Anxious dogs can still enjoy holidays, but they need different considerations. Understanding what triggers your dog's anxiety, choosing appropriate destinations, and managing the experience carefully can lead to successful, stress-reduced breaks. Some anxious dogs even improve with carefully managed travel experiences.
This guide covers everything you need to know about travelling with nervous or anxious dogs.
Understanding Dog Anxiety
Common Anxiety Triggers
Travel-Related:
- Car journeys
- New environments
- Unfamiliar sounds
- Strangers
- Other dogs
- Routine changes
- Separation from owners
Environmental:
- Loud noises (traffic, fireworks, storms)
- Crowds
- Confined spaces
- Open spaces
- Specific situations
Signs of Anxiety
Watch For:
- Panting when not hot
- Pacing
- Whining or barking
- Trembling
- Hiding
- Refusing food
- Excessive licking
- Yawning when not tired
- Whale eye (showing whites)
- Tucked tail
- Attempting to escape
Know Your Dog
Before Planning:
- What specifically triggers anxiety?
- How severe is the anxiety?
- What helps your dog calm down?
- Have you addressed this with a vet or behaviourist?
Is Travel Right for Your Dog?
Honest Assessment
Consider Whether:
- Travel will cause significant distress
- Your dog has coping mechanisms
- The trip is worth potential stress
- Alternatives might be better
Travel May Not Be Right If:
- Severe anxiety that doesn't respond to management
- Travel causes genuine distress
- Your dog's welfare would be compromised
- No improvement despite efforts
Alternatives to Consider
If Travel Too Stressful:
- House sitter at home
- Trusted friend or family care
- Quality boarding facility
- Day trips only
- Work on anxiety first, travel later
Building Up to Travel
Gradual Approach:
- Start with short car journeys
- Practice overnight stays locally
- Build positive associations
- Increase duration gradually
- Don't rush
Choosing Destinations
Best Destinations for Anxious Dogs
Look For:
- Quiet locations
- Rural/countryside settings
- Low stimulation environments
- Predictable surroundings
- Easy retreat options
Good Choices:
- Remote Scottish cottages
- Quiet Norfolk countryside
- Peaceful Welsh retreats
- Off-season destinations anywhere
Destinations to Avoid
Potentially Stressful:
- Busy tourist hotspots
- Cities with traffic and crowds
- Popular beaches in peak season
- Anywhere with fireworks likely
- Very remote locations (if that triggers anxiety)
Accommodation Considerations
Ideal Features:
- Enclosed garden (secure, private)
- Quiet location
- No shared spaces with others
- Ground floor (no stairs stress)
- Not too remote (if that's a trigger)
Avoid:
- Hotels with shared spaces
- Campsites (too much stimulation for some)
- Properties with other dogs nearby
- Busy locations
Planning the Journey
Car Travel
For Anxious Travellers:
Preparation:
- Multiple practice journeys beforehand
- Crate if that helps your dog feel secure
- Familiar bedding with home smells
- Calming aids if recommended
During Journey:
- Frequent stops (more than usual)
- Quiet, calm environment
- No loud music
- Calm, reassuring presence
- Don't make a fuss
Journey Length:
- Shorter is better for anxious dogs
- Choose closer destinations
- Build up to longer trips gradually
Calming Aids
Options (Discuss with Vet):
- Adaptil (pheromone) spray or collar
- Thundershirt or anxiety wrap
- Calming supplements
- Prescription medication for severe cases
- Bach Rescue Remedy
Important: Consult your vet before using any products, especially for severe anxiety.
At the Accommodation
Arrival
First Steps:
- Keep calm yourself (dogs read you)
- Let dog explore at own pace
- Don't force exploration
- Set up familiar bed immediately
- Maintain calm energy
First Hours:
- Short, quiet walk to explore
- Establish toilet area
- Keep stimulation low
- Let dog settle gradually
- Don't invite anxiety by excessive concern
Creating Security
What Helps:
- Familiar items from home
- Same bed/blankets
- Routine as normal as possible
- Safe space to retreat to
- Consistent meal times
The Safe Space:
- Crate if crate-trained and comforting
- Quiet corner
- Covered area (some dogs prefer)
- Accessible but away from activity
Managing the Environment
Reduce Triggers:
- Close curtains if outside stimuli triggers anxiety
- White noise to mask unfamiliar sounds
- Keep comings and goings calm
- Manage exposure to triggers
Activities and Walks
Appropriate Activities
For Anxious Dogs:
- Quiet walks in low-stimulation areas
- Familiar-type terrain
- Predictable environments
- Sniff-focused walks (calming)
- Short sessions, multiple times
Avoid:
- Busy tourist areas
- Crowded beaches
- Places with many other dogs
- Unpredictable environments
- Overwhelming experiences
Walk Management
During Walks:
- Choose quiet times
- Have escape routes planned
- Don't force interactions
- Let dog set pace
- Reward calm behaviour
- Turn back if stressed
Recognising Overwhelm
Signs to Stop:
- Increasing anxiety signals
- Shutting down
- Attempting to flee
- Refusal to continue
- Any sign of distress
Response:
- Calmly leave the situation
- Find quiet space
- Don't punish or get frustrated
- Allow recovery time
Managing Anxiety Throughout
Daily Routine
Structure Helps:
- Consistent feeding times
- Regular walk times
- Predictable routine
- Minimise surprises
- Same patterns as home where possible
Your Behaviour
Critical Factor:
- Dogs read your emotions
- Stay calm and confident
- Don't reinforce anxiety with excessive concern
- Model relaxed behaviour
- Avoid tension in your voice/body
Dealing with Setbacks
When Things Go Wrong:
- Stay calm
- Remove from situation
- Allow recovery
- Don't push further
- Adjust plans if needed
- It's okay to return home if necessary
Special Situations
Noise-Sensitive Dogs
Planning For:
- Check for local events (fireworks, festivals)
- Choose quiet locations
- Avoid New Year and November 5th
- Have management plan ready
See our Christmas Holidays guide for fireworks considerations.
Dog-Reactive Dogs
Considerations:
- Early morning/late evening walks
- Quiet locations
- Space from other dogs
- Management techniques
- Appropriate lead length for control
Separation Anxiety
If Your Dog Can't Be Left:
- Plan activities where dog comes
- Consider taking turns with partner
- Dog-friendly attractions only
- Accept limitations
Professional Help
When to Seek Help
Before Travelling:
- If anxiety is severe
- If medication might help
- If you're unsure how to manage
- If previous trips have been very stressful
Who Can Help:
- Veterinary behaviourist
- Qualified dog behaviourist
- Vet (for medical support)
Medication
For Some Dogs:
- Prescription medication helps
- Discuss with vet well before trip
- Trial before travel
- Not a failure to use medication
Success Signs
What Good Looks Like
Positive Indicators:
- Dog can relax at accommodation
- Eats and sleeps normally
- Shows some curiosity about surroundings
- Calm on walks
- Returns to baseline quickly after stress
Building on Success
After a Good Trip:
- Repeat similar experiences
- Gradually increase challenges
- Build confidence over time
- Celebrate progress
Frequently Asked Questions
Can anxious dogs ever enjoy travel?
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Many can, with appropriate management and destination choice. Some dogs improve with carefully managed exposure. Others may never be comfortable travellers.
Should I use medication for travel?
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Discuss this with your vet. For some dogs, medication significantly improves the travel experience. Using medical support is not a failure.
What's the best destination for anxious dogs?
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Quiet, rural, predictable environments work best. Remote cottages with enclosed gardens and off-season travel to normally busy destinations are ideal.
How do I know if travel is too stressful?
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If your dog shows severe distress, cannot settle, stops eating, or does not recover between stressors, travel may be too much for them.
Will forcing my dog to travel help them get used to it?
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No. Flooding or forced exposure usually makes anxiety worse. Gradual, positive experiences are far more effective.
Should I comfort my anxious dog?
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Calm, matter-of-fact support is fine. Excessive fussing can reinforce anxiety. Stay calm and model relaxed behaviour.
Thoughtful Travel
Anxious dogs need extra consideration, but many can enjoy carefully planned holidays. Understanding your dog's specific triggers, choosing appropriate destinations, and managing the experience thoughtfully creates the best chance of success.
Know your dog. Plan accordingly. Don't push too hard. Celebrate small successes.
Luke understands that each dog is different. While some of the pack travel with ease, others have needed more support to become confident travellers. Patience and appropriate management make the difference.
★★★★★
20 global ratings
Top reviews
DM
Our rescue greyhound Willow is scared of everything - new places, sounds, people. Honestly thought holidays were impossible. This guide showed us it's absolutely possible with the right planning. We chose a quiet Scottish Borders cottage, let her decompress, didn't force exploration. By day three she was actually choosing to sniff around the garden.
Helpful
Seller Response
Willow choosing to explore by day three is huge progress! That patient, pressure-free approach is exactly right for anxious dogs.
SP
Every other guide assumes dogs bounce into holidays excited. This one understands that anxious dogs need careful management. Our nervous spaniel Bella needs routine and familiarity. The tips about bringing familiar items, maintaining schedules, and not overwhelming with novelty helped her actually relax. First successful holiday ever.
Helpful
Seller Response
Bella relaxing on holiday is such an achievement! Understanding her needs rather than forcing normal dog behaviour is the key.
MT
The emphasis on finding quiet, isolated accommodation was key for our anxious rescue Luna. No nearby neighbours, no passing traffic, no sudden noises. We found a remote Welsh cottage and she was calmer than at home where there's always street noise. The quieter environment actually helped her decompress.
Helpful
Seller Response
Sometimes holidays are actually calmer than home! Luna finding peace in that Welsh cottage shows how environment matters.
ER
The advice about allowing proper decompression time on arrival was essential. Our anxious collie Skye usually takes days to settle in new places. We did nothing on day one except let her explore the cottage and garden at her own pace. By day two she was ready for gentle walks. That patience paid off hugely.
Helpful
Seller Response
Day one decompression is so important! Skye setting her own pace rather than being pushed made all the difference.
JH
The emphasis on bringing familiar items - bed, blankets, toys - really helped our nervous lurcher Storm. His corner of the holiday cottage smelled like home. He had his safe space wherever we went. The guide was right that familiar scents are calming for anxious dogs. Simple but so effective.
Helpful
Seller Response
Familiar scents are huge for anxious dogs! Storm having his safe-smelling corner made the strange place less scary.
LG
The tips about maintaining normal routines were spot on. Our anxious terrier Alfie thrives on predictability. We kept his meal times, walk times, and bedtime exactly the same as at home. Despite the new environment, the familiar routine kept him grounded. He coped so much better than expected.
Helpful
Seller Response
Routine is an anxious dog's anchor! Alfie's predictable schedule in an unpredictable place kept him stable. Smart approach.
RS
The gradual exposure approach worked perfectly for our nervous rescue Max. Day one: cottage only. Day two: garden and immediate surroundings. Day three: short quiet walk. Day four: slightly longer exploration. By the end of the week he was genuinely enjoying walks. Building up slowly was the key.
Helpful
Seller Response
That graduated approach is textbook for anxious dogs! Max building confidence day by day is beautiful progress.
CW
The car travel section for anxious dogs was really helpful. Our girl Rosie gets stressed in cars. The tips about familiar bedding in the crate, calming music, regular stops in quiet places, and covering the crate helped her arrive less stressed. The journey used to ruin the first day - now it doesn't.
Helpful
Seller Response
Journey stress setting up day one badly is so common! Rosie arriving calmer changes the whole holiday start.
TW
Really helpful guide full of practical strategies for anxious dogs. The emphasis on environment, routine, and patience was exactly right. Four stars only because I'd love more specific destination recommendations known for being quiet and dog-appropriate, but the general approach advice was excellent.
Helpful
Seller Response
Good point on quiet destination suggestions! Every anxious dog has different triggers. Glad the strategies helped though.
HC
The permission to do less was so freeing. We usually try to pack holidays with activities. This guide said it's okay to have quiet days, stay in, let the dog rest. Our anxious spaniel Mabel had her first holiday where we weren't constantly pushing her to do things. She was actually happy.
Helpful
Seller Response
Less is often more for anxious dogs! Mabel happy rather than pushed is what holidays should be about.
SM
The tips about creating a safe space in the accommodation helped our nervous whippet Jasper. We set up his crate in a quiet corner with his familiar bedding on arrival. He had somewhere to retreat when overwhelmed. That bolt-hole made all the difference to his confidence in the strange space.
Helpful
Seller Response
That safe retreat space is essential for anxious dogs! Jasper knowing he has somewhere to go when overwhelmed is huge.
RM
The advice about walking at quieter times worked brilliantly. Our dog-nervous rescue Finn went out early morning and late evening when paths were empty. He could explore without trigger encounters. Built his confidence gradually without setbacks. By week's end he'd even handled passing a few calm dogs.
Helpful
Seller Response
Quiet time walks for dog-nervous dogs is so sensible! Finn building confidence without setbacks is the goal.
PA
Appreciated the honest discussion about anxiety medication for travel. We'd been reluctant but the guide's balanced approach helped us discuss it with our vet. Our severely anxious dog Toby had a mild sedative for the journey and it transformed his experience. Not right for everyone but right for him.
Helpful
Seller Response
Medication can be appropriate for some anxious dogs. Toby's transformed experience shows it was the right choice for him.
CE
The trigger management advice was very practical. Identify your dog's triggers, plan around them, have strategies ready. Our noise-sensitive collie Scout was managed with white noise at night, careful walk timing, and avoiding busy areas. He had his calmest holiday ever because we planned for his specific fears.
Helpful
Seller Response
Knowing Scout's specific triggers and planning around them is excellent management. Calmest holiday ever says it all!
MT
Living with an anxious dog can be isolating. This guide made us feel less alone - someone else understands the constant management, the planning, the limitations. Our nervous girl Poppy had a successful holiday because we felt supported by this advice. The validation helped as much as the tips.
Helpful
Seller Response
You're definitely not alone in this. Poppy's successful holiday shows it's absolutely possible with the right approach.
JR
The recommendation to try Adaptil diffusers was helpful. We plugged one in at the holiday cottage before letting our anxious rescue Duke in. Can't say for certain it helped but he did settle faster than usual. Combined with all the other strategies, it was part of a successful approach.
Helpful
Seller Response
Adaptil can be part of the toolkit! Duke settling faster suggests it contributed. Every little helps with anxious dogs.
GW
Shared this guide with my partner who didn't fully understand our anxious dog's needs. Now he gets why we can't just book any cottage, why we need quiet locations, why the first day is about settling not exploring. Our spaniel Beau benefited from us both being on the same page finally.
Helpful
Seller Response
Everyone understanding the anxious dog's needs makes such a difference! Beau having both owners aligned helps him feel secure.
MT
The rescue dog specific advice was appreciated. Our girl from Romania, Luna, has unknown trauma. The tips about patience, not forcing, allowing choice, and accepting we might not fix everything helped us manage her without pressure. She had her most relaxed week since we got her.
Helpful
Seller Response
Rescue dogs with unknown histories need that extra patience. Luna's most relaxed week is wonderful progress.
CY
The contingency planning advice was helpful. What if it's too much? What if they don't settle? Having a plan to cut the trip short if needed reduced our stress. As it happened, our anxious terrier Archie coped brilliantly. But knowing we could leave early helped us stay calm.
Helpful
Seller Response
Having an exit strategy reduces pressure on everyone! Archie coping brilliantly when you were relaxed isn't coincidental.
AF
The 'progress over perfection' mindset was exactly what we needed. Our anxious rescue Storm didn't have a perfect holiday - there were some difficult moments. But overall she coped better than ever before. This guide helped us see that as success rather than failure. Progress is progress.
Helpful
Seller Response
Progress over perfection is exactly right! Storm coping better than before IS success. Every small step counts.
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