Whether it be on a vacation to your favorite resort,
or just visiting the in-laws for the weekend, many people are choosing to take
their dogs with them when traveling. Land or air, there are many things to take
into consideration. The best advice is simply, to be prepared. Below are some
tips for traveling by air and land.
Tips on preparing rover for air travel
Unless your dog is a frequent flyer, air travel is likely to be a very stressful experience,
so you might want think twice about subjecting them to the friendly skies. Each airline is
going to have their own set of rules for traveling pets. Be sure to know the details prior
to making any arrangements.
- Have your vet sign a document (health certificate),
stating that your dog is healthy, and free of disease.
Make sure he is up-to-date
with a flea & tick program
- Do not feed your pet within 6 hours (some wait even
longer) prior to departure. And no water 2 hours before takeoff.
- Make sure you have
proper identifaction tags on him. This includes his name, and ALL your information...address,
phone number, etc.
- You MUST provide an adequate crate for you dog to travel in. The
crate must be big enough for rover to stand in, free of any debris,and strong enough to withstand the rigors of travel. Be sure to check with your airline for more specific requirements.
- Attach a note to the crate stating your dogs feeding and water requirements in the event that your flight is delayed or diverted.
- Carry a photograph of your dog incase he is accidently lost. Finding your dog will be a lot easier for everyone if you have a picture.
Traveling by car
- keep your dog leashed whenever possible.
- Pack ID and a photo. Make sure your rover has his ID tags, with all important contact information (up to date). Along with his tags, make sure you have paperwork with current vaccinations and important health notes.
- Book your lodgings ahead. If your road trip involves staying overnight somewhere, ensure that your accommodations allow dogs
- Is your dog ready for a long trip? If your dog is not used to long road trips it might be a good idea to get him accustomed to being in the car longer than a trip to the grocery store..
- Keep your dog cool. If you dont have air conditioning in the car, make sure you have a window down to let in fresh cool air.
Traveling with your four legged pal makes a great trip even better. If you follow these basic guidelines and educate yourself on rules and regulations for traveling and accommodations, you will have a great memory of your trip that will last a lifetime.
Here are some great resources for info on dog friendly destinations.
Carpool - A free carpool service to bring drivers with a free seat and travelers without thier own car together. You can also search or add a lift with your mobile.
