The summer holidays are approaching. We notice that healthy nervousness that enters us when we think about our travel plans. And we don’t forget our dog! Traveling with him is one of the activities we like the most. But beware!, have we wondered if he is going to really enjoy the trip?; Traveling without a dog will not be the same as traveling with a dog, and our furry friend may feel that he is welcome or that, on the contrary, his presence is an effort for us. The decision to take it with us should be considered and prepared, in advance, to achieve a satisfactory experience for all those involved.
Before launching into the organization of a trip with our dog, let’s stop for a moment and reflect on the quality of the experience for our pet and the benefit that it will bring. Traveling is not only using a means of transport, it is also assuming changes in routine, adapting to new circumstances, discovering new places, interacting with unknown people and dogs, experiencing new smells and sounds, etc. We are the ones who know our dog best and who know where he is doing well and where he is not. If we believe that he is not yet ready to face these changes, it will be convenient to practice it in advance by making short trips for a day or a weekend, which predispose the animal to leave its comfort environment and develop its adaptation mechanisms normally.
Tips for traveling with dogs
Once convinced of the convenience of traveling with it, it will be essential to undertake good planning that takes into account and monitors the following basic aspects:
- destination and activities
- Transport
- accommodation and luggage
- Insurance and documentation
- health and safety
Destinations for holidays with dogs
The choice of destination is usually the first concern. It is convenient to condition this choice to the physical and behavioral characteristics of our pet, taking into consideration its size, its ease of relationship, its mood, its tolerance, its state of health, etc. Aspects such as the distance (hours of travel, difficulty of access), the climate (hot, cool, humid), the means of transport required (plane, train, ship, car), the environment (sea, mountain, urban), all They will indicate the most appropriate option to achieve a satisfactory experience and a happy memory that we want to repeat in years to come. A winning option is to look for a destination that combines places of activity and fun with places of rest for the animal, avoiding exclusively human tourism.
Traveling with dogs by plane, train or car
There are multiple means of transport, but all of them have limitations and conditions that we must know in advance to avoid unpleasant surprises once the trip has started. The greatest difficulties we will have when traveling in an airline, maritime or railway company. All of them apply the regulations established by national and international associations on the transport of pets, which may be, in each case and country, either very specific or practically non-existent. Nowadays, all these regulations are easily consulted on the corresponding web pages of each transport company.. All of them explain the regulations that we must comply with in relation to the location of our pet during the trip (cabin, compartment, hold), transport compartment (carrier, cage), restraint (leash, muzzle), accompaniment or visits, required documentation ( health card, European passport), and any other condition considered by the company.
Obviously, the simplest, and even most comfortable, means will be the car. However, despite being our own vehicle, we must comply with the regulations established in Spain by the DGT or in Europe by equivalent bodies. The car allows us to make rest stops as needed by our dog, recommending one every 2 or 3 hours. The animal must always be well restrained according to its size and weight ; by means of an approved harness with two hooks, inside a carrier placed behind the passenger seat, or in the trunk separated from the cabin by a grid or mesh.
Pet friendly places
It is becoming easier to find accommodation, shops, restaurants or beaches that join the pet-friendly movement , and all of this is published in web guides that are easy to use and consult. When making any reservation, it will be convenient to anticipate and indicate that we are traveling with an animal, emphasizing that it is well behaved and that we are responsible for any damage it may cause. This will help your admission and that of future pets. We can facilitate the stay in the accommodation that we have chosen if we properly prepare the luggage. It might seem cumbersome, but it will help us get out of unforeseen situations and continue our journey smoothly. It is advisable to include in our luggage:
- Your usual food for the first days, in addition to informing us where to buy it at the destination.
- Water bowl, folding or fixed.
- A canine first aid kit to treat wounds and first care, and their usual medicines.
- Spare muzzle, collar, leash and poop bags.
- Carrier for small dogs.
- Toys and clothes that you use regularly, which will help you miss the new environment less.
Insurance and identification of the dog
You don’t have to be afraid to travel, but you have to be aware that a thousand things can happen! For this reason, we should not go on a trip without travel insurance that includes Civil Liability and that covers our dog in case of needing veterinary care or repatriation from a foreign country. If we are going to move within the European Union, we must also obtain the European Pet Passport that can be issued by our veterinarian, after identifying the animal with its mandatory microchip and after confirming that it has been vaccinated against rabies in the current year. . Additionally, in some transport companies and in some destination countries, we may be required to present the Vaccination record of the dog and the Veterinary Certificate confirming that our pet is not a carrier of infectious diseases.
Sometimes we think that dogs put up with everything, but that’s not the case. In anticipation of a trip that can mean a significant effort for our pet, we should make sure of its health status by visiting our veterinarian and requesting its prescription in case of traveling to a country with additional vaccination requirements. We must prevent any problem during the trip in advance, asking the veterinarian to prescribe antiemetics (for vomiting), tranquilizers or pheromones (for anxiety), and to deworm the animal both internally and externally. A convenient recommendation is to take the contact information of our veterinarian, in case we need to consult you during the trip, and complement it with the location of a veterinary emergency service at the destination. Don’t forget the identification tag on the collar including our name and an international phone number to locate us!
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