Traveling is already stressful but, if you have a four-legged best friend, it only makes it much more difficult.
Traveling is already stressful enough for most of us out there.
But, if you have a four-legged best friend, it only makes hopping
between state (or country lines) that much more difficult.
When travelingโbe it by a car, boat, or planeโwith your pet, itโs
imperative you take his or her own well-being into consideration.
This means thinking about everything from how theyโll handle the
duration of a flight to the carrier they might find themselves
inโand everything in between.
So, suffice to say that there is quite a bit of ball to juggle in
the air when thinking about traveling with your pet. But, donโt
fret, weโve got you covered.
Here are six tips, tricks, and insights on how to (safely and
successfully) travel with your fur-baby.
1. Test it Out, First
Planning on doing a cross-country road trip with your pup,
hitting up the many glorious state parks our country has to
offer? Well, before you set off, try doing a test run, first.
If youโre a new pet owner and arenโt quite sure how your dog
might do on such a long trek, consider doing a test run before
setting off. Drive around town for an hour or so, maybe bouncing
between dog parks, and gauge how he or sheโs doing.
Itโs much better to know upfront if you have restless pup before
and...rather than somewhere down a country road in Yellowstone
National Park. (Weโll get to how to handle a car-phobic dog,
later on.)
2. Make a List, and Check it Twice
A successful trip, more or less, is predicated on the fact of how
organized youโre not. The same, too, carries over when bouncing
between borders with our dogs in tow.
Think about jotting down everything you might need for your pup
days in advance of your trip. This not only gives your brain the
space to make sure itโs fulfilled but also the time to ensure
youโve got all the specifics.
And, yes: Make sure you double-check said list before saying
โbyeโ to your home or apartment for a hot minute. Pay specific
attention to not forgetting things like medications, food, and
other niche things like outerwear and booties.
3. Go See the Vet
Just like how many of us need to go see the doctor before we set
off to newfound destinations, the same applies to a manโs (or a
womanโs) best friend.
Getting your dog a quick check-up by your vet is a good idea
before traveling, especially if youโre going someplace far away
and for a long time. Doing this can safeguard your pet from
experiencing certain medical emergencies, helping you steer clear
of catastrophes on the road or at cruising altitude.
Also, if you have a pet that gets anxious about traveling, your
primary vet can prescribe a light sedative for him or her. Taking
it (correctly) prior to hopping into a plane, boat, or car will
take the edge off.
4. Get Your Pet-friendly Accommodations
Squared-away
Thereโs no more frustrating feeling in the world than getting to
the front desk of a hotel, leash in hand, only to find out that
theyโre, actually, not pet-friendly.
To avoid such inconveniences, itโs crucial you have all your
pet-friendly accommodations all set in stone before leaving.
Double-check things like weight and breed limitations, needed
deposits, you name it.
If you have a partially messy pup, think about bringing excess
paper towels and a โburner sheetโ to lay across the bed or floor.
5. Make Sure Their Tags are Up-to-date
This is one of the most overlooked things most pet owners
overlook before going on a trip.
Make sure your dog's tags are all up-to-date before heading out
of town for any length of time. Also, if they are, make sure
theyโre eligible. Should something go array and someone find your
lost pup, youโll want to make sure that their tags canโt be
misunderstood.
Itโs also a good idea to have your dog microchipped, as well.
Think of these microchips as a permanent tag that they canโt chew
off. That being said, your dog should always sport regular tags,
regardless of whether he or she is also microchipped.
6. Embrace Technology
Long gone are the days where we had to resort to physical
roadmaps to get around. The same, too, carries over to how we
travel with our canines.
And being that everyone these days has a super-computer in their
pockets, there is a bevy of habits that can help make traveling
with your pup a piece of cake. Below are a few of our favorites:
? Bring Fido an app that allows
you to look at pet-friendly hotels, restaurants, events, and
more. Dog Park Finder Plus, an app that aggregates thousands of
dog parks into one directory, allowing you to find a dog parka
dog park anywhere you are traveling!
? Red Cross Pet First Aid is an
app that will connect you to a nearby or local veterinarian in
the case of a pet-related emergency.
? Dog Vacay is an app that links
dog sitters and walkers to owners who, unfortunately, canโt take
their pup with them on a leg of their vacation.
Tips for Traveling With Your Dog
As your four-legged canine friend is a part of your family, you
want to take it along everywhere you go. Your canine will make
your family vacation, even better as everyone loves to have it
around. Here are some tips for traveling with your dog, so that
you can make the trip more enjoyable than it already is.
Accommodation
It isnโt always necessary that every hotel will be okay with
pets. Before you start traveling to a new place, make a list of
hotels on your route that are pet-friendly. When you are taking
your canine to a new place, make sure you never leave it alone as
it will destroy the property or create a nuisance. Always pick up
after your canine so that the property is clean. Find out places
nearby your accommodation, where you can take your canine for a
walk.
Crates
When you are traveling with your canine, you need to have a crate
as it is the best way to keep it safe. When purchasing crates for
your canine, they need to have the following features:
- Enough space to stand up, turn around and lie down.
- Grips and handles for easy handling.
- The bottom has an absorbent material and is leak-proof.
- Ventilation from all sides for better airflow.
Ensure you place an extra comfortable mat, a water bottle, and
its favorite toy in the crate before traveling.
Health and safety tips
- Ensure your canine is up-to-date with all its vaccinations as
airlines ask for health certifications. Also, take it for a
health checkup before traveling with your canine.
- Carry medications, food, and bottled water to keep your
canine healthy.
Identification
Even though you never want it to happen to your canine, there are
chances of it getting lost. Use these tips so that your canine
has proper identification, making it easier to find it.
- Get your canine a microchip as it is a permanent type of
identification. Make sure your canine has a sturdy collar and
leash. The leash of your canine should have its name, your
contact number, and proof of vaccination.
- Carry a recent picture of your canine in your wallet and
phone.
Travel by car
- Get your canine used to traveling in a car by taking it for
small trips.
- Avoid feeding your canine before traveling by car. However,
ensure your canine has access to plenty of drinking water.
- Make sure there is plenty of ventilation throughout the car.
- Take regular breaks so that your canine can relieve itself
and stretch its muscles.
Travel by plane
- Ensure you are carrying proof of vaccinations and all health
certifications of your canine as airlines need them.
- Check with the airline to find out their terms and conditions
for carrying pets.
- Make sure you only use airline-approved crates to carry your
canine.
Travel by boat, bus,
train
Always check with the boat, bus, and train operator about pet
policies before taking your canine onboard. Most of the cruises
allow pets and have special accommodation and food for them.
Follow these simple tips when you are traveling with your dog. If
you have any queries regarding this topic, feel free to leave a
comment below.
Dog owners everywhere can vouch that their four-legged friends
make wonderful companions. Being a dog parent is not an easy
task, especially if your lifestyle requires you to stay out of
your house most of the time. There are quite a few travel
enthusiasts out there who suffer separation anxiety when they
have to stay away from their furry friends for long durations.
Traveling with your pet is a unique experience as you get to
explore different places and environments with your best friend.
If you wish to travel with your dog, you will need to weigh the
pros and cons and be prepared for lots of planning. Here are a
few tips to help you navigate through the process.
Choosing where to travel with
your dog
The breed, age, and health of your pup should be evaluated
thoroughly before you decide on your travel destination. If you
and your pup live in a colder location, traveling to a hot and
sunny destination can cause quite a few troubles with your dog's
health and mood. Similarly, traveling from a hot location to a
cold place will require you to take plenty of precautions to
prevent your pup from falling ill. If you are planning to
permanently relocate to another location, ensure that the new
town or city has a climate similar to that of your current city.
Doing so will make the transition process much easier for your
beloved companion.
Mode of transport
If you are planning to fly to another city or country with your
pet, you will need to research the many quarantine regulations
and transportation guidelines imposed by countries and air travel
companies. Your pet will most likely have to undergo tests and
check-ups to ensure that he is fit for travel. If you intend to
put your dog in a crate for the duration of the travel, consider
preparing your pet in advance by training him to feel safe and
comfortable inside the crate. If you will be traveling for longer
durations, it is most advisable not to bring your pet along as it
would seriously affect your pup's schedule and comfort level.
If you are traveling by road, ensure that your pup is
well-hydrated and is not exposed to extreme temperature changes.
Feed your pup much ahead of the travel in order to avoid any
motion sickness. Invest in appropriate equipment such as leashes
and window mesh to safeguard your dog in the car.
At the Destination
Once you reach your destination, pay special attention to your
dog's behavior and health. Maintain a routine for your dog โ
including scheduled walks and regular mealtimes to ease the
stress that accompanies long travels.
In Conclusion: Stay Prepared, Play Ahead,
and Enjoy an Effortless Adventure with Your Four-Legged Best
Friend
By now, itโs pretty clear to see that a lot goes into planning a
pet-friendly vacation. However, the key to any successful
vacation boils down to one thing: Preparation.
Making sure things like your accommodations are figured out,
needed medications and foods packed, dog-park-filled driving
route planner, and more will make for an easy vacation.
