Essential Small Dog Travel Accessories: My Top 14 Picks for Stress-Free Dog Travel in Europe

Wondering what essential travel accessories to buy for your small dog? 

Packing your small dog’s bag with the essential travel accessories before your journey is just as important as packing your own suitcase with everything you need. Traveling with a dog internationally especially is a huge undertaking logistically, financially, and at times, emotionally. 

Being over-prepared with everything your pet might need during your journey, and during your time abroad will help create a more stress-free experience for you, your furry friend, and your adventure ahead. 

During my European adventure with my yorkipoo, Sheila, we had all of the essentials and then some. Outside of a bit of anxiety from the turbulence from the plane, Sheila stayed in perfect health throughout our trek through 9 countries in the United Kingdom and Europe (transit countries included). Here are our 14 favorite travel accessory recommendations from our partners at Amazon. 

Blog Guide

• Best Airline Approved Pet Carrier: Peticious Airline Approved Pet Carrier and BackPack
• Puppy Pouch Carrier Sling
• Collapsable Dog Bowl with Caribeaner
• Travel-Tainer Portable Food Storage Container
• Organic Hemp CBD Chews
• Puppia Harness
• Reversible Dog Winter Jacket
• Hands Free Treat Tote
• FIDA Retractable Dog Leash
• Dog Poop Bags
• No Squeak Dog Toy
• Grooming Wipes
• TSA Approved Small Dog Toothpaste
• Turkish Cotton Travel Blanket

1. Best Airline Approved Carrier: Petcious Airline Approved Pet Carrier and BackPack 

Petcious Airline Approved Pet Carrier and BackPack  is the best airline approved carrier I have come across. From its luggage latch, to its back pack straps, and its ability to expand, it has served as the perfect international travel bag for me and Sheila during our adventures across Europe.

While the luggage latch provides a handsfree, weightless quality for roaming around cobblestone streets in between residencies, the mesh expandable zipper pockets provides enough space for your pet to spread out and stretch her legs during a long flight.

This bag also comes with a few pockets for storage.

Small Dog Travel Accessory: Shop Best Airline Approved Carrier

2. Puppy Pouch Carrier Sling 

This puppy pouch carrier sling easily became one of my very favorite small dog travel accessories with Sheila. From quick, crowded transitions in between trains in Switzerland and Germany, to keeping her snug and warm while we rode the vaporetta in Venice, Italy, this pouch made all the difference in our travels!

This pouch’s main value add is the security it provides by ensuring your sweet small pup is snug in front of you, especially in colder temperatures, and crowded small spaces (something you will come upon a lot while traveling throughout Europe).

Small Dog Travel Accessory: Shop Puppy Pouch Carrier Sling

3. Collapsable Dog Bowl with Caribeaner 

The Collapsable Dog Bowl is a must have while traveling not only while in the airport, but also out and about during the day whether that be on the Italian seaside, the Croatian mountains, a park in Dublin, or inner city London. This clip on this bowl gives it a convenient edge for attaching to your day pack.

Small Dog Travel Accessory: Shop Collapsable Dog Bowl

4. GAMMA2 Vittles Vault Travel-Tainer Portable Food Storage Container

Vittles Vault Travel-Tainer was such a great purchase! It’s designed with 2 bowls on the outer edges of the food container to make for a compact method of putting out your small dog’s food and water in every location of your journey, whether than be for a single night, or several.

Putting out Sheila’s traveltainer in addition to my travel yoga mat was always a good indicator to Sheila that it was time to settle in for a while and rest. This item also comes with a handle, connecting the two bowls together around the food.

Most small dog food sold in Europe comes packaged in smaller bags (10 cups or less). The travel-tainer holds about 6 cups of food at a time to easily contain the majority of foreign dog food on the go.

Small Dog Travel Accessory: Shop Travel- Tainer Dog Food Storage

5. Organic Hemp CBD Chews 

Traveling with a small dog is amazing but can come with its anxious moments, for both you and your dog. For this reason, I recommend having a pack of Organic Hemp CBD Chews  for your pup in times of higher stress. For most small dogs, Sheila included, these chews come in handy during longer plane and train journeys.

Small Dog Travel Accessory: Shop Organic Hemp CBD Chews

6. Puppia  Harness

The Puppia  Harness has been Sheila’s go to harness for many years! Made with light-weight, machine washable mesh fabric, it is practical, affordable, and very durable. If you’re looking for a snug, ergonomic harness for your small dog, this is the one for you.

Small Dog Travel Accessory: Shop Light-weight Puppia Harness

7. Ackerpet Reversible Dog Winter Jacket

Keeping your small dog warm in the face of chilly European weather is definitely a must while traveling with your small dog across Europe. I recommend Ackerpet Dog Winter Jacket . It is lightweight, reversible, easy to put on and water-wickering, providing for the perfect cute, class outfit in the face of colder temperatures. Sheila prefers wearing the lime green side, especially while in Ireland.

Small Dog Travel Accessory: Shop Reversible Dog Winter Jacket

8. Outward Hound Treat Tote Hands Free

Every good dog needs a treat tote while she’s traveling! I found using the Outward Hound Treat Tote to be a super easy way to store Sheila’s little goodies on the road. Giving Sheila treats especially on longer traveling days helped keep her anxiety at a low as well.

Small Dog Travel Accessory: Shop Hands Free Treat Tote

9. FIDA Retractable Dog Leash for Small Breed

While you travel with your small dog, you will definitely want to invest in a retractable dog leash to have the ability to hold your pup close by in the crowd, or give her some freedom when you’re in a safe, open environment. Sheila and I recommend the FIDA Retractable Dog Leash for this feature, along with its poop bag feature.

Small Dog Travel Accessory: Shop Retractable Dog Leash for Small Breed

10. PET N PET Dog Poop Bags

While you’re filling up your Amazon shopping cart of small dog travel accessories for your journey, it’s not a bad idea to grab some poop bags along the way. The PET N PET Dog Poop Bags are eco-friendly, affordable and a perfect insert for the FIDA retractable dog leash.

Small Dog Travel Accessory: Shop Poop Bags

11. Plush Dog Toy – No Squeak, No Stuffing Chew Toy

Part of traveling with your small dog is bringing small parts of familiarity and comfort along on the journey- toys included! I highly recommend Amazon’s Plush Dog Toy because it’s built without a squeaker, ensuring you have a quiet and peaceful journey with your dog. It’ll be important for your pup to have something to chew on without making much noise, especially while on public transport. This toy provides a great solution.

Small Dog Travel Accessory: Shop No Squeak Dog Toy for Travel

12. Plant Based Grooming Wipes

Keeping your small dog clean is another must while on your journey! It’s not always easy to pack the dog shampoo, especially with TSA regulations (we have tried this and it’s gotten messy!). Plant Based Grooming Wipes provide an excellent alternative.

Small Dog Travel Accessory: Shop Plant Based Grooming Wipes

13. Vet’s Preferred Dog Enzymatic Toothpaste

Keeping your pup’s health at front of mind is super important while you go on your adventure. While I will not admit to brushing Sheila’s teeth on a daily basis, her monthly spa day always includes a good at-home teeth cleaning. Vets Preferred Enzymatic Toothpaste makes it easy to keep up with Sheila’s oral health during our travels. The toothpaste even comes in a TSA approved container!

Small Dog Travel Accessory: Shop TSA Approved Toothpaste for Small Dogs

14. SMYRNA Turkish Cotton Travel Blanket

I can’t recommend the SMYRNA Turkish Cotton Travel Blanket enough. As native Texans, Sheila and I have spent copious amounts of time playing in the park on large tapestry blankets together. When we set out for our adventure it was important for us to find a travel sized park blanket to accommodate our outdoor excursions. SMYRNA Turkish Cotton Travel Blanket is light-weight, compatible, affordable and easy to dust sand and environmental debri from.

Small Dog Travel Accessory: Shop Travel Blanket

Conclusion: Essential Small Dog Travel Accessories

In conclusion, while traveling with your small dog, it is helpful and wise to be prepared with essentials and accessories that will make your pet’s experience away from home as comfortable as possible.

My 14 small dog travel accessory recommendations are given to you based on hours of research prior to my departure as well as my personal experience traveling with my yorkipoo. I can assure a successful journey for you and your pup while including any and all of my recommendations.