Tips for Traveling With Your Dog

Tips for Traveling With Your Dog

During your holiday travels, you may want to bring your pet with you. If you plan on having fido in tow, there are some things that you need to consider in order to make traveling as easy as possible on the both of you. Keep these tips in mind when traveling with your pet during the holidays.

Packing
In order to make the trip pleasant for your pet, you need to keep their needs in mind. It’s important that you pack the right items. Don’t just think about their dietary needs, but their mental state as well. Pack things that help them calm down like their favorite blanket or toy. If your pet takes medication, make sure you have plenty of that with you. Also, don’t forget to pack their medical records just in case you need to prove that your pet actually needs a certain medication. You may also need to bring your pet’s health certificate, that’s issued by their veterinarian, to prove that they are fit to travel.  Make sure you have a collar with an identification tag.

Traveling By Car
Traveling by car can be stressful on both you and your pet. When transporting your pet in a vehicle, make sure they are in a carrier or some kind of secure harness. This will allow them to remain safe if you have to brake suddenly or if you are in an accident. Make sure you stop frequently for bathroom breaks for not only you, but your pet as well. If you are in a safe area, put them on a leash and allow them to walk around for a bit. Just make sure that you don’t ever leave your pet alone in a vehicle, as it’s simply not safe.

Traveling By Air
The safest place for your pet to travel on an airplane is in the main cabin. However, you will need to talk to the airline beforehand to find out what their policies are about pets in the cabin. If you absolutely must have them travel in the cargo hold, try to make it as short of a flight as possible.  Make sure the crate is large enough for the dog to stand, turn and lie down. It should also have ventilation on both sides.  Again check with the individual airline as to what their policies are in reference to the size of the crate or carrier.  Have a comfortable mat or blanket, water bottle and a toy as well. Also, most airlines will require that you have a certification of health & up to date vaccinations from your vet 10 days prior to travel.

Staying In A Hotel
Many hotels welcome pets. When booking a room, let the hotel know that you will be traveling with a pet so that they can find an appropriate room for you. During your stay, try to keep the same routine as you do at home. This will allow your pet to become acclimated with their new environment fairly quickly. Try to choose a hotel that has a designated space for you to take your pet to use the restroom or for them to run out some of their pent up energy.

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