Consider carefully before taking your dog on holiday

Holidays with dogs

Holidays with dogs: What you need to consider

If you’re going on holiday it’s only right that your dog should get to come too, right? Well, not necessarily. Your dog may be part of the family pack or your best friend and love spending all their time with you but sometimes travelling may not be the best thing for your pooch. A different environment, different schedules and the journey itself can be very stressful for a dog. Therefore you need to consider whether it might not be best for your dog to stay with someone who will look after them while you’re away. However, if you think your dog will be fine then we’ve got some handy information for staying safe while enjoying happy holidays with dogs.

Transporting your dog by car

If you’re going to be transporting your dog by car it’s a good idea to do some test runs around your local neighbourhood to make sure your dog is okay travelling in a car and to get it used to the sounds and feel of being in a moving vehicle. Your dog should be kept secure and comfortable during the journey and there are several options available for doing this, such as a crate or a car harness. The crate should be large enough for your dog to comfortably stand up in, turn around in and lie down in, with sufficient ventilation and bedding. Also make sure that your dog can see outside the crate. In addition, in order to avoid distress and potentially fatal heatstroke never leave your dog in a car during warm weather.

Ensure your dog has sufficient drinking water throughout the journey and leave at least a two-hour gap between feeding your dog and travelling as dogs travel better when their stomachs aren’t full. Just like humans need to stretch their legs, dogs do too so plan breaks during your journey where you can take your dog for walks on its lead (you don’t want it escaping during your travels!) and allow it to go to the toilet.

Transporting your dog by train

Public transport is a great alternative to transporting your dog by car as long as you follow the pet travel guidelines for whichever form of public transport you choose.

If you’ll be travelling by train you should always check the pet policy of the train service you’ll be using before beginning your journey in order to ensure that they do allow pets on the trains. Follow the train service’s relevant pet guidelines and make sure your dog is secure and comfortable during the journey and that it has sufficient drinking water. When travelling by train with your dog it is advisable to travel during the coolest part of the day and during the least busy periods, so aim to start your journey early in the morning or alternatively late at night. Like car transport, you may want to do a short train journey to see how your dog handles the train ride before going on a longer holiday trip.

Transporting your dog by ferry

Check the pet policy of the ferry service you intend to use before starting your journey and ensure you stick to the relevant instructions. Most ferries won’t allow dogs in the passenger section so they may need to stay in your car or in a travel container. Again, make sure your pet is secure and comfortable, with sufficient ventilation and water, and travel during cooler and less busy periods such as early morning, late night or overnight.

Transporting your dog by plane

Always check the pet policy of the airline you want to fly with and adhere to their instructions, such as ensuring your dog has a travel container that meets their regulations. Your dog should have access to water in a non-spill container and comfortable bedding. It’s advisable to let your dog become familiar with the travel container before your journey. Your dog will also need to meet the requirements of the Pet Travel Scheme if you plan on taking your pet abroad.

Travel preparations for your pooch

Your dog’s vaccinations, flea, worm and tick treatments should be up to date before travelling. If your dog needs medicine don’t forget to pack this for your trip. There will need to be a sufficient supply of dog food for the holiday, whether this means bringing enough food with you or making sure you can purchase food when you arrive at your destination. Just like people may want the comforts of home on holiday, your dog will too so pack some of your dog’s familiar bedding and favourite toys to make it feel more at home in your holiday accommodation. It’s also very important that your furry friend has a collar with contact details on it that are up to date.

Choosing dog-friendly accommodation

Consider what type of accommodation will suit your dog. If you’re planning a camping holiday is your dog up to the trip? Older dogs or dogs with injuries may be better suited to other types of accommodation rather than tents. Camping is also not a great idea for dogs that bark a lot as this will disturb fellow campsite users. In addition, you may love dogs but that doesn’t mean everyone shares your view so you’ll need to confirm that dogs are allowed wherever you choose to stay during your holiday. There may be restrictions on how many dogs you can bring as well as the breed and size of dogs that are accepted. There may also be a charge for bringing your dog with so get all the details before you book your accommodation.

It’s also advisable to research the area around your accommodation to find out whether there are nearby suitable walking areas for your dog. Bear in mind that your dog will need to stay on a lead near livestock and during ground nesting season for birds. A new area can be super exciting for a dog so it’s also advisable to keep your dog on a lead at all times if you aren’t completely confident in their recall.

Preparation is the key to a wagtastic holiday

Going on holiday with your dog does require planning and research but you’d be barking mad to think the effort isn’t well worth it. Dogs can make fantastic travelling companions and with sufficient preparation you can enjoy a wonderful getaway with your pooch.