Lupine collars and leashes are a best-seller at Canine Creek Dog Wash and Boutique. Courtesy of Lupine Inc.

As we get closer to summer, travel season approaches and this year, more than ever, pets will be traveling, too. Retailers around the country carry travel items for pets, from small dog carriers to dog tents to large crates for airline travel. And the emerging trend is pet safety while traveling. According to Tom James, president of Pettravelcenter.com, a travel site where consumers can find information about pet-friendly hotels, attractions, dog parks, airline regulations and more, the pet product travel trend is functionality and portability.

“The more innovative, multi-functional or multi-featured, the better,” James says. “Some of our best-sellers have been pet vehicle harnesses, seat belts and carriers, which tells me more and more people are concerned these days about their pet’s safety. It’s refreshing to see manufacturers stepping up to offer safer and better quality products in the travel segment.”

Susie Atherton, owner of Canine Creek Dog Wash and Boutique in Tehachapi, Calif., says that her store caters more to large dogs so she sells such travel products as truck tie-downs, harnesses, summer tents, hydration and dog backpacks, vent guards, roll-down shades, floating toys, pet travel gear bags, portable water bowls and most importantly, ID tags.

“We also have small dog carriers, car seats and backpacks,” she says.

Atherton’s best-selling travel items include Outward Hound’s Quick Release Dog BackPacks, Ethical Product’s Expandable Car Vent Guard for Pets, Bamboo’s White Hot Safety Sunblock Shade and Planet Dog’s Travel Bowl.

On Doghouseofstyle.com, an online retailer, Outward Hound Purse Style Carriers are a best-seller.

Car seats sell well for Melisse LeWeck of Something to Chew On.

“Our best-seller is travel bowls because it gets so hot here and you can take them with you,” she says.

At Laguna Hills, Calif.-based Something to Chew On, car seats are flying off the shelves.

“Car seats do very well,” says Melisse LeWeck. “I really believe that if dogs are under 25 pounds, they should be in a car seat. It just isn’t worth the guilt of losing a dog in an accident.”

In Highlands Ranch, Colo., best-selling travel products are on the higher end of things.

“My best-selling travel items are my travel spa products from Happytails [Canine Spa Line], my Juicy Couture pet carriers and my travel dog bowls from Mud-Pie,” says Amina Ahmed, owner of Smooch the Pooch.

Ahmed says traveling with a pet is like traveling with a child, and customers must take all the

Tom James, president of Pettravelcenter.com, says travel products that are innovative and multi-functional are his best-sellers.

But don’t think that necessary items such as food, treats, collars and leashes aren’t selling, because they are. In fact, these four products are among the best-sellers overall in retail stores.

“Lupine collars and leashes are the single best-selling line in my store because they have durable collars and leashes and their guarantee is fantastic,” Atherton says.

At Portman’s store, Preston Leather Products collars and leashes sell the best. 

When it comes to traveling with pets this season, retailers around the country have their customers covered.

“Your dog is very much a part of the family,” Ahmed says. “You would never leave your child behind while traveling, so why would you leave you dog? Dogs need vacations, too.”

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