Home Dog Breeds Adventure Awaits: The 25 Most Travel Friendly Dog Breeds for Your Wanderlust

Adventure Awaits: The 25 Most Travel Friendly Dog Breeds for Your Wanderlust

Last Updated: Feb 4, 2024

If you love to travel or need to travel for work, you may need to adopt a breed that is up to that challenge, travel-friendly dog breeds.

There are some travel-friendly dog breeds that will enjoy traveling by plane, train, or automobile a lot more than other, lazier breeds.

Dogs that are “travel-friendly” will likely cause less trouble on the trip. They will be more comfortable and patient, require less amount of care while traveling, and airlines are likely to be more accepting of them.

Travel Friendly Dog Breeds

Preparing for Travel with Dogs

Traveling with dogs isn't always easy, even if your pet likes to ride in a car or doesn't mind a plane flight. You need to be prepared for the trip.

Think about the trip, make the necessary arrangements, and the supplies you'll need.

Things to bring on a trip with dogs:

Food, treats, water, and dog toys
Airline-approved carrier
Harness, collar, and leash
Travel-friendly crate
Motion sickness medication
Dog car seat (or seat belt)

Dog supplies you'll need will depend on the type of transportation you'll be using and your final destination.

If you're only taking a short trip to a friend's house in the country, you won't need to pack as much as you would if you were spending a week in a foreign hotel.

Then, make sure that your pet is healthy and physically ready to make the trip.

Again, this will depend on the length of time you're gone and where you are going.

Check with your veterinarian to make sure that your dog is healthy enough for a lengthy flight or a long car trip.

Depending on where you're going, you may need to get your pet updated on vaccines before leaving home.

If you're currently looking to adopt a travel-friendly dog breed, determine how you travel (most often), and what characteristics will be important for a pet to have.

The below list will narrow down your choices and help you pick the right companion.

25 Most Travel-Friendly Dog Breeds

Toy Breeds

These little dogs can be easily “packaged” for travel. Most pets in this category will be able to travel “in-cabin” on most, if not all, airlines. All airlines have different rules, so make sure you check with them before planning your trip.

1. Toy Poodle

These little dogs have the size and the smarts to make them incredibly travel-friendly. Toy Poodles (pictured above) are friendly with other pets, strangers, and kids. The intelligence of the poodle makes them very adaptable and easy to train.

Toy Poodles also shed very little, which will be a blessing to any allergy sufferers you travel with.

Although, if the hair is not kept short, your furball will require extensive grooming. Like most other toy dog breeds, it's easy to take them with you anywhere.

2. Yorkshire Terrier

The Yorkie is brave and confident, so they will be ready to explore as much as you are on your travel trips. These dogs are also very loving and adaptable.

They are ready to take on the world with you and aren't too difficult.

Yorkshire Terriers have lower exercise needs making them great for the more laid back travelers as opposed to active traveling.

Like many small dogs, the Yorkie is sensitive to the cold and prefers warm travel, which is important to keep in mind, but if you're traveling in a car, this is a perfect companion to adopt.

3. Affenpinscher

One of the most travel-friendly dog breeds, the Affenpinscher is more tolerant of temperature changes than other smaller dogs.

They are generally healthy dogs as well. Their agility and obedience make them great for active travel like hiking or camping, but not as good for passive traveling.

The Affenpinscher is also a low barker, making them a great choice for group travel. Their low-shed, short-haired coat is also hypoallergenic.

These little dogs are independent and need an experienced trainer who knows how to handle them properly.

4. Italian Greyhound

If you are a runner, hiker, or sight-seer, this breed is for you. They are agile and athletic. Quiet and polite, this pup is great for traveling.

The Italian Greyhound also needs very little maintenance and grooming, because they are a short hair dog breed and shed very little.

Although it usually depends on a specific dog's personality, in general, Italian Greyhounds are often seen as great traveling partners and often make fellow travelers happy.

These fur babies get very attached to their owners and do not like being left alone. For this reason, it's best if they aren't left alone in hotel rooms for long periods of time, and can stay with the owner.

5. Brussels Griffon

Clever and happy, the Brussels Griffon makes a great travel companion in most traveling scenarios, like most other teacup dog breeds.

They are eager to please and train easily. Their friendliness with other pets, kids, and strangers will be prized when traveling with a group of strangers.

These dogs love being the center of attention and will be happy to follow you anywhere you go during your travel ventures.

While their cleverness is cute, they can be destructive when bored, so it's important to know how to handle them in specific situations.

Large Breeds

Some people don’t want a small dog. The benefits of easy travel do not make up for the lack of having a big, sturdy animal at your side.

If that is the way you feel, and you don’t travel by plane often, the next few travel-friendly dog breeds will be better suited for you.

6. Australian Shepherd

As pictured above, these work dogs are easy to train and are very intelligent. They can tackle more difficult agility and intelligence dog training. The Australian Shepherd is friendly and playful.

If you are looking for a larger breed that loves traveling and being an active, outdoor dog, then this may be the right dog for you.

For more rugged traveling, an Aussie is a great pick as well. The double coat on these dogs is important for their internal thermostats.

However, they do shed and need a good amount of weekly brushing to keep their coat in a healthy condition.

7. Bernese Mountain Dog

Along with being one of the best travel-friendly dog breeds, this Swiss breed is tough, too. They are very intelligent, which makes them easy to train.

These good-natured dogs are calm and won’t spook easily. Hardy and healthy, the Bernese Mountain Dog is a great choice for outdoor adventurers.

Meeting some people for a hike? No problem; this canine is friendly and outgoing with strangers too.

The Bernese Mountain Dog is bred for colder climes and should not travel to hot areas, however.

8. Border Collie

Border Collies are sensitive to their owners and are one of the smartest dog breeds on the planet that are very easy to train for traveling needs.

Not surprisingly, this breed does live up to that reputation, as confirmed by many pet owners and dog trainers.

According to dog trainers, Collie dog breeds are obedient and remain calm in most situations, especially when the handler is present.

These devoted pooches are gentle and loving to all they meet. Collies are hunting dogs that still love to bark and howl, so they may not be good for “quiet” travel, and they will need the training to curb this desire to be loud as well.

9. Boxer

These intimidating-looking beings are really quite fun-loving and great pets in general. Boxers are friendly and athletic.

They are one of the best travel-friendly dog breeds for families with children. Their short hair is also easy to clean from car upholstery and travel crates.

Easy to train, the pups in this breed are intelligent and quiet. Boxers usually do not participate in nuisance barking.

They don’t tolerate climate extremes well, so care will need to be taken to make sure they stay in mild temperatures.

10. German Shorthaired Pointer

These are affectionate canines that have short, easy-to-care-for coats are another type of most travel-friendly dogs.

They also shed very little, making the grooming tasks much quicker and easier. Being one of the best-hunting dogs, they're always up for a challenge, and Shorthaired Pointers are friendly and athletic.

Dogs from this breed are playful, too. These canines love to please their owners and are very intelligent, easy to train.

Their need to make their owners happy makes them an obedient breed that can be easily prepared for travel. They are an active breed, so they will need daily exercise.

Very Active Breeds

If what you are looking for is an active dog that can keep up, no need to look any further. If the size is not an issue, but energy and stamina are, this is the list you need to see.

In fact, you may be the one having a hard time keeping up with these travel-friendly dog breeds.

11. Vizsla

Vizslas (pictured above) are very active, family dogs that have a long history of being gun dogs. This hunting dog breed can keep up with those family hiking trips and trips to the beach with no problems.

Vizslas are extremely friendly with people, other dogs, and other animal types including strangers, especially when trained properly.

A clean short-haired dog breed, Vizsla will never smell like a dog – a big plus for long-distance traveling.

Because they are an active dog breed, the Vizsla needs something to keep them busy if they are left alone – like a puzzle treat box or a proper dog toy.

12. Catahoula Cur

These pooches have endurance levels that go the extra mile. Catahoula Cur, Louisiana’s official dog was bred as a working

dog and they can prove it. If they are brave enough to face the swamps and marshes in their home state, then they are brave enough to go traveling anywhere with you.

If you want an unusual dog breed that stands out in a crowd, this is the pet for you. Catahoula Cur dogs are not naturally outgoing and don't really like strangers.

Make sure you socialize your dog from a young age to avoid him becoming aggressive. Proper obedience training classes are also recommended before you set off traveling.

13. Beagle

The Beagle is a playful breed that loves discovering and exercising. These famous small dogs still pack a punch.

Bred to be the best dogs for hunters, Beagles are up for almost anything. These short hair dogs are easy to keep clean, too.

If you need a smaller dog for your active traveling, but don’t want to sacrifice ability, then this pooch may just be the right travel-friendly dog breed for you.

Beagles love to bark and howl, though. They will need the training to pipe down, and specific vet care to prevent some of the most common illnesses in them.

14. Labrador Retriever

Everybody knows this dog breed and sees them with traveling pet owners all the time, and there's a reason for that.

Labs are one of the friendliest dog breeds you will ever meet. They are also highly intelligent and love to please their owners. For this reason, they are easy to train and are perfect for traveling.

Not only do Labrador Retrievers learn the basics, but they can also be taught to retrieve things, along with several other useful tricks that can make active travel fun for you and your dog.

While the Lab does have short-ish hair, they shed more than some other shorthair breeds.

15. Weimaraner

Another famous hunting breed, these dogs are athletic and very energetic. They don’t just need exercise; they crave it and will have bad attitudes without it.

These dogs have high intelligence, making them easy to train and perfect for active travel.

The Weimaraner is a friendly, social breed. If you have trouble being outgoing while traveling, this dog may just do it for you.

These dogs are not good for apartment living, though. Weims also do not like being left alone, have serious issues with separation anxiety, and need to be close to their handles all the time.

Short Hair Breeds

Let’s face it – when traveling you want to relax (in a way). The last thing you need to worry about is mats and debris in your dog’s hair.

For many people, the only way to go is with one of the travel-friendly dog breeds that have a short coat.

16. Jack Russel Terrier

Jack Russel Terriers, like the one in the photo above, are tiny and powerful dogs. They are affectionate and playful, with tons of energy for the owner on the go.

They are independent, but still easy to train when the handler knows what to do.

This short hair breed is great for the traveler that is also an experienced dog trainer. Jack Russels are one of the most active breeds out there and will constantly be doing something.

To keep from being destructive, they need a lot of exercise and mental stimulation whether you're hiking, camping, or resting in a hotel.

17. Whippet

These dogs are fast and agile. As one of the best travel-friendly dog breeds, they are friendly and social dogs to take with you.

Whippets are great at meeting new people and don't mind strangers. This breed is an intelligent dog that is easy to train, too.

Whippets are especially great for the active traveler. Running, hiking, and walking is no problem for the Whippet.

While pups in this category need lots of exercises, they are considered a “barkless dogs” and will create the least amount of problems for the owner as long as they're tired.

18. English Foxhound

If you want a dog that loves to play with you on your travel trips and is great with other dogs and kids, then this is the breed you may want to adopt.

The English Foxhound loves new experiences that satisfy their mental and social needs.

This very active breed was originally a hunting gun dog, they are great for any holiday you have planned because you can train them well. But, like many hounds, this dog will chase ascent in a heartbeat.

Make sure you keep your hound dog on a sturdy leash or in a kennel when traveling, and have gone through obedience training with them.

19. Dalmatian

Bred to be a war dog, Dalmatians are strong with lots of stamina and are popular working dogs today. These pups are easy to train.

Teaching them traveling manners is generally a breeze. These friendly and affectionate dogs are also tolerant of warmer and colder temperatures, making them great for travel to all sorts of climates.

Dalmatians do have other requirements though – they need to be socialized well from a young age to avoid behavioral problems.

They can be a little shy and withdrawn. It's best if you don't bring them around young children unless they are properly trained to behave around the unpredictable nature of kids.

20. Chinese Crested Hairless

This dog has enough hair to put in a bow if that is your wish, but the rest of their little body is completely hairless and they will fit comfortably in your purse.

They are one of the best travel-friendly dog breeds for people who have allergies, and they are easy to keep clean.

The Chinese Crested is affectionate and healthy, too. Its calm demeanor makes it a great breed for first-time dog owners.

Known to be a breed that has difficulty with housebreaking, it may be best if you always have pee-pads when traveling, but proper housebreaking training as the first attempt is still recommended.

Very Calm Breeds

Maybe you aren’t very active on the trips you take. You just need a dog that is happy chilling in the plane, the car, or the hotel room.

The fur-baby you need is just a happy lap dog that is fine lounging around and being a couch potato with you.

You are not alone, so here are the best travel-friendly dog breeds for lazier dog owners.

21. French Bulldog

A true lapdog, the French Bulldog is a gentle and calm breed. As pictured above, these dogs are friendly and happy to go anywhere as long as their family is there. They are also short-haired and easy to keep clean.

They do need to have their owners close by all the time.

If you want a lazy dog that is easy to train, then this may be the breed for you. As a bonus, they are also not known to be big barkers.

Because of their smashed faces, Frenchies cannot walk long distances. They can become winded and overheated.

22. Glen of Imaal Terrier

These lesser-seen gentle dogs make great traveling companions. They have longer coats, but minimal shedding.

Their wiry coats are easy to groom and keep clean. The Glen of Imaal Terrier is a rare dog breed that's curious and intelligent, making them easy to train for travel.

Strong and energetic, they are small dogs that can keep up with an active owner but are perfectly fine being a little lazier.

Little pups from this breed generally do not like other animals. If it is important to you that they do, they will need socialization with other animals while they are still a puppy.

23. Shih Tzu

Most little dogs have the reputation for being hyper and loud, but nothing could be farther from the truth for the Shih Tzu. One of the cutest dogs on the planet, Shih Tzu dogs are also known as one of the most travel-friendly dog breeds because they are calm and have little desire to bark.

While they are lapdogs, they are affectionate and kindly to new people and animals.

This breed makes a great companion for the traveler who doesn’t do a lot of physical exploring. This breed was bred to be a lap dog and they excel at it.

They do not do well walking long distances or being in hot weather, due to their facial structures.

24. Skye Terrier

Another rare dog breed, these little cute dogs also have lower energy amounts and exercise needs. Skye Terriers are courageous dogs that are friendly and good-tempered.

These dogs are strong-minded but friendly with strangers making them great for traveling to new places.

Skye Terriers also do very well in temperature extremes. A stubborn and self-willed dog, these pooches need a strong, experienced trainer in order to protect them and the owner, especially on new travel trips.

Obedience training is a must for this small, slightly unruly yet calm dog.

25. Pekingese

Another small dog, often labeled as one of the best dogs for women, is also one of the most travel-friendly dogs on the planet.

The Pekingese have low energy and exercise needs. These healthy dogs are happy to just sit around with their person. While they are calm, like most dogs they will enjoy a short walk.

If you need to leave your pup in the room for a bit, you will be happy to know this breed does well with alone time and have fewer separation anxiety issues. If you want these dogs to be friendly, you will need to start socialization training at a young age.