10 Dog Breeds Most Likely to Love a Road Trip Adventure
Hit the road with these travel-ready companions.
If your family loves to go on road trips, there’s only one thing that can make the journey a whole lot better. Is it a plethora of car games? The right essentials to keep your car organized? A perfect selection of snacks? While all of these things make for an amazing road trip, we’d argue that bringing your dog along is the true essential to make your trip extra fun and memorable.
However, certain dog breeds are better suited to road trips than others. From dogs that are small in size (and therefore extra portable!) to larger dogs that love an adventure, these pups are the most likely to adore the open road. Whether they’re riding in a cozy carrier or their very own car seat, these dogs will happily ride along with your family for everything from rest-stop walks to roadside adventures.
Labrador Retriever
Labs are famous for being lovey-dovey with their families (the AKC reports that they’re especially affectionate with their people)—in other words, they’re up for following you anywhere. They also stay calm in unfamiliar places and are emotionally resilient—you can get out of the car and they’re ready to adapt to almost any environment.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Petite and compact, it’ll be easy to pack up your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel into your car. Adaptable and known to be quiet to moderate barkers, they’ll stay pretty peaceful as you travel. They’re also laid-back and will be all-too ready to snuggle up for the night when you stay in a hotel room.
Toy Poodle
These puppers form super-deep bonds with their families, which means they’ll be up for a road trip as long as they’re in close proximity to you. They’re great around kids as well. And their trademark curly coats are hypoallergenic and don’t shed a lot, so your car seats are sure to stay relatively fur-free.
Golden Retrievers
As the AKC says, Golden Retrievers are classically outgoing and eager-to-please. Translation? As soon as you say, “Want to go in the car?,” they’ll be out the door! They thrive whenever they’re near their people, so they’ll love going on any voyage with you. Just be sure to make pit stops for walks since they’re high-energy.
Dachshund
Dachshunds are mini pups, making them travel-ready no matter how much luggage you have. They’re also world-class nappers, so they’ll be sure to snooze the miles away during any road trip. And since they easily bond with their families, they’ll be eager to go anywhere with you.
Dalmatian
Nicknamed “coach dogs” or “carriage dogs,” these spotted pups were originally trained to trot alongside carriages, so they’re already known for hitting the road. Also, they can’t resist rides on fire engines! Your car will be just as fun for these social dogs as they travel along with their pack.
Pomeranian
All a Pomeranian needs for a long car ride is a teeny-tiny carrier! Weighing no more than three to seven pounds, they’re the miniature travel companion that your road trip needs. Lively with larger-than-their-size personalities, they’ll add the perfect amount of fun to your travels, too. And won’t they look so cute in your vacation photos?
French Bulldog
The AKC notes that French Bulldogs, with their adorably scrunched-up faces, are low on the barking level scale, so you won’t have to worry about constant barking on the road or in a hotel. They don’t need a ton of exercise, and that means they will contentedly travel instead of wishing they were doing something else.
Maltese
Toy-sized, Malteses pack up quite nicely into any car. They’re also known to be “Velcro dogs,” meaning they’re oh-so happy to be wherever you and your family are—and that includes the car. They also tend to be fairly low-energy and they’ll enjoy staying cozy in their kennels no matter how far you’re traveling.
Yorkshire Terrier
Known for being hypoallergenic, if any members of your family have allergies, you can rest assured that traveling in a small space with a Yorkshire Terrier won’t make those allergies flare up. They’re tiny but fierce and won’t take up lots of room while still being fun and game for traveling. It also doesn’t hurt that they form strong bonds with their families.
4 Things to Do With Your Dog in the Fall
Is It Ever OK for Dogs to Eat Grass?
8 Dog Breeds That Get Along With Chickens
The Small Dog Breed That’s Easiest to Train
