Traveling with a dog in your car can be problematic. Sometimes your dog will whine, bark, move in a messy manner or even vomit. Driving can cause anxiety to some dogs, which can lead to some unpleasant long trips!
On the other hand, most people believe it is difficult to travel internationally with a dog; This leads many people to not want a dog during their years of passion for travel.
What would happen if I told you that there are many ways in which dog lovers can travel internationally with their pet dogs?
Many people consider dogs are the best friends of humans, why would you want to leave your best friend at home while exploring the world?
Bring your dog with you!
This section will describe some rules that will allow your dog to feel more comfortable in caring, which will make both you and your dogs much more relaxed and pleasant, whether it is a local trip or an international trip
Traveling With Your Dog For Local Trips
There are certain things to keep in mind when you want to travel on any local trip with your dog in your car.
Patience And Planning
The first thing to remember when introducing your dog to your car is that patience is definitely required. You should let your dog explore your car well in advance of your first car trip. If you present your dog in the car on the day of your first trip, it is probably too late and can make your dog suffer from anxiety or feel overwhelmed by the whole experience.
It is important to plan a series of ‘exercises’ to introduce your dog to your car.
First, you can allow time to explore your car: the rear seats, the boots, the front seats, and all the cubicles.
Secondly, you can take your dog on a short practice car ride: maybe around your block or just forward and backward on your trip. This is important as it allows your dog to feel comfortable with the movement of the car. Some dogs will be nervous about the unknown movement, but with peace of mind, treats and patiennce, they will feel more comfortable with the car.
Another useful technique is to feed your dog in the back seat of your car for a few days. This generates a positive association with the car that can be invaluable for dogs with a, particularly nervous temperament.
Mark The Territory With The Scent
No matter how used to your car a dog will get, car rides will always be a source of excitement and adventure. This makes it very important to allow your dog to mark its territory inside your car. This could be done by allowing your dog to have a specific seat in the car or in the boot, which they can identify as their space. This will allow them to become familiar with space, which will lead them to be more easily relaxed.
One way to help your dog mark its territory is to take its favorite toys, blankets, and cushions to the car. Adding your dog’s favorite things, which will already be covered in his scent, is a great way to make your dog feel comfortable and relaxed in your car.
Security
It is important to focus on the safety of your dog during all car trips. This may mean that you install a partition between the passenger area and the boot of your car to prevent your dog from interrupting your approach while driving.
Other common methods to secure your dog are: dog carrier and specialized dog seat belts. It is important to keep in mind that different countries, states, and areas may have completely different rules and regulations regarding the transport of dogs in the car. It is important to look for traffic rules in your local area and anywhere you want to travel. This will ensure that your dog is safe and can also prevent you from receiving fines for unpleasant traffic violations.
Pit Stops
During a long trip, everyone wants to take a break. For humans, this could mean a snack and coffee at a fuel station or a short break in a scenic area. When you take your dog to the road with you, it is important to plan ahead.
Check the route to know the destinations of pit stops that will allow your dog to stretch its legs, go to the bathroom, eat, drink and burn some steam. Keeping a canine locked in a small space for a long period of time increases the chance that your pet will behave badly or have a toilet accident. Most of the routes will have panoramic walks, dog-friendly establishments, and adequate rest areas to take a quick break with your dog.
Exiting The Vehicle
It is important to always get out of your vehicle before letting your dog out. If you let your dog get out of the car before you, it could cause traffic accidents, your dog running away or running towards the road.
When leaving the vehicle, it is a good practice:
- Verify that your dog is safe
- Ext the vehicle
- Walk around to the exit closet to your dog (car door, window or boot)
- Make eye contact with your dog and give a clear command to stay
- Open the door
- Give a command for your dog to exit
- Attach a leash or harness if necessary
Giving clear commands to your dog allows you to keep control of the situation. This can also help nervous or excitable dogs stay focused.
Food And Water
It is important to limit your dog’s food and water intake before a trip. If your pet has consumed too much food, it may vomit. If your pet has drunk too much water, it may have to use the bathroom long before your first pit stop.
Both scenarios can make your dog feel bad, and it can also make you feel bad due to unpleasant odors. It is important to limit the amount of food and drinks your dog can do in the car, but it is also important to provide your dog with sustenance during long trips.
Finding the right balance can take some time since the balance is different for each dog. The best way to make sure that a dog is unlikely to get sick during the trip is to allow him to develop his confidence and comfort within a moving vehicle on shorter practice trips.
Overheating
Dogs are prone to overheating while in cars for extended periods of time. If you have to make a long trip with your dog, it may be a good idea to make a sheltered space. This could be done by placing a blanket over a section of your car or boot.
A shadowy space can definitely help your dog stay cool. Another way to minimize discomfort for your dog on hot days is to provide cold water, ice cubes or a wet flannel that you can put on its head. If you are planning to get out of your car and leave your dog inside, it is highly important to limit how long you will leave your dog inside the car.
The dog can overheat very quickly and a car in direct sunlight can become unbearably hot for a dog. I suggest never leaving your dog in a closed car. Opening the car window slightly is not enough to keep your pet cool. The health of your dog and safety is vital, do not take a risk and take your dog with you when you get out of the car.
Traveling With Your Dog Internationally
What are the things you should consider when traveling internationally with your dog?
Where To Travel With Your Dog
When planning your next adventure, it is important to consider the weather, the time of year and the weather forecast. For example, you will not want to take a long-haired dog to Africa during the summer, similarly, you will not want to bring a breed like a Chihuahua to cold weather during the winter months. Dogs are generally highly adaptive animals, but it is not worth acclimatizing your pet to dramatically different climates for the purpose of a short trip.
If you plan to take your dog to a very different climate, you can always bring accessories to make the temperature change easier to adapt.
For example, you can bring warm jumpers, coats and snow boots for your dog if you are going to cold weather. If you take your dog to warm weather, you may consider wearing a pair of shoes (warm ground may be uncomfortable for unprepared legs) or a cooling jacket.
Cooling jackets can be filled with water and work similarly to an ice pack. (A cheap cooling jacket is the ‘Go Fresh Pet Ice Colling Dog Vest’ manufactured by ‘Pets at Home ‘and costs a reasonable $ 15.)
When planning a trip with your pet, it is important to consider the personality of your pet. Some dogs, like humans, do not like being away from their home comforts. If you plan to travel with your pet, it is advisable to take your dog with you everywhere during your puppyhood as a method of introducing him into the travel lifestyle.
Regulations
Before deciding when and where to travel, it is a good idea to consult airline regulations, border control and transport services that you will find during your trip. Each country will have different regulations on the importation of dogs. Some countries will have strict import regulations surrounding pets, while others are more lenient.
If you are traveling from a rabies-free country around Europe, most countries only require that your pet have microchips and have been vaccinated against rabies. However, countries such as the United Kingdom, Norway, Finland and Malta need your dog to have received additional treatment for tapeworm. If you are traveling from a country that is not free of rabies, you will need evidence (proof that it will last a year) that your dog has undergone a blood test for rabies antibodies.
Some countries, such as Australia, have quarantine regulations, which means that your dog will have to be evaluated upon arrival by a government laboratory. This usually takes a minimum of ten days!
For countries that have quarantine laws, you will also need an import permit, veterinary certificates, and recent rabies blood tests.
Travel Method
There are many different methods to travel with your dog; by car, by plane, by boat, by coach, and by train, etc. Each travel method will pose its own problems and challenges.
If you plan to take your pet on a flight, it is important to keep in mind that there are three main methods:
- Taking your dog with you in the cabin of the plane.
- Checking your dog as luggage.
- Booking your dog to be taken on a separate plane cargo flight.
Most airlines will have regulations that allow dogs up to 46 cm long, 28 cm wide and 24 cm high with a maximum weight of 8 kg. Most airlines will not allow you to have your dog out of a container if you travel in the cabin. The reason for this is that the airlines are worried that dogs can run down the aisle during dinner, which can annoy other customers.
If a dog is too big for the cabin, it must be registered as luggage. The luggage storage is regulated by temperature and pressure, so your pet will be fine once in the air. The only concern when checking your pet in the baggage hold is the fact that your pet will be exposed to the items during loading and unloading.
If you leaving or arriving at an especially cold airport, this could cause health problems for your dog. Airports with a lot of heat and humidity are also a matter of concern; For example, the Emirates airline will not allow dogs to be transported in luggage between May 1st and September 30th, since the heat and humidity are dangerously high. When booking a flight with a pet, prioritize short and direct flights if possible!
If you cannot fly with your pet, you can book your dog a flight with cargo service. There are many cargo services that specialize in the transport of animals. The only downside of booking a cargo flight for your dog is that you and your dog cannot reach the destination at the same time or even the same day. Some cargo flights will also land at non-commercial airports, which may mean that you have to travel to pick up your pet once at your destination.
Most commercial ship lines have kennels on board. Most boat lines have a regulation that once onboard, all dogs must remain in their kennels. This is to avoid the possibility of an overboard accident. It is important to keep in mind that on long trips this may not be the best option since boat line kennels are not always the most comfortable and spacious.
Most train lines worldwide will allow dogs to be transported on them. Some train-line companies have a regulation that the dogs must be on a leash or in a dog crate during the entire trip. Some countries, such as Vietnam, do not allow dogs on trains,
Traveling by car is by far the best option! It allows you to control the pace of your trip and allow your dog to have so many pit stops, lunch breaks, and exercises. Car trips are also less likely to cause stress to your dog since it is likely to be a normal occurrence.
Traveling Equipment
Here is a useful list of equipment you can buy to make traveling with your dog easier:
1. A Waist Harness
Waist harness will allow you to keep your hands free while keeping your dog under control and next to you. Waist harnesses are especially useful for anyone hiking as it allows you to fully access your map. Waist harnesses are also very useful when you need two hands to transport your luggage to the right place.
2. IATA (International Air Transportation Association) Pet Crate
An IATA pet crate will help minimize any problems you may have when checking your dog in the luggage compartment of an airplane or taking it in the cabin with you. Most airlines will accept crates with air holes on all sides, made of sturdy plastic, have a wire door and a secure locking system. However, it is a good practice to buy an IATA box as it will definitely lead to less potential discomfort. ·
3. Pet Passport
Some countries, including all countries in Europe, require that your pet have their own passport. Pet passports indicate when your pet was last vaccinated against diseases, such as rabies.
Most veterinarians will issue pet passports, but if they don’t, I would recommend asking the veterinarian to tell you where the nearest location is to obtain a pet passport. Pet passports come with plenty of space to update your pet’s medical history.
Arrival
Having a fixed plan for your arrival can definitely help minimize stress for you and your dog.
Have you booked accommodation that allows pets?
Have you drawn a route that allows you easy access to food and water for your dog?
Have you reviewed and followed all local laws concerning dogs?
As mentioned earlier, flying your pet on a pet-specific cargo flight is a very popular option. If this is the case,
Have you planned to get to where the cargo flight lands?
Have you made adaptations for taking care of your dog if you can’t reach your dog immediately?
Don’t ruin your trip for a lack of preparation!