fresh view every day. But if your dog is reactive, like ours, you might wonder if this kind of travel is even possible for you. The great news is, it absolutely is! It just takes a little extra planning and a few compromises to make sure both you and your dog have a happy, stress free journey.

Speaking from experience, traveling with our reactive dog, Bonnie, has its challenges. But with the right preparation, you can create adventures that both you and your furry companion will enjoy.

1. Seek Professional Help

Before we started our van life journey, we decided to work with a dog behaviourist, and it was the best investment we made. We’d already tried two different dog trainers, but the behaviourist gave us a whole new understanding of Bonnie and her triggers. Most importantly, they helped us feel confident that we could hit the road and enjoy our travels together.

If working with a behaviourist isn’t an option for you, getting to know your dog’s triggers can make a huge difference. Whether it’s other dogs, strangers, or loud noises, taking the time to figure out what sets them off will help. Before setting out, try to observe how your dog reacts at home or on walks in busy areas. Knowing what causes their stress will help you plan ahead and avoid those situations while you’re on the road.

2. Create a Routine 

Dogs love routine, and that doesn’t change just because you’re traveling. It’s important to keep some consistency in their day, especially when it comes to feeding, walks, and bedtime. For us, we stick to a simple morning routine of waking up around the same time, having breakfast, and heading out for a walk. We also make sure to feed her dinner at a regular time each evening . Having this structure keeps things predictable for her, and having a bit of routine helps us too.

3. Create a Safe Space in Your Van

Dogs need their own little space to retreat to when they’re feeling anxious or overwhelmed, and that’s no different in a van. It could be a cosy bed tucked into a corner, or a special spot that feels safe to them. Our Bonnie let us know that she feels most comfortable under the table or in the passenger footwell. We also brought along her favourite soft toys, which she uses to comfort herself when she’s feeling stressed. Having these safe, cosy space really helps her feel secure, no matter where we park for the night.

4. Tools to Help Your Reactive Dog

Understanding what sets your dog off can really help you steer clear of stressful situations, but when you’re on the road, it’s not always easy to control your surroundings. Luckily, there are a few tools that can make a big difference in keeping your dog calm and in control. For Bonnie, we find an Adaptil collar helps keep her relaxed. We also got some air fences so we can all sit outside together without her constantly scanning for trouble. For walks in busy areas, we use a Halti, which has been great for keeping her more at ease around other dogs and children. Lastly, we bought her a vest that says “I need space,” and that’s really helped keep strangers from getting too close.

5. Exercise and New Places

A tired dog is a happy dog, and usually a much calmer one too. Our dog, Bonnie, absolutely loves discovering new places. Woods, and especially running up and down the beach barking at the waves, are her absolute favourites. We’ve noticed during a good adventure, things that would normally trigger her don’t bother her as much, she’s more interested in sniffing a new bush or chasing the next wave than reacting. This makes it a lot easier to take her to busier places or new walks without us worrying we’ll have to cut things short.

6. Be Mindful of Your Own Energy

Dogs are incredibly intuitive and can sense our energy. If you’re feeling stressed, your dog might become more reactive, this definitely happens with our Bonnie. So, we do our best to stay calm and collected when things might trigger her, which helps her feel more relaxed too. It’s not always easy, but taking a few deep breaths, speaking to her in a calm and soothing voice, and focusing on managing the situation instead of reacting has made a big difference for us.

7. You Can Leave

Sometimes, you can do everything right but the usual tricks just don’t work. We learned from working with a dog behaviourist that a dog’s ability to cope can decrease with each new trigger. For example, Bonnie might manage to walk past one dog just fine, but with every new dog, her stress builds, making it harder for her to stay calm. Just like us, dogs can get overwhelmed when their “cup” is too full. In those moments, the best thing you can do for your dog is to remove them from the situation entirely and give them the space to destress away from their triggers.

Bonnie has shown us that even the most reactive dogs can not only survive van travel but also thrive. With a little extra planning, understanding your dog’s needs, and creating a routine that works for both of you, you can hit the road and enjoy all the wonders of travel without the worry of traveling with your reactive dog.