What All Dog Guardians Should Know About Dog Travel
A holiday with your dog can be a really fun time for both of you. But you will have to do a bit of forward planning.
To begin with you'll have to research the requirements for taking a pet to the destinations you're interesting in visiting. With some countries, like the UK, these make traveling with your dog a virtual impossibility unless you're on the PETS scheme.
But even relatively pet-friendly countries have regulations you'll need to comply with.
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Then there's the accommodation issue. If you are planning on staying at a hotel or resort, you'll want to find a pet-friendly one at your destination and book early.
Fortunately, hotels are becoming much more accommodating to people with pets.
And then there are the travel arrangements. Traveling with a pet by air or rail can be quite a challenge, so use a specialized pet travel company to make the arrangements for you. This will ensure that you avoid costly, and possibly even tragic mistakes.
You may however, be planning a road trip with your dog, in which case there are a number of things you need to consider and a great deal of planning to be done.
First up, you'll need to consider a dog carrier, or a special doggy seat belt to restrain your dog in the car. From a safety perspective this is a must, and in some countries it is even a legal requirement.
Take into account also that dogs can dehydrate quite quickly. Be sure to take his water bowl and some bottled water and don't ever leave him in the car on a hot day.
Also remember all the normal doggy accessories like his collar, leash, harness, toys, bed and blanket and so on.You'll also need to do some planning as to where you'll stop overnight, and find dog friendly accommodation there. And plan for regular stops so that your dog can stretch his legs and relieve himself.
But there is even more stuff to consider. At your destination, make sure that you buy a cheap dog tag, with your name and local number, for your dog. If you are traveling internationally your dog will have to be micro-chipped, but the id tag gives you extra peace of mind.
It's also a good idea to have a photograph of your dog with you, just in case your dog becomes lost.
Make sure you know where the local vet or animal hospital is. In an emergency you don't want to have to waste time searching for it.
Obey all local bi-laws where you are. This usually means keeping your dog leashed and picking up any messes. It is common courtesy to do this even if there is no local ordinance.
By now you're probably wondering if all of this is worth the trouble. Well, ask yourself how much a trouble free, unforgettable trip with your dog is worth. The likely answer is, priceless!
To discover more about dog travel, dog grooming, dog health and other interesting dog info check out www.dogsanddogtraining.com
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