🐾 Essential Dog Gear for Vanlife: Tested and Approved
Living in a van with a dog is one of the best parts of vanlife—but it can also be one of the trickiest. Just because Bernie is small doesn’t mean he feels small. (If you’ve ever met a Jack Russell, you get it.) Having the right dog gear is a game-changer.
I’m not an affiliate of any of these products, I do not get paid for this, but this is the dog gear we truly love and use daily. It’s been tested by Bernie and approved by humans who live in a few square feet.
🎥 Ring Camera: Staying cool and comfortable
This might be the most important item when it comes to dog gear in a van.We have two of these cameras, one is focused on the temperature reading and the other is focused on Bernie. With this we can go shopping, get some dinner or get a workout in while not worrying about the van conditions the whole time.
Extra tip: Put a sign up in a window so everyone knows that your dog is fine. You don’t want anyone breaking a window for fear that your dog is suffering. We laminated a picture of Bernie with the text “This van is climated controlled. We are also able to monitor the temperature and video remotely. Our dog Bernie is comfortable and in no danger. He appreciates your concern. Have a wonderful day!”
🚐 Dog Crate: Safety First
For us, a crate is a vanlife essential. It’s the safest option for Bernie while we’re driving. No roaming and no sudden jumps into the front seat. His crate fits snugly in our setup, strapped to the seats, giving him a sense of security and giving us peace of mind. In the evening he crawls in and immediately passes out, he loves sleeping in his crate. We like this one because his bed first perfectly and we can completely flatten it to stow it away when not in use.
💧 Water Bowl: Petsmate No Spill Bowl
This is a must! I would have bought this when we were still in a house if I had known it existed. The Petsmate No Spill Bowl. We leave it out all the time, and it doesn’t spill a single drop, even on bumpy roads! A little velcro on the bottom keeps it secure in place.
🛏️ Dog Bed: Reddy Indoor/Outdoor Bed
This bed has been with us from the start of our vanlife. The cover zips off for easy washing, and it fits perfectly inside Bernie’s crate. After two years of Bernie treatment, it is showing no signs of wear, I didn’t think that was possible!
Amazon link outdoor/indoor bed
🎾 Ball Chase: Chuckit! Launcher + Balls
Bernie lives to chase, and this is the best way to let him get his energy out. A high energy dog in a van needs an outlet or he will drive us insane and he will be unhappy. The launcher lets us throw it far without every having to touch the filthy things. Otherwise our arms would start aching and our hands would be covered in a mix of drool and mud.
Bernie’s picky about tennis balls, but he approves of Chuckit!’s brand. They’re durable, bouncy, and they come in different sizes, from small to extra large. Regular tennis balls fit in the launcher as well, which he doesn’t mind, but will promptly destroy. Chuck-its last longer.
🐜 NexGard: Tick + Flea Protection
We never saw a tick when we lived in Western Washington. Then we went to the east coast. At our vet’s recommendation, we put Bernie on Nexguard, an oral, prescription flea and tick treatment. It’s been effective even in tick-heavy zones, making Lyme disease and flea infestations far less likely. You’ll need a vet prescription, usually good for a year’s supply. You can usually get it straight from your vet or use the prescription to order from Chewy or Amazon.
❤️ HeartGard: Heartworm Protection
Heartworm risk varies by region, but if you’re traveling across states, HeartGard is a something to consider. It’s prescription-only, and like NexGard, typically comes with refills for the year from you vet, Chewy or Amazon.