Traveling with your dog: how to prepare

If you’re a typical pet owner, then be sure to take your dog on vacation with you at some point. Whether it’s a fully organized excursion or a trip to visit relatives, taking your pet with you will be one of your best decisions. Dog hotels can be inconvenient, dog sitters can be expensive, and some pets just can’t be away from their owners for long. Whatever the reason, taking your pet on vacation with you can be one of the best experiences of your life and hers.

Before leaving

Making a list of things is essential whether you bring your pet with you or not, but nothing will help you plan your dog vacation better than a separate list of dog essentials. Listed below are some of the most important things you should keep in mind when planning a vacation with your dog:

• A pet cage or carrier suitable for air travel if you are flying.
• Safety collar or harness with up-to-date identification information.
• Contact your veterinarian in case your pet gets sick or injured.
• Health certificate, even if it is not required for transportation.
• Complementary food and water for the dog.
• Delicious treats to reward her for good behavior or distract her in stressful situations.
• First aid kit for dogs.
• Waste bags (leave no trace!)
• Her favorite chew toys.
• Collapsible bowls that are easy to store and unpack.
• Bed, extra blankets and towels to keep the animal comfortable and clean.

As the American Foundation for Veterinary Medicine (AVMA) recommends, don’t forget bandages, gauze, and band-aids when packing your first aid kit.

Providing comfort

With a list of things like that, preparing for a trip should be relatively easy. Once you have everything you need—and you may well have a lot more to pack—you should start planning your dog trip. Are you traveling by car? It doesn’t matter what kind of cage or carrier you use – it should be as comfortable as possible for your pet. Hard-walled cages and carriers are perhaps the safest, but there are plenty of seat belts and barrier systems that work just as well in the average car. In the case of a flight, however, you must use a cage approved for use in air transport. Be sure to check with the specific airline you are flying with as each has its own requirements.

If you are not planning to stay with family or friends, make sure your hotel is pet-friendly. There are more and more pet-friendly hotels around the world, so you shouldn’t have any trouble finding a comfortable place for both of you. However, be sure to check the weather forecast before you travel, especially if you are traveling to an area with a different climate. Dogs that live in Southern California but travel to, say, Michigan in the winter will likely need extra insulation to allow them to properly adjust to the cold.

If you are traveling to your destination by car, be sure to plan your stops accordingly. In such cases, it is better not to leave the dog in the car unattended. On the other hand, if the weather is too severe, stops should be made only to fill up or go to the toilet, and immediately start moving. And remember that when traveling with a puppy, you will need to stop more often than with an adult dog.

How to make your trip enjoyable

While the journey certainly takes a long time, try to stick to the routine your dog is used to at home. Feed her regularly on a schedule with portion sizes and make sure she gets plenty of exercise. The more familiar your dog’s daily routine is, the less likely it is to feel the stress of the trip itself. Airports and hotel lobbies can be busy places, so to make your four-legged friend feel comfortable, take the time to take him to the toilet before he can relax in his cage. Positioning your dog on his favorite bed or blanket will help calm any worries he may have while in the carrier. Going on an international trip? Stock up on enough of your pet’s favorite treats to delight him at various times of the trip.

Because travel is stressful for everyone involved in one way or another, it’s important that your dog is prepared for the trip too. You don’t want to forget important things that can make your trip more comfortable. Ultimately, the more you travel together, the easier it will be for both of you to explore new places outside of your area.