Holiday Gift Guide for Traveling Dogs

'Tis the season for holiday shopping, and finding the perfect gift for your traveling dog requires a little digging! You want your special pups to love what you choose, but with packing space at a premium, utility is also important for pets on the go. To make the most of your purchase, you'll want something that's useful while also being beautiful and durable.

Years of full-time travel with Ty and Buster have allowed us to road test a lot of pet travel gear, and there are a handful of products that we refuse to travel without. Perhaps one of these will also please your pooch!

1. A Good Walking Harness

Every dog on the go wants to look his best, so why not get your pal a spiffy new walking harness? We love the Freedom No-Pull harness from 2 Hounds Design. At $30, this harness is a gift for you both! The patented control loop on the back of the harness tightens gently around your dog's chest to discourage pulling, making walks more enjoyable, and the chest strap is lined with Swiss Velvet, so it's very comfortable for your dog to wear.

There's also an option to connect the leash at the chest ring for big dogs who sometimes forget their size. Having the leash connected at the chest gives you much more control than you have with a standard harness or collar.

These harnesses also come in a rainbow of colors, so you'll find the perfect shade to match your pet's personality.

2. An Adjustable Leash

When you're on the trail, at the beach, or exploring a new city, you may want leashes of different lengths -- but what if one leash could adjust to meet all your needs?

The Weekender Adventure Leash from Alcott easily extends from four feet to seven feet, has a super-duty swiveling clip, and a neoprene-padded handle with integrated buckle, so you can safely connect your pup to your chair at the coffee shop, bench at the park, or stool at "yappy hour."

At $20 it will be the only leash you need, and it comes in five fashionable colors with reflective accents, increasing your pet's visibility in the dark and helping to keep you both safe.

3. A Convenient Food and Water Travel Bowl

Dinner is one thing no dog wants to miss while he's traveling, and for $30 the Yummy Bowl from Sleepypod will make it easy to organize your pet's food and water for your next day trip.

Rather than packing your dog's water and food in separate containers, the Yummy Bowl conveniently combines the two. The spill-resistant water bowl serves as the base, the second layer holds your dog's food, and the lid seals everything up nice and tight, and also doubles as a serving dish. Made from food-grade, BPA-free silicone it's also freezer, microwave, and dishwasher safe for easy clean up.

4. A Treat Bag With Lots of Treats

Training is a wonderful way to build your dog's confidence and strengthen your relationship, and traveling dogs are especially lucky, because they have so many opportunities to learn new things!

To move the training along more quickly and keep your dog interested, it helps to keep some rewards handy, and we use treat bags with waist straps that buckle on like a belt and can be packed with your dog's favorite goodies. The price of treat bags range from $15 to $50 dollars, and come in a plethora of styles and colors.

Look for added features in the bag you choose, like a waste bag dispenser, a pocket to hold your phone or your pup's ball, and a good draw-string closure to keep your pet from helping himself when you're not watching.

5. Shampoo and Conditioner to Feel Great

Not all pets love baths, but they do like to feel their best, and a high-quality shampoo and conditioner will leave your pup feeling like a million bucks! Choosing products that are free from parabens, sulfates, and harsh chemicals helps protect the dog's skin and coat, and those with calming scents are especially nice for traveling dogs.

We love Lucy Pet Products' Purple Rain Shampoo and Leave-in Conditioner, which is made with lavender oil. To make this gift even sweeter, all of Lucy's products are 100% cruelty-free, and the net profits from their sales goes to support low-cost spay and neuter programs through the Lucy Pet Foundation.

We hope these suggestions help narrow things down for you. And don't forget ... no matter what gift you choose, what your pet loves most of all is spending time with you!