How to Be a Digital Nomad With a Dog: Tips for Stress-Free Travel

Are you considering the nomadic life, but you’re worried it’s too complicated with a dog? Well, don’t fret because being a digital nomad with a dog is easier than you think, not to mention an incredibly rewarding experience!

Imagine climbing mountains with your best friend by your side. Or coming home from a day of solo adventure in a new place to your dog’s smiling face, then making a cup of cocoa and relaxing with your pup in bed. Ahhh…

Elgie looking majestic in the snow

Benefits of being a digital nomad with pets

Strengthens your bond. Oh, the things you and your pet will do together! My dog, Elgie, and I have summited many mountains, including a thirteener in Colorado! We know we have each other’s backs, and we’re each other’s favorite company. He’s my best friend and my go-to “person” when I want to take a drive, catch a sunset, or just walk around in a new place.

Helps fight loneliness. Though there are many ways to make friends as a digital nomad, those friendships can be fleeting. The one you have with your dog won’t be.

What to know about being a digital nomad with a dog

Dog-friendly housing is harder to find and slightly more expensive. It’s doable, but expect to spend a little longer on your search. I use Furnished Finder and Zillow for my short-term housing.

How I planned to get Elgie onto the NYC subway. I didn’t try it, though.

Dogs usually aren’t allowed on public transit unless they’re in a carrier. Check the rules of your city ahead of time before trying to bring your dog on board. Most cities, in my experience, require pets to be in a carrier. Though “carrier” can sometimes be loosely defined, like these clever New Yorkers did.

Preparing to be a digital nomad with a dog

Before you give up your stationary life for a life of roving with Rover (ha, ha, ha), you’ll need to plan a bit first. Here’s what you need to do:

Make sure your pet is up to date on all shots. Get the paperwork from the vet and have the vet also email it to you so you don’t have to worry about losing it. It’s a good idea to have a digital copy in case anything happens to the physical one. My dog’s paperwork got soaked after leaving it in my bag during my Mount Mitchell hike. Oooops.

If you’re moving countries, check that country’s requirements for pet entry. Here at Outsider Odyssey, we like to keep things simple by sticking to digital nomad life in the U.S. But many nomads move countries frequently (that’s the beauty of digital nomad life–you choose your own adventure). Be sure to read up ahead of time on your destination country’s (or countries’) requirements for pets. Your vet may have to fill out some paperwork for you to take your pet to that country. Plan ahead.

Take a few shorter trips first. See how your dog does on a short trip before you drag him or her all over. Luckily for me, my dog has always loved car rides. I take him everywhere if the weather’s nice! So I wasn’t too worried about how he’d do once we became nomadic.

Before we became full-on nomads, Elgie had been on a few trips from Minnesota to Kentucky (12ish hours each way) as well as a 3-day (each way!) drive from Minneapolis to Los Angeles. So I knew he was fine in the car. We stayed in California for 6 weeks before returning to Minnesota to give up our furever (ha ha) home and hitting the road full-time, and he did great in a new, unfamiliar apartment!

Choosing your travel method

Unless you’re going on a walkabout with your dog, there are 3 methods of long-haul travel: car, plane, and boat. Here’s an overview of each one:

Typical day of road tripping with Elgie.

By car: Tips for taking a road trip with a dog

This is the easiest travel method, especially if your dog likes car rides! I recommend road tripping with your dog whenever possible because you can stop as often as you or your dog needs and you can go at your own pace. That being said, here are a few tips to prepare:

Consider the weather. When traveling in the heat or brutal cold, a remote starter comes in handy. That way you can leave your dog in the car while you make pit stops.

Get a dog seatbelt. A must when traveling by car to keep your dog (and you) safe.

Use caution when traveling at night. Traveling with a dog means you’ll have to do more than the quick dart from your car to the gas station to use the facilities. Make sure to stop in well-lit places where you feel safe letting your dog out. Love’s often has dog parks, and they seem to be everywhere, so look for them!

How often you stop will depend on your dog. It’s a good idea to let them stretch their legs every few hours. But if they’re conked out, no need to wake them.

By plane: Great for small dogs, not so great for large dogs

Many airlines allow dogs to travel as pets, but you’ll need to check specific airline requirements. Airlines require your dog to be in a special carrier that fits all the way under the seat if the dog is riding in the cabin with you.

Larger dogs, unfortunately, have to ride in the cargo hold. That makes me squeamish. I personally couldn’t do it, especially now that my dog is 13, but statistically speaking, horror stories are the exception, not the rule. Everything comes with risk, and you can read reviews on specific airlines to help you make a decision.

What about Emotional Support Animals? Most airlines no longer allow ESAs to ride in the cabin, though they usually accept them as pets. As of now, ESAs can ride in the cabin on LATAM, Volaris, and Aeromexico flights. However, those airlines may allow them only on certain flights. You’ll want to check with the airline.

By boat: Really spoil your dog!

Now we’re talking! If you really want to pamper your pooch, this is the way to go. Say you live in the U.S. but want to live out your digital nomadic odyssey in Europe. But you’ve got a problem: you have a large dog who’s way too big to ride in the cabin on a plane, and you really don’t want to put him in the cargo hold. And if you tried to get him certified as an Emotional Support Animal, you’re pretty sure you’d be laughed at–your dog is more the type to cause emotional distress for others, especially if cramped on a plane for hours.

Ahem…

Enter the Queen Mary 2. This is the only ship I know of that goes from the U.S. to Europe, and tickets sell out quickly! You have to book well in advance (several months, up to a year!) to go this route, and it’s not cheap. It’s a luxury cruise line, and your pet’s ticket costs nearly what yours costs. Your pet has to stay in a kennel the whole time, but you can go visit him or her. The cruise lasts for 7 days, departing from New York and stopping in Southampton. From there, you could rent a car and head to your destination with your pup!

Big yawn. He’s too cool for the Grand Canyon

Choosing a destination

Find a dog-friendly destination. Asheville, for instance, allowed Elgie to come into every coffee shop we tried, even if there wasn’t a sign on the door. One barista even pulled out a dog water bowl from behind the counter and offered it to him. Awww…

Find the dog-friendly within the non-dog-friendly. I didn’t find Denver to be very dog-friendly–the city anyway. the mountains nearby? Different story. I got kicked out of a few spots because my dog isn’t a service animal, but I did find a really cute place where he was welcome–a place that serves acai bowls, including doggy bowls. His picture is on the wall! This fun experience almost makes up for all the places we got booted from.

Essentials for your nomadic dog

Collapsible bowl. This is a must for a long day of hiking, riding in the car, or just exploring your surroundings.

Trazodone. This will help with anxious situations that may come up. Whether there’s a fireworks show or another exciting event that your dog will overhear, Trazodone is good to have on hand. Ask your vet.

Their bed and toys. They like having familiar things. Don’t bother washing the bed. The stinkier, the better.

This is your dog on trazodone.

Getting your dog adjusted to digital nomad life

Leave him alone for short periods of time to start. You’re a digital nomad, you work remotely (yaaay!) So it shouldn’t be hard to do this. A trip to the corner store for 5 minutes. A trip to the coffee shop for 30 minutes. Grocery shopping for an hour. And so on.

Take your dog with you wherever possible. Of course we always want our best friends by our sides! This is easy to do if you have a car. Late-night drive-thru runs, quick grocery runs, errands (weather permitting).

Record your dog. If your dog has had separation anxiety issues in the past, record her when you leave so you know if she barked or whined while you were gone. Start with short trips away and work your way up to longer ones.

Remember, your dog is happy where you are. Even though you may be in a new location, your dog will still be able to sleep by you, hang out at your feet while you work, and go on walks with you. Your dog’s day won’t change that much as long as you’re around. My dog, for instance, loves a good couch. That’s always been his favorite spot to chill and is a source of comfort for him.

That’s a long, happy dog

General tips for being a digital nomad with a dog

Consider your dog’s needs. It’s not a good idea to book that fourth-floor walkup if your dog has trouble with stairs. Or if your dog barks at people walking by, a city apartment may not be for you.

Book Rover when you’re going to be away from your dog for awhile. I’ve started using Rover instead of dog daycare, and I haven’t looked back since. I can pick a trusted sitter with great reviews and know that Elgie will get lots of attention. This is super handy for long day trips where I can’t take him or if I’m going on a weekend getaway and the destination isn’t dog-friendly.

Try Sniffspot. This is like AirBnB for dogs. You can rent a private dog park, usually someone’s yard, for play! As digital nomads, we still have to work, and sometimes it’s hard to make sure our dog is well-exercised on top of working and exploring. Enter Sniffspot.

Have treats on hand when your dog is with you. To reward your pup for good behavior and to hand to strangers who want to make friends with your dog.

Is being a digital nomad with a dog right for you?

You know your dog best. If I had done this when Elgie was younger, it would have been a disaster. When he was a puppy, he had bad separation anxiety and would bark all day while I was at work. Now, it’s a different story. He doesn’t bark when I leave anymore, he’s accompanied me on many long car trips, and he doesn’t get anxious in unfamiliar apartments. Yay!

If you want to move countries once a week, it’s probably not going to work. Again, you know your dog best, but generally speaking, dogs like routine, and if you’re constantly moving around, your dog might get anxious.

Remember the Elgie

Are you living the digital nomad life with your best friend? Let me know in the comments!

I’d love to know your experience with traveling with your pet! Comment below and tell me all about it!

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