You have planned an awesome, scenic day trip adventure to go with your best furry buddy, but you are not sure what to take along for the ride.  Fear not!  We have compiled a list of items that are essential in creating a fun, hassle free, epic trip with your pooch.

1)  Pack food and water!  This goes without saying… but owners often forget and they resort to street food instead.  Which can often upset your pet's stomach.  Also, bring extra water and a bowl.  If you have the heating or AC on in the car, the dryness in the air will dehydrate your pet more frequently.

2)  Pet treats.  It’s important to reward your pet for good behavior while traveling and on the road . 

3)  Poop bags - NSW fines are up to $880 dollars for not cleaning after your pet.  Plus it’s embarrassing when you pooch goes in front of a crowd and your stuck empty handed with nothing to clean it up.

4)  Toys, blankets, or an old towel.  This can help provide a sense of comfort and familiarity for them while in an unknown territory.  Also, getting you pet wet may not be on the plans.  But if it happens, you will have a something to dry them off with and clean your car.

5)  Leash and collar.  You don’t want to get caught without one of these!  It may put a damp on your outside excursion with your overly excited fur child.

6)  Lastly, a carry on bag.  Especially if you are going sightseeing on a busy spot with lots of people walking around.  You may want to carry your fur baby on a bag that’s  light, breathable and easy to carry.  Check out our mesh pet carrier bag.  This will also help you be hands free to enjoy other things.

If packing all of these things can be a little overwhelming, or if you are running late and don’t have the time to pack.  You can choose to purchase our pet travel lunch box that can store food and water in a spill proof container, plus treats!  It also comes with the added bonus of a built-in bag dispenser and an additional collar and leash set.  All of these things come in one place!

I hope you’ve enjoyed these tips on what to pack for your dog or cat when going on a day trip.  Happy travels to you and your pooch!

Does your dog dash under your bed during a thunderstorm? Does he hide under a kitchen chair when you have a group of guests over? Our pets love den-like spaces, and their beds should reflect their desire to have a safe place to rest and feel protected. Here’s what you need to know about why dog beds should resemble dens.

 Why dogs need den-like bed?

According to American Humane: “Dogs are den animals. They need their own sanctuary that is just large enough for them to fit inside and feel secure. They need a ‘home away from home’ where they can go when they are stressed. If you don’t provide your dog a ‘den’ of its own, it may make do with whatever is around — a chair, the narrow place behind the couch, or the wedge of space between the bed and the wall.”

An enclosed dog bed can give your fur child a sense of security that is currently lacking in your home. Have you ever felt the need to hop into bed and throw the covers over your head to escape the world when you’re having a rough day? Your dog has the same urge, and a regular dog bed doesn’t provide the same sense of security that a den-like bed can, when they are feeling stress.

 Why not just crate your dog?

Some people choose to crate train their dogs. However, if your dog doesn’t need to be locked up for safety or potty training, then a dog bed that resembles a den may be a better option. Some dogs will panic when they discover that they are locked up and can’t leave their place.

Modern Dog Magazine says: “Dogs have a natural denning instinct, normally preferring safe, enclosed quarters for their naps. In the wild, a den is a secure place to get some shut-eye without becoming someone else's meal.”

Crates have their place. They are great for helping to potty train puppies and keeping destructive dogs safe when they’re alone. But when you’re home and able to supervise your dog, a crate can feel more like a trap than a secure place to sleep.

Some dogs will feel comfortable using their crate as a den, while others will avoid their crate as much as possible. If your dog avoids their crate when you’re home, they may prefer a dog bed that is designed like a den to help them feel secure when they are feeling anxious.

 What is a den, and how can a dog bed resemble a den?

According to Cuteness: “Dogs enjoy the comfort of a den, which is an enclosed, personal space just big enough for a single dog. He has room to stand up and stretch or lie down, and when he feels frightened or stressed, he can go there to feel safe.”

A dog bed that is enclosed on at least three sides with a roof just high enough for your dog to stand up will best resemble a den and help your dog feel comfortable and relaxed better than any other type of pet bed.

Is bigger always better? Not necessarily. The larger the den, the less secure a dog will feel. Being able to feel cocooned in and having a sense of exactly where the wall boundaries are will help them feel more relaxed.

 What types of situations can make a dog prefer a dog bed that’s enclosed?

There are a lot of reasons a dog might choose to seek shelter in an enclosed pet bed:

-Fear or anxiety

-Thunderstorms

-Fighting amongst the people or other pets in the home

-Loud noises

-Abuse in a previous home

-Needing to feel safe

-Tension in the home

-Warmth

-Comfort

-Shelter

A final thought about pet beds

We all have a safe space where we like to go when feeling stressed and anxious. The same should be the case for your dog. Other than you lap, your furry friend craves a safe space away from the chaos that a home sometimes can have. Attending to their emotional needs and natural behavior should be a top priority in order to improve their quality of life. To find a selection of den-beds, you can go to shop den beds.

Does your cat have a favorite spot behind the sofa when strangers come to visit? Maybe she prefers to hide under the bed. Cats love dens, and their pet beds should reflect their need to have a safe place to rest where they can feel secure. Here’s the compelling reason cat beds should resemble dens.

Enclosed pet beds make cats feel safe

An enclosed cat bed can make your kitty feel safe and secure, especially if they’re new to the family or there’s a lot of extra stress in your home. In the wild, cats can fall prey to larger predators, so a den can keep them safe while they let their guard down enough to sleep. If three sides and a roof are protected, the cat only has to maintain minimal awareness of one vulnerable side, allowing them to relax more.

Think about how much your cat loves curling up in a box. You may not want to have cardboard boxes lying around your home at all times, so why not provide a cat bed that feels as comfortable to your cat as a cardboard box?

Why do cats love cardboard boxes?

Hiding boxes have been shown to reduce stress in shelter cats. Beyond reducing stress, enclosed spaces help cats regulate their body temperature. Studies have shown that cats need an ambient temperature of 86° to 97° F to maintain their body temperature without needing to generate energy to stay warm. That’s a lot warmer than most people keep their homes, so your cat may be working harder to stay warm than you expect.

An enclosed space like a cardboard box or a cat bed that resembles a den will help your cat retain his body heat and remain physically more comfortable, not to mention the psychological relief cats experience when they confine themselves in small spaces.

If your cat loves to hide under the bed, behind your sofa, or in other unusual spaces, they may feel more comfortable and confident with a cat bed that is enclosed and resembles a den.

What types of situations can make a cat prefer a cat bed that’s enclosed?

There are a lot of reasons a cat might seek shelter in an enclosed pet bed:

-Fear or anxiety

-Thunderstorms

-Fighting in the home

-Loud noises

-Abuse in a previous home

-Needing to feel safe

-Tension in the home

-Warmth

-Comfort

-Shelter

A final thought about pet beds

        Your bed is probably the place where you feel the most relaxed and secure, and the same should be the case for your pet beds. Enclosed pet beds may be slightly more expensive than something you can pick up at a retail chain, but isn’t your kitty worth having a pet bed that makes them feel as comfortable as possible?