A day trip and a five-hour motorway run are different journeys for a dog, and treating them the same is usually where things go wrong: restlessness, sickness, or a dog that's simply exhausted and stressed by the time you arrive. Here's what the RSPCA actually recommends for longer car journeys, and where the details matter.
Before you leave
If your dog isn't a confident traveller, the RSPCA suggests a few short local journeys first, rather than making their first proper trip a five-hour one. For older dogs or dogs with any existing health concerns, it's also worth a quick vet check-up before a long trip, particularly if it's the first long journey in a while.
Feeding around the journey
Feed at least two hours before setting off. If you're stopping for a break on a long journey, the RSPCA's guidance is a light meal only, with another two-hour gap before you get back on the road, rather than a full meal right before more driving.
Restraint that actually holds
Your dog needs to be secure, both for their safety and so they're not a distraction while you're driving. A loose dog sliding around the back seat on every bend is a genuine hazard, and it's also exactly the kind of thing that makes a nervous dog more nervous. A flat, non-slip, properly fitted base like the Artemis Backseat gives them somewhere stable to actually settle, rather than bracing against the corners of the seat for the whole journey.
Breaks, water and toileting
The RSPCA recommends regular stops on longer journeys: water available throughout, the chance to toilet and stretch their legs on a lead, and proper exercise rather than just a five-minute pause at the services. If your dog is small, older, or simply not a confident jumper, getting in and out at every stop is its own small ordeal, which is where something like the Artemis Car Steps earns its keep on a trip with several stops rather than just at home.
Ventilation and temperature
Keep the car well ventilated and cool throughout, not just when you remember to. Never leave your dog alone in the car at a service station stop, even briefly and even with a window cracked. See our guide on dogs in hot cars for exactly how quickly that can go wrong.
Sources: RSPCA