Traveling with your Dog

Naturally, the first thing you want to consider before traveling with any pet is their health. Are they in good enough health to travel in the first place? If so, are they up to date with checkups and vaccinations? Most everywhere you travel with your dog will require that they are up to date with all of their shots. Take the time to pay your vet a visit and make sure they’re good to go. It’s also a good idea to have them groomed just before you leave and have their nails trimmed.

Make sure that your dog’s collar has an ID tag on it and that they are microchipped. It also doesn’t hurt to bring a copy of any paperwork that might come in handy if there was an emergency such as health records. Don’t forget to bring a leash!

Whether you are traveling by car or by plane, you may wish to take a crate. There are many reasons to pack the crate. If your dog is used to sleeping in his crate at night, taking his bed with you is a great way to help him feel more comfortable during your travels. But safety is another great reason to bring it with you. It’s a lot safer to not allow your dog to roam around in the car while you’re driving. Should you have to slam on your breaks or get into an accident, your dog could be seriously injured or could cause injury to other passengers in the car by being loose. Another option, if you’re not wanting to take a crate, is to purchase a special restraint that is made just for dogs that easily clips into your seats.

If you’re planning on taking an airplane to your destination, it’s important to do your research about taking your dog. Unfortunately, pets have been killed or injured on airplanes. This is much to do with the fact that they’re put in the cargo area of the plane and are subjected to extreme hot and cold temperatures, lack of ventilation, and rough handling by staff. Though the vast majority of the time, pets are unharmed during air travel, it is certainly not without risk, so please investigate before making this decision.

If you’re traveling by car, be sure to make frequent stops to let your dog use the bathroom and stretch his legs. But be careful not to ever leave your pooch alone in the car for long, especially if it’s hot out. What may feel like a warm day outside can quickly become a deadly temperature inside a car. So try to always stay with your dog. Get him out of the car as much as possible when you’re stopped, and bring plenty of fresh water so that he’ll stay nice and hydrated.