The holiday period is the time when more pets are abandoned. Heartless owners leave their dog anywhere so they can go on vacation. But why not take your dog with you? After all, he is a member of your family. There are more and more pet friendly places and facilities to find them. Traveling with animals requires a little more planning, but everything will be fine if you follow these tips for traveling with pets.
Tips for traveling with pets
- Rule number 1 for traveling with dogs: make sure you bring enough water and food for the journey and, if possible, for the time you are away from home. The last thing your pet needs is for you to change their diet right now.
- It will also be good for you to carry a bag with some of his favorite sweets, because they can serve as a reward after good behavior.
- Do not forget some of his favorite toys, because they will serve as entertainment and, being an object that is familiar to him, will make him feel more comfortable and calm.
- Nor can you keep the folder with your documentation at home because you never know when you will need your identification, your health card and your European Passport for Companion Animals. Of course, you will have to bring everything in order. If your dog needs to take any medicine or supplement, you also have to remember to put it in the backpack.
- Don’t forget the bags to throw away the excrement. They will save you in more than one situation.
- If you have exercised a lot before, you will be more tired and want to rest during the trip.
- To avoid dizziness, try to keep your pet on an empty stomach or almost, so you will get him not to have a bad time.
- Some people prefer to medicate the dog so that it remains asleep during the trip. But, in addition, it could be useful to have some product against dizziness. Before making any decision, it will be better to consult with a professional.
- It doesn’t hurt that before any more or less long trip you visit the vet to make sure everything is fine.
Traveling with pets by road
- If you go on the road, get your dog used to traveling little by little. He tries not to make his first adventure too long. It will be good for you to start with short trips (from home to the supermarket, for example) so that you can get used to the smells, noises and other sensations of the car. A good second step could be to go on an excursion to a nearby mountain range or town, so that the duration of the trip is a little longer. In this way, the day he has to travel for a longer time, it will not be so heavy for him.
- Your dog will thank you for frequent stops. To do this, he looks for a rest area that has a good area for him to get some exercise.
- It is important that your pet is safe during the trip, so you will have to use a protection system such as a carrier or cage, barriers, dividing grids, harnesses or leashes. Decide where to place your dog based on his size, but under no circumstances should he be in the front seat. It could bother you while driving or more damage could be done in the event of an accident.
- It would not hurt if you covered the seats with some kind of cover to avoid stains.
- Avoid additional nerves for your dog: turn down the music volume, make sure the temperature is good and try not to drive too hard.
Traveling with pets by plane, train or bus
- The first and most important thing is to take into account what transport you are going to travel with and what are the requirements of that particular company since, for example, there will be trains in which you will have to get your own ticket for the dog or the size of the carrier will change admitted.
- Buy a good carrier or crate for your dog and keep it inside during the entire trip. Make sure it has adequate ventilation, and put some towels on it to soak up any urine and water that might spill.
- Calculate extra time for everything because taking a dog could lengthen all the procedures such as going through customs or it may be difficult for you to find places authorized for pets.
- If you are going to travel to another country, make sure that you take the health certificate with you and find out about all the requirements that you must meet in order to get there with your dog.
- Remember that not everyone likes dogs, so the people around you might be a bit hostile. Don’t be surprised if someone pouts at you when your dog gets on them. Put some order!
- And when you arrive at your destination… enjoy!
