Best Way To Travel With A Dog

Taking your pooch on your next adventure with you would just add to the fun. Whether you plan to bring them on the road or sky, you need to do your homework on dog travel. The general rule is to choose the safest and most comfortable for your pet.

Table of Contents

Preparing for your trip
Things to pack
On the road
Keeping them calm while traveling
Arriving at the destination
Entering the hotel room
Strolling on new places
Illness or injury
Consult the experts

Preparing for your trip

Even before you start deciding what mode of transport to take, here is a short checklist of the things you should do.

Research about animal policies. Check the quarantine laws and transportation restrictions.
Ensure that your hotel and other destinations will welcome pets.
Bring your pet to your vet. Get a health certificate verifying that your pet is fit to travel. Make sure that all necessary vaccinations are up to date as well.
Shop for companion-animal travel gear.
Consider having your pet microchipped. This painless procedure places a microchip under their skin. The microchip contains all your pooch’s identification information.

Things to pack

Taking your dog to travel is just like packing for a baby. These are all the things you should pack in your pooch bag:

Dryer sheet – In case of a thunderstorm, place the dryer sheet over their fur. This will help calm them down by containing the buildup of static electricity in their fur low.
Medical records, IDs, and extra contact – Place all these important documents in a ziplock with a proper label. Having them all in one place gives you easy access. It also prevents them from getting wet or stained.
Ice cubes – A cool drink during breaks will keep your pup well hydrated and control their water intake.
Chicken broth – In case your pooch starts to feel sick, call your vet and add some chicken broth to their water. This is full of nutrients, and it will make them feel better. Make sure it is low in sodium, okay?
Spares – Pack spares of everything – collars, IDs, poop bags, and toys.
Tweezers, liquid soap, and cotton balls – For outdoor travels, these things are essentials for removing ticks. Use the pair of tweezers to pull the tick off gently. Then clean the area and your hands with the soap.
Baking soda – Avoid paying extra charge or penalty for dog pee stains. In case of accidents, baking soda is the cheapest and easiest way to remove those stains. If stung by a bee, baking soda paste helps bring the swelling down.

On the road

There are different ways to transport your pooch. You can take them by car, by airplane, by ship, or by train. However, car travel puts the least amount of stress on most pets. Dogs usually enjoy car travel but long rides can be a different story for some.

When traveling by car, here are some precautions you should take.

Prevent stress. Bringing your pet on short drives up to your long road trip permits your pet to adapt to car travel. Cars are generally safe for dogs, but placing them on travel carrier or car kennel is highly recommended for everyone’s safety. Make sure though that there are no harmful items like leases and loose collars inside the crate.
Do not leave them in the car alone, even with the window cracked open. Cars can easily become an oven. Your dogs can easily get dehydrated, suffer, and die especially on warm days. Pets can suffer from heatstroke within just 15 minutes.
Feed dogs early and exercise for several hours before leaving. Letting them eat early prevents upsetting their stomachs. Exercise can burn off his excess energy so he will be more inclined to rest during the travel.
Stop and rest at least every three hours. During breaks, walk your dog and feed them with small meals --preferably those that are high in protein.
Do not open the windows unless your dog is restrained.

Keeping them calm while traveling

Again, travels can be stressful for some dogs. However, taking their favorite toy or anything that attaches them to home, will offer comfort and relaxation. Famous dog trainer Cesar Milan recommends rubbing a little lavender oil between your hands and giving your pet a deep tissue massage will help.

Arriving at the destination

Just because you are away from home does not mean you pause on your healthy routines. Continue to give take them out for walks, spend time to play, and offer access to fresh water and food. If possible, make sure the food prepared are similar to those they eat at home to prevent sickness.

Entering the hotel room

Be the first to enter your hotel room and let your dog stay where allowed to. Do not let them roam around the room so they will not assume control. Some dogs tend to bark a lot when left inside a hotel room. Stay calm and assertive of the situation and do not encourage the barking behavior with affection. By the way, make sure that your scent is everywhere in the room before they settle in.

Strolling on new places

Since you are miles away from home, your dog can easily get thrilled with the new sights, scents, and sounds. Be extra careful when exploring new places. Your curious pooch may ingest something harmful. When traveling during the holidays, the lights and decorations can be a distraction. So, better keep a keen eye for your babies.

Illness or injury

Ask your veterinarian ahead of time for a reference to the nearest vet or animal hospital where you will be traveling. Write the info down or print a map from the Internet. This way, you will not be scrambling for info in case an emergency situation arises -- but,dog forbid.

Consult the experts

Some companies are dedicated to pet transportation and travel for anywhere across the globe. For example, PetRelocation has a blog that allows you to ask anything about pet travel. If you are hesitant about something, you can easily send them an inquiry and they will be of great help.

Traveling with your dog can be a fun and meaningful experience for them. There will be lesser surprises when you are well prepared, and you know what to do.