Travelling with your dog

When you are planning to travel abroad with your pet, always consult your veterinarian first. Especially in warmer areas*, your pet may be at risk for contracting certain diseases that are less common in more moderate climates. Also, health certificates and/or vaccinations may be needed.

Travelling with your dog can be great fun if you make the right arrangements. However, poor forward planning can make the experience stressful for both you and your pet. Once you've decided your dog is coming away with you, the first thing you need to do is buy a collar with your current identification and keep it on your dog at all times. A microchip may also be beneficial for extra security. Before you travel, your dog would benefit from some basic training so he will be well-behaved during the trip. Then, plan the transportation, what to take and where to stay as not all hotels are dog friendly!

Travelling by car

The car is usually the best and most common method of travel with dogs and chances are your dog has already ridden in it for trips to the vet or the park. However, it's fair to say that some dogs suffer anxiety when riding in cars so try to make the experience as enjoyable for him as possible by ensuring you vary the end destination. For example, if he only ever travels by car to visit the vets, he may associate the car with negative experiences. Take him to the beach, the park or the pet shop to get a treat however and he may start to look forward to road travel!

If your dog is still restless and unable to settle in the car, long journeys may not be advisable and anti-anxiety medications are available from your vet if necessary. If your dog is happy to travel on long trips, remember that much like humans, dogs need to stretch their legs and relieve themselves, so make sure you plan to stop every 3-5 hours. All dogs are different though so if you know your dog is likely to get restless every couple of hours then make your stops more frequent.