Memorial Day Weekend With the Dog: Cookouts and the Car

The plain plan for Memorial Day weekend with the dog is to plan the drives ahead and keep the cookout plates out of reach. A jug of water and a patch of shade, wherever you end up, cover most of what is left.

Memorial Day is the day for remembering those who died in military service. The weekend around it tends to be long, busy and mostly outdoors, so this page sticks to practical things: the car, the cookout, the ground under the dog's feet and the water. We make single ingredient treats in Malvern, Pennsylvania, and two of them are on the list near the end.

What to pack for Memorial Day weekend with the dog

Most of this goes in one bag by the door, and it takes about five minutes to fill.

• A collapsible bowl and a jug of fresh water, more than you think you need.
• A leash, plus a spare in the glovebox.
• An ID tag with a phone number that works this weekend.
• A towel for the lake, the hose or the muddy yard.
• Waste bags, and a mat or blanket for a shady spot.
• A chew or a few treats from home, so the dog has its own food on hand.

The drive

Long weekends mean longer drives and more stops along the way. The American Kennel Club says: "You should never leave a dog alone in a parked car, even if the windows are cracked." We treat that as the whole rule. If a stop is somewhere the dog cannot come in, we change the stop, or the dog stays home that day.

The easy way to follow it is to plan stops where you both get out: a park, a trailhead, a rest area with a grass strip, a friend's backyard. We keep a list of dog-friendly road trip ideas if you want a place to start. Pack the bag before you load the car, and keep the water within reach of the front seat.

The cookout

A cookout is the one place where the food sits at dog height, and the same goes for any summer party. The American Kennel Club's Fourth of July advice says: "Keep all food out of reach and dispose of scraps in covered or dog-proof trash cans." Ask the host where the lidded can is, and keep your own plate up on the table.

Bones are the other thing to watch on a cookout plate. The ASPCA says: "Dogs/cats might sustain injury or obstruction to the gastrointestinal tract when ingesting bones, which could be serious and require surgery." Rib bones go in the covered trash, not on the grass. If you are sorting out what else is on the table, our holiday cookout foods guide goes through the usual plate items one at a time.

A few simple habits help at a crowded party. Tell the kids at the table not to feed the dog. Keep the dog away from the grill, the coals and the lighter fluid. Pick one person to watch the dog when the burgers come off.

Shade, water and hot asphalt

Parking lots and boat ramps get hot by the afternoon. The ASPCA says: "Don't let dogs linger on hot asphalt when the temperature is very high." Where there is a choice, we walk on grass or dirt and keep the dog's stops short.

At the picnic itself, the plan is dull and it works. Set the blanket in the shade before you unpack anything else. Put the bowl down where the dog can reach it and top it up every time you refill your own cup. If you are heading somewhere with no shade at all, think about whether this is the day to leave the dog at home.

The lake or the pool

Water is where a long weekend gets fun, and where someone should be paying attention. The American Kennel Club's Fourth of July advice also says: "If you're at a party with a pool, keep your dog on a leash or ensure someone is watching them at all times." The same goes for a lake or a creek. Give one adult the job of watching the dog, and give that adult nothing else to do until the swim is over.

Bring a towel and a jug of fresh water for afterward. Plan to wipe the dog down and hose off the lake mud before the dog gets back into the car.

A chew for the cookout

If the dog is going to spend an afternoon at the edge of the table, a chew you picked beats a scrap someone else picked. Our Air-Dried Chicken Feet are air-dried in small batches in Malvern, Pennsylvania, and the only ingredient is chicken feet. They come in packs of 6 or 18.

Each foot is large, about 4 inches long, 2 inches wide and an inch thick, and crunchy all the way through. The texture is crunchy and crispy, and the shape and color vary a little from foot to foot. Some sharp edges are possible. The label says to provide fresh water, to supervise while chewing, and to discard small pieces if they present a swallowing hazard. Small dogs start with a piece. They need no refrigeration, so they ride in the bag with everything else. If your dog is on a special diet, or you are not sure about a new chew, ask your veterinarian first.

The first Pup-Ornaut of the summer

For the car ride home, or the end of the day, there is Pup-Ornaut Ice Cream in banana peanut butter. It is freeze-dried in small batches in Malvern, and the ingredients, in full, are nonfat Greek yogurt, banana, and peanut butter (dry roasted peanuts and sea salt). The pieces are light and crunchy. They are freeze-dried rather than frozen, so they will not melt in the bag or on the seat.

It contains peanuts and dairy, so it is not a single ingredient treat. The label says to break it into smaller pieces for small dogs and to supervise while snacking. Reseal the bag after opening and store it cool and dry. The rest of our line is in the freeze-dried treats collection.

Memorial Day questions

Should the dog come to the cookout at all?

That depends on the host, the crowd and the dog. If the answer is yes, bring your own water, a mat and a chew, and plan to stay near the shade. If the answer is no, staying home with fresh water indoors is a fine weekend too.

Can I leave the dog in the car for a quick stop?

We do not. The American Kennel Club line in the drive section is the rule we use, and we plan our stops around it. If the dog cannot come in, we go somewhere else.

What do I do with the scraps and bones from the plates?

They go in a trash can with a lid, and the can goes somewhere the dog cannot reach. Ask your host which can that is before the food comes out.

What is the easiest treat to carry around a party?

Both of ours travel in a bag without refrigeration. The chicken feet are large and crunchy, so they suit a dog settled on a mat. Pup-Ornaut pieces are light, and they will not melt.

How do I handle a day at the lake?

Pack the towel and the water jug first, keep the dog on a leash near the water, and give one person the job of watching. Rinse the mud off before anyone gets back in the car.