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Traveling with your dog:

Everyone needs a getaway every now and then.  Depending on where you travel, like most dog owners, you may want your dog to join you on your vacation.  Here are some simple items to remember when traveling with your dog.

  1. The first item to consider whether or not to travel with your dog is if he can join you.  If your vacation destination doesn’t permit you to bring pets or if you’re going for an extended period of time, a kennel may be the answer. It’s important to do some research with dog kennels to ensure they’ll give your dog the proper care and attention it needs.
  2. Another option is leaving your dog with family or friends who will take care of it for a few days. If no one is available to take care of your dog, under no circumstances should you leave it alone.  For proper dog care, if left alone, your dog will not understand that you’re not home.
  3. However, if you plan on traveling with your dog, some homework needs to be done. When traveling with your dog overseas, you’ll need to look into an international vaccination card.  Entry conditions vary by countries so it’s responsible to research it and ensure your dog has the proper dog vaccinations (or vet records).  Some countries require a veterinarian’s certificate. 
  4. Once you get the dog in the country, for instance, you’ll need to see if hotels admit dogs. Certain countries like Switzerland are more pet-friendly than others.  Some hotels also require a written confirmation of a reservation with a dog.
  5. Where ever you go, you’ll also want to research where a veterinarian is nearby. In case of emergency, you won’t want to be in a situation where you do not know who to call.
  6. When packing your dog’s belongings, remember to include its food and water bowl. The very same one that is used at home.  Your dog will need a blanket and one or two towels, along with a water bottle for the trip.  A medicine kit will help as well as eye drops and products to fight fleas.
  7. Another good idea is a special pendant for the collar with your vacation address in case your dog is lost. (The Dog Bowl has an excellent lost and found & pet record database for your vet records.)
  8. When traveling with your dog by airplane, rules may differ by airline. For instance, normally dogs will travel in a cage in the baggage compartment. However, if your dog is under a certain weight it can travel in the cabin with you.  (Certain airline "pet perks" may also apply when flying with your pet.)

For more information about traveling with your dog click here - The Dog Bowl has lots of helpful information to aid with traveling with your pet.