Tips for Travelling with Your Dog
If you’re going on vacation and you want to take your beloved dog with you, there are some important things you need to think about before travelling with your dog. This is true whether you’re taking a road trip, travelling by plane, or any other way. We’re sharing some tips for travelling with your dog.
Here’s our Apollo, hoping to go for a ride when I was actually just getting something out of my minivan. He loves road trips.
Do you love travelling with your dog?
We’ve always hated leaving our dogs behind when we go away, fortunately, we haven’t had to do it often with our previous dogs. Our current dogs Apollo and Cleo have not yet been left behind as Apollo we adopted last year as a puppy and Cleo we adopted just this April. We haven’t wanted to leave them when they haven’t been with us for very long. We love travelling with our dogs whenever it’s possible. When travelling with your dog, organization is key!
Check Ahead of Time to Make Sure There’s Room
Our Cleo, a few days after we adopted her from a rescue in April of this year. She loves people and she too loves to go on road trips or any car ride.
If you are taking your dog with you on a plane, even if your flight has room for you, sometimes there is no room for pets. The day of your flight, ensure there is actually room for your pet. If there is not, you will have to find a new flight. If you cannot change your flight, you will need to find an emergency dog sitter.
Also, when choosing a flight, do your best to find a nonstop flight. The problem with layovers when travelling with a pet is that your dog will stay in the plane’s cargo hold while the plane is stopped. I don’t know about you but I’m not comfortable with that and prefer to avoid it at all costs.
Have Identification for Your Dog
Before going on any long trip, make sure that your dog has a collar and has a microchip in case he or she gets lost. The collar should have a tag with accurate contact information such as your cell phone number and current address. Also, make sure to check with your microchip service to ensure that they have your most up to date information.
Keep Current Vet and Immunization Records on Hand
When travelling, it’s extremely important to be sure you have your dog’s veterinarian records with you. All immunizations should be up to date especially the rabies shot and often times the one for kennel cough. The tag for rabies should be prominently displayed on the collar. Vet records should show the dates of all immunizations, as well as state any conditions to be aware of, whether behavioural or physical. This is an important tip for travelling with your dog.
Take a Mini Trip Before a Long Trip
If your dog has not taken a long trip in the car before, you should take a mini trip or two before going on a long trip. This way you can find out if your dog suffers from anxiety, motion sickness, or some other travel-related problem. During these trips, be sure to take your dog to fun places such as the park and not just places like the groomer and vet. These same issues could come up during flights, as well. This way you know your pet better as he or she travels, so you can be prepared.
Know How Your Dog Eats On a Trip
Also, before you go on a road trip or flight, you want to experiment with feeding your dog before you take a short road trip. Some dogs will do better eating a little bit before the ride, and other dogs do better without having eaten for several hours before the ride. This way you know when to feed your dog around trips and to know how much food to bring with you.
Pack Familiar to your Dog Items
Now that you have these tips for travelling with your dog, it’s time to prepare for lots of fun with your pal. Make sure to pack plenty of treats, toys, and a comfort item or two (such as a blanket with your scent or something that reminds him of home).
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Sandy Pincombe says
Great tips. My little rescue dog goes wherever I travel. She has had enough trauma in her life (lost a back leg and was in 3 different homes) and for the 8 years that I had her I have only left her once and my Grandson came here to stay with her. She is the best little Maltese ever. She has her own travel bag and it includes all her vet records as well as a vet supplement called calm.
jason jennings says
sounds good
Tony Platz says
I always travel with my dog he will be 14 in Augest .
beleebi says
Good tips! My dog loves road trips! He’s learned to tap on the door to get us to roll down the window for him.
Jodi Hunter says
Thanks for the tips. We love bringing out doggos with us.
AEKZ2 says
Great tips! When I travel, I usually take my dog. I hate leaving her behind.
Arik Issan says
A few months ago was the first long car trip with my old pup. #1 and #2 before setting out. Stop for food and water with her own bowls and food. #1 again before heading on. Another stop later, 2nd #2 if needed. Continue. Again some water. Relaxing evening. Again the next day. The trick is routine before starting out.
Misty says
My dog is the perfect companion on road trips. She doesn’t get carsick and just jumps right in ready for the next adventure. I need to check into a microchip for her though.
kathi bennett says
I never thought of taking a mini trip first, that’s a really good idea! My dog only goes in with me for short trips.
Carolsue says
My dog loves to travel, but he gets so excited he drives us crazy! LOL
Michelle says
My dog gets anxious and car sick. Even taking her to the vet is a challenge. I wish we could travel with her but she gets so stressed
gloria patterson says
I have a friend and any time her dog can go with her he is in that car. Short trip or long trips he is very happy. Going to share this with her just in case she does need some or all of these great tips
Daniel Scott says
A crash tested harness is a must too. Dogs need to be belted in case of an accident.
Jaque Richards says
Good travel tips. I rarely travel with my pets, I rarely travel! When I need to be away for a day or two, I put one of my unlaundered tops in their beds. It makes them feel more secure in my absence. 🙂
Shannon V Holmes says
Thanks for all of these great tips.
Nancy Douglass says
Great tips. We also bring along our dogs favorite blanket for their booster seats when travelling by car so they find it easier to relax on long rides and have a little bit of home when you get to our destination.
rhonda Hagy miller says
Sometimes its so hard to travel with pets..your tips are so awesome I cant wait to try them!
Anne Scott says
Thanks for the tips! And the vet and immunization records are something I forgot on our last road trip, so now I just keep copies all the time in the glove compartment. I always bring an old sheet also to put on any hotel surfaces (like the end of the bed) so we don’t leave dog hair around.
Jamie L Grimes says
Thank you for the great tips.
Paula Gillespie says
Great tips!
Donna L Holder says
thank you for the great info
Kristin Smith says
First of all Cleo and Apollo are absolutely adorable!!! I have a 2 year old Border Collie/Lab mix…her name is Trixie and she is the love of my life! My family all adore her…so when I travel to my Mom’s in the summer, she comes along for the ride…her first few trips didnt go well unfortunately, she vomited about 45 minutes into the trip..That was 2 summers ago..so we started giving her gravol, and we would stop for a stretch about 40 minutes in, and she does great now!! No need for gravol even!!
Dana Rodriguez says
These are all great tips. We don’t have a dog but I know people that love to travel with theirs.
wen budro says
Those are some very useful tips. Layovers for me often come with flight delays so I would not want my dog to be in a cargo hold for a long time.
Ken Ohl says
These are great tip will use them in the future
Susan Newman says
These are some great tips! I have never even thought about several of them.
Jessica Walker says
I never thought about having current vet and shot records on hand when traveling. Thanks for the tip.