Helpful Dog Travel Hints
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.
For starters, you'll want to find out about the travel requirements for the various places you plan to visit. Some of these restrictions make it difficult, if not impossible to travel with your pet.
But all countries, even pet-friendly ones, have importation laws you'll have to comply with.
You will also have to find out about accommodation. If you prefer to stay at a hotel, you will have to find one at your destination that accepts dogs.
The good news is that more and more hotels are accepting pets these days.
The next important issue is travel arrangements. If you are traveling by air, use a pet "travel agency" to make the arrangements. Transporting pets is a complicated business so leave it to the experts because mistakes can be costly, and in some instances, even tragic.
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.
Start by deciding how you are going to restrain your dog in the car - either with a dog crate, or a specialized seat belt. This is actually a legal requirement in some countries, but even if it isn’t required by law, it just makes good sense.
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.
In addition to the water bowl, remember your dog's "luggage" - leash, collar, harness, id tags, toys, blanket etc.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 also makes sense to have a recent photo of your dog with you, just in case he decides to wander off.
Make a point of getting the number and location of a local vet. In a crisis, the last thing you want is to be doing is searching for this information.
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.
Now, you may be thinking that this is an awful lot of work. But following these tips will ensure that your vacation with your dog goes off without a hitch. And that makes it well worth the effort.
Visit www.dogsanddogtraining.com to discovermore about dog travel, dog care, facts about dogs and other helpful dog advice.
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