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10 Top Tips for Taking Your Dog on Holiday

Taking your four-legged adventurer is super easy and a great bonding experience, if you do it right.

By Moon GazerPublished 6 years ago 7 min read
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Sky Gazing Across the Pyrenees

"What about this one?" I ask my partner for the fourth time.

He sighs and looks at me. "Nope, no shade."

We have been for a strenuous 5-hour walk and are wondering the streets of Pamplona, Spain looking somewhere to stop for a cold drink and a rest. It is not as simple as you might think as our 3-year-old Rottweiler, Sky, trots on beside us.

She is nowhere near as tired as we are but she needs enough space and shade to relax. This, as I’m sure you can imagine, is not the most common thing you will find in the narrow streets of the city and the height of the Spanish summer.

We finally find somewhere suitable in a beautiful square, flinging our stuff down we fall into the rickety chairs of one of the many restaurants. Before we order anything, Sky is placed in the shade and given copious amounts of water and cuddles....

Despite the fact that we have been restricted in many ways (the restaurant hunt was one small example of the difficulty we have faced at times), she made the holiday one of the best we had ever had, and we would not change a single thing.

We spent two months walking part of the Camino de Santiago, travelling Spain and France as we went. We took our camper van and between walking, camping, and driving, it was quite the action packed trip. Sky was with us the whole time and loved every second.

With the right research and planning anyone can have a fun filled holiday with their best friend!

1. Consult your vet.

I know it seems fairly obvious but your vet will be able to give your pup a health check and make sure they are fit for travel. They should also be able to offer advice based on what country/region you intend to visit.

2. Travel Documents and Vaccinations

Make sure you have an up-to-date passport, microchip, vaccines, and worming treatment.

Your vet should be able to help you with all of the above, with the cost for the passport and rabies vaccine being at around £100.

Make sure that the passport is signed and filled out correctly. If it is not, you may be turned away at the border.

If you have it, make sure you take either an original or copy of proof of ownership and make a note their micro chip number in case you misplace the passport.

3. Check the entry requirements for your destination.

Every country has different rules and requirements so make sure that you check up on them before travel. Another important one to check is that even though your dog may have all the correct documents, some countries have banned breeds or a dangerous dog list.

For example, our Rottie is considered dangerous in Spain. She required a muzzle in public and to be on a lead no more than 2 metres in length. (Residents require a permit as well). We learnt this the hard way as we were entirely ignorant to the rules before being stopped and berated by an aggressive police officer. So make sure you check it out!

The website Pet Travel is really helpful and has the requirements listed for all countries and lists the banned breeds.

4. Prepare for travel.

Flight, ferry, or drive, it is a totally new thing for your pet and can be quite daunting. Make sure they have had plenty of water and exercise prior to travel. I would recommend feeding them the morning of/night before and give them time to do their business before your trip, especially if it’s a long one.

On a ferry and plane, you will not see your pet for the duration of the trip so make sure you leave them with water. A familiar toy or blanket will also help alleviate any stress they may feel. On a ferry, you will be able to leave them with a chew or bone so that they don’t get too bored.

Your airline or ferry company will also be there for travel advice and assistance.

5. First Aid Kit

Everyone needs one, and not many people holiday without one and the same goes for your pup. It does not need to be complicated or expensive. There are many online that cost £30-£40 and you can make a simple one for much less. Things we took are:

  1. Vet Wrap: An integral piece of the kit it is not expensive and you can bulk buy it on eBay or Amazon for under £10. It's even useful for a human first aid kit!
  2. Antibiotics: Our vet gave us a small bottle of antibiotics so that if Sky strained herself walking we could medicate her enough so that she’d happily make it to the nearest vet. We had enough for three or four dosages and thankfully we didn’t use any of it. Your vet will have it and a small bottle will cost under £10.
  3. Worming treatment: It’s always good to have a worming tablet in case of an emergency, as with everything else you can get this from your vet.
  4. Flea treatment: Sky had a Scalibor flea collar on the whole time of our trip and didn’t have any problems with fleas or ticks. They are expensive at the vet but you can get them from an online vet for half the price. It is still worth taking a flea tablet with you so you can treat an infestation.
  5. Sudocreme: A great cream for any scratches or sores. Double check your pup's skin doesn’t react to it first.
Sky didn’t require any of the above but it is always worth being prepared and I would not holiday with her without one.

6. Take a collapsible bowl.

They are available in abundance at any pet shop and not that expensive but we used Sky’s bowls more than anything else. They folded down and fit in our bags ready to go whenever she needed water or food.

We took a bag of food and bottle of water just for her wherever we went.

7. Weather Watch

Make sure you are prepared for whatever climate you're going to. Not all dogs are used to the heat or cold, especially in the UK as we don’t really have an extreme level of any weather (except maybe rain).

Pack your fur baby a coat for cold weather or cool coat and or cool mat for hot weather.

They made a huge difference to us, especially since Sky is all black.

8. Update that tag!

Still not changed the tag to the new number you’ve had for a year? I know, we all do it. Get that tag readable and up to date with your current contact details.

We got a new one engraved for our trip and also added our email address. Even though the rules have changed as far as Europe is concerned, you don’t want your dog's finder phoning a number that doesn’t work in the country you're in.

9. To boot or not to boot? That is the question.

Boots, no boots? What to do. I was in turmoil about whether Sky should have booties on all the time or a back up pair. Some research proved conflicting and I started to panic about the state of her feet. I was about to buy a rather expensive pair of boots for her when my partner convinced me to see what the vet thought first... I’m so glad I did as he advised me that there was no need for booties at all, even an emergency set.

He was of the opinion that they would confuse it and we were better leaving her pads to toughen up naturally. They did in no time. Her pads stayed healthy and tough with absolutely no issues.

If you're still unsure I would recommend checking with your vet as every dog and trip is different.

10. Re-entry Requirements

Your country of origin will have its own entry requirements that you must comply with. Make sure you check them well before any flight or ferry you have booked and that, if you need to visit a vet while away, you do some research and find a reputable one.

🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾

That’s it! I’ve tried to cover all bases. You're all set to have an unforgettable adventure with your best friend.

I would like to make it clear that all of the above was done with our vet's approval and that seeking advice from your vet is paramount.

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About the Creator

Moon Gazer

20 something Vanlifer and Traveller with the best Fiancé and dog in the world.

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