VanLife Essentials for Dog Owners
Living in a small space with pets can be a challenge, but it’s all worth it to have your buddy by your side on all of your adventures. Here are my favorite products that keep me and Arlo happy:
1. Toys That Are NOT Plastic
It blows my mind how many people let their dogs chew on plastic toys that inevitably break into little pieces. I don’t want my dog swallowing plastic, which is why I buy him toys that are made of animal products or food grade ingredients. Giving Arlo things to chew on:
Keeps him entertained while I am working
Keeps his teeth healthy and clean
Gives his brain something to do, which has shown to be as important as physical exercise
Ranked in order of longest to shortest lasting:
Buffalo Horns are a great option and they last the longest of any toy I’ve ever purchased, even with big chewers. If your dog is smaller, Cow Hooves are a great alternative. You can find them filled with peanut butter or meat flavored filling, but I find this makes too much of a mess for my small space, so I get the unfilled ones.
Rolled Beef Cheek Rolls are similar to rawhide, but a safer alternative. They come in different sizes depending on your dog. Again, you can find ones coated with flavoring, but they’re a little smelly and Arlo is plenty interested in the plain ones.
Himalayan Yak Cheese Chews are made of actual cheese, so totally edible but they have no odor. They’re hard, so they take a long time to chew through and keep your dog entertained for a while.
2. Safety First
Whether you’re walking your dog on a leash at night, or let them free roam a campsite, safety is important. When the sun goes down, I always throw a light on Arlo so I know where he is, and so other people don’t think a wild animal is about to attack if they hear him approaching.
These Illuminated Collars are my favorite option. They are rechargeable and can be cut to size. I prefer the multicolor option since a lot of dog parents have these in camp circles, so if we all pick a different color for our dog, it allows us to tell them apart and monitor play in the dark. Just remember to charge it during the day.
As a backup, I keep this Collar Tag Light clipped onto Arlo’s collar all of the time. This one is battery powered, so it’s great if I forget to charge the illuminated collar, or if day turns to night and I haven’t been back to the van to put the collar on. The only downside to this option is that I can’t see it if Arlo isn’t facing me, and it’s a bit less bright because it gets covered up by Arlo’s long fur.
3. Less Mess, Less Stress
Dog hair is my biggest annoyance in the van, so brushing Arlo often is essential. I’ve found the FURminator brushes to be best. The amount of fur they remove is insane… They have different sizes and options depending on your dogs fur type.
Let’s be honest - I’ll rewear clothes as many times as I can to avoid trips to the laundromat. I use a Lint Roller constantly to keep my clothes looking semi-clean. They also make these Giant Lint Rollers, which are great for getting fur off your bedding.
Living in a house that moves means things need to be secure. A dog’s water bowl can present a challenge. Sure, I could put Arlo’s bowl in the sink when I drive, but I like for him to be able to have access to water all the time.
This Water Bowl is made to be splash proof, keeping your floors dry even when you’re driving. Also great if your dog is a messy drinker in general, like mine.
If I’m taking Arlo for a hike, or if we’re sitting outside at a coffee shop for a while, I always have one of these Collapsible Bowls to give him water. Dude loves to drink.
4. Training Tools
Traveling with a pet means you might have them in public situations more than most pets that live in houses. It’s important for them to be well trained, not only for convenience, but for their safety.
E-Collar training completely changed the game when it came to recall for Arlo. Before I started using an E-Collar, he never listened. Now I rarely need to put a leash on him. Make sure you properly train yourself on how to use this before you start using it on your dog.
Arlo was a very excitable puppy. He would pull like crazy on a leash whenever he saw a person or dog, and it became a big issue when he got big enough to pull me down. A Prong Collar quickly fixed that. I know they look scary, but I promise you, the damage you’re doing to your dogs neck by yanking them with a regular collar is much worse.
This is the Leash I use if we’re on the move. I like the adjustable aspect of it - I can use it like a regular leash, or I can wear it across my body if I need a free hand. It’s also great for attaching him to things, like a table on a dog friendly patio, for example.
I also have a Retractable Leash, which I don’t use for walking Arlo, but instead use to tether him to the van if I want the door open but don’t want him to wander out of my sight. I tried a long lead first, and it got tangled constantly. The retractable leash prevents that most of the time.
5. Doodie Duty
I’m a big believer in not wrapping biodegradable poop in plastic whenever it can be avoided. If you’re going to be at a campsite for a while, grab your Shovel, dig a whole and bury it instead. If that’s not an option, pick it up so nobody steps in it. Poop bags get a lot cheaper if you buy them in bulk. This package of 300 Poop Bags really doesn’t take up much space, and it comes with a dispenser to clip to your dogs leash
More importantly, NOBODY wants dog poop in their vehicle. So whether you live in your vehicle or not, if you’re ever in a place that doesn’t have trash to throw away dog poop bags, YOU NEED THIS. Let me introduce you to the Tailgate Dumpster. This silicone container is magnetic, so it easily attaches to the back of your vehicle to transport your poop bag to the nearest trashcan. Note that this isn’t huge - it will only hold one Arlo poop bag. If I try to fit in a second, it will fall off. Hopefully someday they’ll make a larger version.
View all the products recommended in this post here.