Travelling With Dogs: 10 Tips Before Bringing Your Dog On Trips

Travelling With Dogs: 10 Tips Before Bringing Your Dog On Trips

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Every dog owner would understand the absolute headache of having to decide whether they should bring their dog along for holiday trips due the many unanswered questions or daunting inconveniences of it. If this is you then fret not! Travelling with your dog may sound intimidating or troublesome at first but with just a little planning and research, it is very much possible - if not, possibly easy! So here's 10 tips on how to travel with your dog to make your planning and research a little less complicated.

1. Understand the Policies

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If you’re flying with your dog, make sure to call the airline to ask about their pet policies and requirements for the flight. Each airline has different policies. So, it is crucial to understand their rules and regulations before you book the tickets.

Depending on the airline, you can either have your dog fly with you as a carry on or as a cargo in a crate. Usually, the airlines would allow the carry on option if your dog is small enough to fit under the seats. However, if your dog is of a larger breed, then it would not be surprising if you are required to choose the cargo option.

In either case, flying can be stressful for your dogs especially if the flight distance is long. It is generally not recommended bringing your dog along if the flight duration is longer than 4 hours. Flights above that may be too stressful for your dog to handle. The airlines do try their best to provide as much comfort as possible for your dog but flying is generally still unpleasant. So it is important that you weight out the pros and the cons before you go for the trip.

If you still decide to go ahead with it, check with the airline to understand their policies when it comes to the carrier for your dog. Remember to bring the appropriate carrier that’s within the airline regulations and at the same time, can provide as much comfort to your dog as possible.

2. Documentation

Before your flight, make sure you have all the necessary documentations needed ready and prepared. You are required to provide documentation from the veterinarian stating that your dog has been fully vaccinated and is healthy enough to fly.

The health certificate needed for your dog will only be valid for 30 days. This certificate is needed for both the departure and return. So if you are planning to go on a trip longer than 30 days, you are required to obtain another health certificate for your return flight. Be sure to plan out your trips well. Contact the local veterinarian nearby your stay and get the necessary documentation.

Also, check with the airlines if additional documentations are needed such as your dog’s medical history. Each airline have different requirements for your dog to be allowed on board. So, it’s generally advisable to keep copies of all the documentation involving your dog, both hard copy and soft copy so that it’s easier for you when it’s needed.

3. Prep Yo' Dog

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Flying can be stressful for your dog, especially if your dog is not accustomed to travelling. So have your dog get used to environments similar to when he or she flies on board. Take your dog out more on walks. Bring your dog out on car rides and increase the duration of the ride gradually. Doing these things would make flying less stressful for your dog as you give it exposure.

On the boarding day itself, make sure you feed your dog 4 hours before boarding. Try to refrain from feeding your dog right before the flight to prevent it from pooping during the time of the flight. Try to also bring your dog out for one last walk if possible and make sure that your dog has done pooping before boarding. These will ensure that at the very least, your dog would not poo mid-flight and that he or she would be tired enough to fall asleep for the majority of the flight duration. Main idea here is to maximize comfort and minimize any possibilities for discomfort.

4. Don’t Assume!

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Different places have different regulations when it comes to pets. Some places can also be inconsistent with their own regulations as well. It is not entirely surprising that some hotels or restaurants claim to be pets friendly on their websites when it isn’t exactly the case after guests are turned down for showing up with their pets. So don’t assume! Call the hotel or restaurant beforehand to check with their staff whether pets are actually allowed. This could save you time and the possible frustration of being rejected entry into your designated location.

5. Blend Into The Surrounding

Be in your element! Go to the nearby park and make friends with other dog owners. Being part of a like-minded community could potentially save you a lot of time, energy and money.

As a dog owner, there can be a lot of restrictions or additional charges to the places that you want to go. Getting to know other local dog owners would also mean that you’ll be getting to know of pet friendly places without those restrictions or additional charges.

If there are no nearby parks around you, go online! Social media platforms like Reddit or Instagram are perfect places for you to get in touch with the community. Places like pet cafes or pet stores are the best locations as well to make new like- minded friends. Blending into the community could not only save you loads of time, energy or money, but it could also make your trip much easier and fun

6. Dog Events

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I know it could not be any more obvious but avoid places that are not exactly pet friendly. Be on the lookout for pet restrictive signs, so you know where to avoid. Likewise, be on the lookout also for pet friendly places or events. Dog events or any pet fiesta celebrations could suit your itinerary well as a travelling dog owner. With that said, you would also need to be cautious when joining said pet events. Make sure you are well aware of the dos and don’ts of bringing your dog to a dog event to be able to properly enjoy the occasion.

7. Carry Essentials

Having a dog around with you on trips is almost like bringing around a child. You have to make sure that the necessary essentials are well-prepared and stored in your bag as you travel around. So, having a carrier that has additional storage space would be heavenly and could save you from desperate situations.

Make sure you bring additional plastic bags for your dog’s poo, especially at areas that require you to clean up after your dog. Remember also to pack snacks and a bottle to store water for your dog. Other necessities like your dog’s travel documentations, leash, medicine and the likes should be well packed and be brought along as well throughout the trip.

With that said, you would also need to constantly monitor the condition of your dog. Watch out for signs of dehydration or any abnormal behavior that would indicate sickness. Be on the constant look out also to feed your dog on time or for your dog to go potty. A misjudge in timing or an overlook of your dog’s condition is an invitation to trouble and can even be dangerous so play the parent and be on the look out.

8. Train Yo' Dog

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Bringing your dog around would also mean that your dog would need a certain degree of training and discipline. An untrained dog carry the possibility of it running wild or get aggressive with other dogs. So make sure that your dog is well trained. If not, train your dog basic commands at the very least. Commands such as “stay”, “sit”
or “no” can be very helpful when you’re traveling with your dog. It can sometimes even be necessary at worse cases.

It is crucial to train your dog if you want to travel with it as learning how to train your dog is essential. Go for courses, learn online or get books that can help you in getting good with training your dog. There are many tips and tricks that you can learn simply by going through articles online. So train your dog! An untrained dog who refuses to listen to you is not what you want or need around you when travelling.

9. Dog Apps

There are countless apps out there that you can download on your phone to make your travel easier. Travelling can be a big headache sometimes with all the planning and unexpected turn of events along the way. With that said, having a dog around doesn’t exactly make things easier. In fact, it adds to the work load. So, apps can be a saving grace most of the time during your travels. Apps that help you with tracking the best dog-friendly route for instance or apps that show you the nearest available emergency vets are all helpful if not, necessary in your travel with your dog.

Apps like PetBacker offers you variety of services that can help you in times of need. It is also easy to operate. Save you the complication and the time.

10. Safety!

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There are many things to look out for when bringing around your dog. Ongoing traffic, loose leash, sudden panic attacks are examples of unforeseen situations. So there's no denying that you would need to be extra careful during your trip.

Make it a habit to triple check everything. Ensure that there's no room for troubles. While it is fun to have your fury companion around, it comes with it many
responsibilities! So practice safety first to prevent any unwanted circumstances from happening.

With these, travelling with your dog is as easy as a walk at a park. It sounds intimidating but with the right planning, patience, research and tips, you can enjoy the vacation with your dog right beside you. Save you both the headache and the heartache of not having your dog around.

But if traveling with your dog ever gets too tiring, you can always consider dog boarding. There are many available websites such as PetBacker that offers you affordable deals to board your dog. It’s safe, and it’s fun, for both you and your dog!

Download the PetBacker app now to make your travels easier with just a few taps on your phone!

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