Traveling with dogs is such an exciting and fun idea. My family, including our cat Pepe and my mom’s dog, Hi-yo love adventures! Who wouldn’t? We’re wanderers of the world and we love the outdoors. I treat my pets like my children, they are my family. We want to include them in all of our family adventures so that they may enjoy themselves as much as we do! However, we must ensure that our dogs and cats are ready for the experience. If you plan carefully, A safe travel with a dog can make the family holiday more enjoyable for everyone.
Helpful tips you can check just before you proceed with traveling.
Long-distance travel with a dog
Some dogs enjoy long vehicle rides, while others tremble at the prospect of going inside one.
In any case, if you wish to travel long distances with your dog in a car, considerable planning and attention are required both before and during the trip.
Here are some suggestions to make traveling with dogs more enjoyable.
Take a Test Drive
Test the waters before committing to take your dog on a long voyage with you. Test drive them for 2-4 hours to see how they behave. Make sure they won’t feel motion sick, worried, or upset while traveling. If they can’t take a short journey calmly, they’ll be uncomfortable on a longer one and should definitely stay at home.
Bring Emergency Medicines/ First Aid kit
If your pet requires a certain type of medication, make sure you have enough before you go. Also,
Before you go, have your dogs examined.
Check to see if your pet is safe to travel with. This is especially critical if your pet has a known prior ailment that necessitates medication for road comfort.
Find Pet-Friendly Places to Stay
It can be tough to find pet-friendly hotels. And just because it says it’s pet-friendly doesn’t mean it’s the best place to take your pet. Check their pet restrictions, as well as any additional fees, and look for pet-friendly restaurants and parks in the neighborhood. Your farm dog would probably be unhappy if he didn’t have enough space to spread his legs.
Make bathroom breaks a priority.
Teach your dog to pee himself on a variety of surfaces, not just grass, before you leave the house! Having the flexibility to use the restroom on a variety of surfaces, such as concrete, mulch, and gravel, will reduce his pain as well as the risk of accidents when driving or otherwise. Bring a leash and a supply of bags to clean up afterward.
Bring over some games and toys or their favorite blankets.
Provide your dog with a few new toys, as well as some old favorites, to keep him entertained. To keep him occupied, consider including a puzzle-type toy.
Bring enough food and water.
Consult your veterinarian about just giving your dog bottled water while you’re away from home to avoid an upset stomach. Instead of packing his heavy bowls, buy foldable ones and give him a week or so to get used to them before you leave. Bring enough food for the entire journey plus a few days extra just in case. You don’t want to force them to buy a different bag of food than they’re used to, especially if they’re following a tight diet. It might make them feel nauseous.
Make sure to have their collars with them at all time
I always make sure they have their tags on.
Even if you take your dog on a walk with extreme caution, you never know what can happen. Always keep up-to-date tags on them to ensure that they arrive safely at their destination.
After reaching your destination, settle in and relax.
When you arrive, unpack their belongings and give them time to adjust to their new surroundings with their accustomed food, toys, and blankets. Then just relax and enjoy your time with your joyful dog.
Traveling with puppy
Although it’s fine to travel with puppies if you get them used to car rides before any long road trips, you must wait until they’ve had all of their immunizations.
By the time they’re 14 weeks old, they’ll be ready to leave the nest. Don’t forget the puppy pads!
It’s also a good idea to wait until your puppy is completely housebroken so you don’t end up with a hefty hotel bill!
There are also ways to travel safely and save money with your pets.
Read more here to get some travel hacks and tricks that can help you make the most of your travels with pets without pushing trip expenses over a tight budget.
Get these 4 Travel Apps to Make Life Easier
BarkHappy
This location-based app is totally pawsome!!! It puts a dog-friendly world right at your fingertips. Locating dog-friendly parks, restaurants, and lodging are just a few of the things you’ll enjoy with this app. Get social – find events and dogs nearby for a playdate or just to give a wag.
BringFido
If you’re looking for a pet-friendly hotel, dog park, beach, or other destination while on vacation, this top pet travel app will help. This is a fantastic travel resource for you and your pet, and its service is available all around the world.
Rover – Pet Sitters & Dog Walkers
This app is ideal for anyone seeking for a dog sitter, whether they are on vacation or at home. They are the largest network available, with over 65,000 pet sitters and dog walkers posted. You may connect with nearby sitters through the app, pay them through the app, and receive photo updates while you’re gone. Insurance, 24/7 assistance, background checks, and a reservation guarantee are all available through the platform.
Pet First Aid
If you’re going on vacation with your pet, you should definitely have this app on your phone. It’s jam-packed with facts on emergency medical circumstances, first aid, general health issues, demonstration films (including dog CPR), an area to keep track of your pet’s information, follow-up quizzes, and plenty of advice. This app comes highly recommended by me. It’s an absolute must-have!
Traveling By Car
Allowing your dog to sit in the car with you without leaving the driveway and then taking brief drives will help them get used to it.
It is a good idea to let your dog travel with an empty stomach. It will help him avoid getting car sick. Make sure he has plenty of water at all times, though.
Make sure your car is sufficiently ventilated. If your dog is in a crate, make sure it has access to fresh air.
keep your dog safe by using a dog seat belt or a dog car seat.
Never allow your dog to travel with his head out from an open window. This can result in an injury or worse.
Allowing your dog to ride in the back of an open truck is never a good idea. This is exceedingly dangerous and can result in death.
Traveling with a dog by Train, Bus, or Boat to Your Destination
You could be disappointed if you plan to go by train or bus. On Amtrak trains, only dogs under 20 pounds are allowed (a $25 fee applies). Greyhound and other interstate bus companies do not allow dogs on their buses. Local rail and bus companies have their own policies. (Service dogs are allowed.)
If you’re going on a cruise, you might get a better deal. Before planning to take your dog on a cruise, you should check the policies of the cruise line or ship you will be sailing on.
Traveling with pets via plane
If you’re flying, make an appointment with your veterinarian ahead of time. Health certification must be submitted to the airline no later than 10 days before to departure. Certificates of rabies and vaccinations are also necessary. Your dog should be weaned and at least 8 weeks old.
It is the owner’s responsibility to verify the dog’s health and eligibility to fly, according to airlines. Consult your veterinarian about whether your dog should be sedated for the trip. Also, make sure to verify the temperature of the flight’s departure and arrival points; they may be too hot or cold for your dog.
Keep in mind that each airline has its unique set of rules and services. If your crate does not match the airline’s regulations, for example, you may not be able to utilize it. However, if your dog’s kennel or carrier fits beneath the seat in front of you, they may allow it in the passenger compartment.
You must make reservations for your dog while making your reservations. The number of animals that can go on each aircraft is limited. On a first-come, first-served basis, they are accepted.
Since I mentioned that I and my pets are constantly on the road, there are times, especially during the summer when their skin and coats get flaky, Travelling on these days makes it worse. I’m sharing with you my D.I.Y Lotion bars you can prepare just before you travel, same I have used for years and works fine!
Traveling with pets might be stressful, but a relaxed owner usually means a relaxed pet. Our pets pick up on our tension, so if you’re apprehensive and tense, your dog may display signs of worry and stress as well. Remember that some dogs dislike traveling and may prefer to stay at home with a dog sitter. The most important part of travel is that you’re able to relax and enjoy the destination. So Cheers and have fun!
Dr. Ruth Roberts, Your Pet’s Ally
