Petlife logo

Things to Know When Bringing Your Dog on Vacation

Wanna bring Rover along for your travels? There are certain things to know when bringing your dog on vacation.

By Riley Raul ReesePublished 6 years ago 7 min read
Like

He's your best friend and the most loyal member of your family. You can't help but love the adoring look in his big brown eyes, or the way he wags his tail when he sees you. He's your dog, and if you're like many owners, you want to bring your pup with you everywhere you go.

Many dog owners now are choosing to bring their dog on vacation with them—and they even have cute dog Instagram photos to prove it. It's a great way to bring all the family on vacation.

If you want your Rover to come on over when you go surfing in Bali, you will have to plan things out. What you might not realize, though, is the sheer number of important things to know when bringing your dog on vacation.

Dogs are worth it, right? Of course they are, which is why they deserve to go on vacay with you. Here are some of the biggest things you'll need to watch out for when you decide to let your pooch come with you while you globetrot the world.

You will not be able to bring your dog on an airline; he'll most likely have to cargo.

If you're going on a flight, there's a lot of things to know when bringing your dog on vacation—and not all of them are things you'll enjoy. Though very small dogs often can count as a carry-on passenger, larger canines are almost always required to be cargo. Small dogs are better than large dogs when it comes to airplanes.

This might not make a lot of dog owners happy, especially since there have been a number of cases where pets have died in cargo. (Just so you know, United Airlines is tied to having the highest number of pet deaths per year.)

Your dog traveling on a plane may also mean that you'll have to pay an added fee, since airlines kind of suck like that. It's also worth pointing out that bringing a dog or a cat on certain airlines is strictly forbidden. You will need to plan that out, big time.

You also will need to pack a lot more in terms of paperwork than you expected.

This is one of the more surprising things to know when bringing your dog on vacation. At the very least, a tight-fitting collar with a dog tag will be necessary. If your pupper is going abroad, you might also need evidence of shots and other paperwork showing that he's okay in terms of sickness and vaccinations.

You also should bring a leash, a brush, dog shampoo, a dog towel, a pop-up water container, along with other dog supplies regardless of where you go. Dogs often end up getting into a lot of messes while they're out an about!

Of course, if your dog is a service dog, you'll also need the proper attire to show that it's a service animal.

Any owners who are bringing a service dog abroad (or even to a different city) need to learn local laws dealing with service animals.

This may seem like one of the more obvious things to know when bringing your dog on vacation, but it's really not. Though there are national laws that tell you what people are and are not allowed to do with service dogs, they don't cover everything.

Local laws can ban dogs of all kinds from public transit, or may require additional information from you in order to make it "cleared" with law enforcement. Not having the right paperwork might cause your dog to be confiscated by cops—and that wouldn't be a good vacation.

Microchip your dog.

If your dog gets lost, most vets will have a scanner to help you find and locate your dog. Using a microchip is one of the smartest ways to ensure that your pup will be returned to you in the event that he ends up wandering off during your trip.

You will also have to plan for your puppy—and possibly figure a way to have a dogsitter.

Bringing a pet on vacation means that you will need to do a lot of planning in terms of what you see, where you leave your dog, and even where you book your hotel. Among other things you'll have to do, you'll need to find a way to take care of the following:

  • Getting a pet-friendly hotel. Most hotels do not allow dogs. This is one of the most important things to know when bringing your dog on vacation. You need to book a pet-friendly room.
  • Take times to take your dog for a walk. You can't leave your dog cooped up in your room for a week straight. They will go nuts. Find a dog park or a nice trail nearby.
  • If you want to go to an attraction that's off-limits to dogs, you will need to find a way to keep your puppy happy. Dog sitters will have to be figured out before you end up in your destination, if you need one. This can get tricky, so take your time to find a good pet sitter soon.
  • Dog-friendly restaurants are also something to consider. Yes, you can bring Fido along with you at a restaurant. However, you'll have to find out where to take him.

You should never bring a dog that isn't fully trained on vacation.

Once again, this is one of the most obvious things to know when bringing your dog on vacation—and yet it deserves to be said. A dog that isn't well-trained is a dog that's not fit to travel.

Too often, dogs that aren't well-trained end up acting out while on vacation. There have been many cases in which agitated dogs have ended up biting people while on vacation, or tearing up items at a dog-friendly venue.

A dog that isn't trained is a risk to the owner on a financial level, and can even end up being euthanized if they end up attacking the wrong person. If you haven't trained your dog yet, do NOT bring them on vacation.

No matter how well-trained, healthy, and certified your dog is, there are certain places they will not be welcomed.

Before you even book a trip, one of the most important things to know when bringing your dog on vacation is whether or not the area will accept your pet at all. Certain countries have cultures that view dogs as unclean—or even unholy.

This means that you will have to take culture into account. If dogs are verboten, don't bring your dog there unless you want to have a bad time. They will not make exceptions to this rule.

When in doubt, go camping.

Going camping is one of the best dog-friendly vacations out there. There's plenty of places to run and enjoy nature, and dogs can go to the bathroom everywhere without issue. It's rugged, sure, but it's a great way to enjoy a bonding session with Rover without too many regulations in place.

Your dog will also appreciate having some snacks and food on hand.

No matter where you go, this is one of the more important things to know when bringing your dog on vacation. Human food may be easy to find, but dog food? Not always so easy.

If your pupper is a picky eater, or if you are going to a foreign country where you aren't totally sure how to say the words "dog food" or find a grocer, you might want to stock up just in case your pet gets peckish on the road.

Last but not least, enjoy your pup on the road.

While there are a lot of things to know when taking your dog on vacation, the truth is that the journey is often worth it. Dogs tend to take well to travel, and being able to share those memories with your pet make a huge difference in the long and short run.

travel
Like

About the Creator

Riley Raul Reese

Riley Reese is comic book fanatic who loves anything that has to do with science-fiction, anime, action movies, and Monster Energy drink.

Reader insights

Be the first to share your insights about this piece.

How does it work?

Add your insights

Comments

There are no comments for this story

Be the first to respond and start the conversation.

Sign in to comment

    Find us on social media

    Miscellaneous links

    • Explore
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Use
    • Support

    © 2024 Creatd, Inc. All Rights Reserved.