There is a particular joy to a summer road trip with a dog. The head out of the window. The delight at a service station that is somehow more exciting than any walk at home. The absolute conviction that wherever you are going, it is the best place that has ever existed. Dogs make brilliant travel companions. They are also completely dependent on you to pack for them, and they will not remind you about the water bowl.

So consider this their list, written on their behalf. Work through it before you load the car, and the trip will be smoother for everyone, including the human doing the driving.

The essentials

The non-negotiables. Forget these and you will be turning back before the first roundabout.

• Water and a travel bowl. More than you think you need. Dogs get thirsty in a warm car faster than we do.
• Their usual food. Enough for the whole trip, in their normal portions. A holiday is the worst time for a surprise change of diet.Trust us on this one. Your hire car will thank you.
• Bowls for both. One for food, one for water. Collapsible ones save a lot of boot space.
• A lead, and a spare lead. Because the one time you do not pack a spare is the one time the first one goes missing.
• Poo bags. Then double it. Then add more. You will not regret it.

For the car itself

Getting there is half the adventure, and legally your dog needs to be secured.

• A proper restraint. A seatbelt harness, crate or boot guard. It is safer for them and, under the Highway Code, required.
• A familiar blanket or bed. Something that smells of home turns a strange back seat into a familiar nest.
• A window shade. The sun moves through a journey, and the back of a car heats up fast.
• A towel or two. For muddy paws, unexpected puddles, and the enthusiastic river swim you did not plan for.
• Sick-day supplies. Some dogs get queasy in the car. Wipes and a spare towel make it a non-event.

Health and safety bits

The boring items you will be very glad you packed if you ever need them.

• Any medication. Plus a little extra, in case the trip runs long.
• A pet first aid kit. Tweezers for grass seeds and ticks, a bandage, and antiseptic wipes cover most holiday mishaps.
• Up to date ID. A tag with your mobile number, not the home landline you cannot answer from a beach.Worth a quick check that the microchip details are current too.
• Your vet's number, and a local one. A two-minute search before you leave beats a frantic one when you are away.
• Tick remover and flea protection. New areas, long grass and woodland all come with new hitchhikers.

The comfort and fun department

The difference between a dog who tolerates the holiday and one who has the time of their life.

• A favourite toy. One familiar thing in a sea of new smells and places.
• A long-lasting chew. For the pub lunch where you would quite like them to settle.
• Treats for the journey. Rewards for good car manners, and a little bribery for photos.
• A grooming brush. Beaches, sand and sea leave their mark on a coat.

You will pack, unpack and repack your own bag three times. Your dog just needs you to remember theirs once.

One more thing, for the nervous traveller

Not every dog thinks a road trip is the greatest day of their life. For some, the car is a stressful place. The engine, the motion, the not knowing where they are going, it can all add up to a dog that pants, paces, drools, whines, or spends the whole journey wishing it would end.

If that sounds like your dog, a little preparation goes a long way. Build up to longer journeys with short, positive ones. Keep the car cool and well aired. Bring that home-scented blanket. Do not feed a big meal right before you set off. And give them plenty of stops to stretch, sniff and reset.

Right then, load up

Work down the list, tick off the boxes, and you are set. The water is packed, the blanket smells of home, the boot is full of towels you will absolutely need, and there is a slightly overexcited dog doing circles by the front door.

Everything else you can sort out on the road. The important part is already handled: you remembered them. Now go and have the summer they have been waiting for. Windows down, good boy in the back.