A pet will certainly enrich your life, but it is also a big commitment and often a minor complication when traveling. What should you not forget when traveling with pets and when is it better to leave them at home? We have written down the basic rules for you and also asked experts for advice.
Fortune favors the prepared
Without planning, it is difficult to get by when traveling with pets. It is necessary to prepare not only for the journey itself, but also to adapt the planned accommodation to the animals (Do they tolerate animals in the hotel? Will there be space for walking nearby?). Sufficient supplies of food, any necessary medication, and everything your four-legged friend would objectively suffer without are a matter of course.
Tip: Just to be safe, look up the contact information for the nearest veterinary clinic.
But also think about people – find out if your fellow travelers suffer from animal fur allergies and if they are willing to tolerate certain limitations that may arise from the presence of an animal.
To travel to most countries, animals need a passport or vaccination card, a microchip, and above all, a valid rabies vaccination. Some countries have more requirements – for example, deworming or additional vaccinations. However, there are also countries, such as Iceland, where dogs must undergo a fourteen-day quarantine. So, if you are not going there for at least a month, it is better to leave your four-legged companion at home.
Pack it up
Reserve one small piece of luggage specifically for your pet. Do not forget a bed, leash, food and treats, a favorite toy, or perhaps a cooling mat and other gadgets. Always think about plenty of water as well.
Of course, we do not want to paint a grim picture, but as they say, accidents happen. Therefore, always carry a photograph of your pet with you. It will greatly facilitate identification in case of loss. A tag with the animal's and owner's name, address, and phone number attached to the collar will also help. You can also add a sticker with the hotel address.
Air travel
For advice tailored to your pet, it is ideal to ask your veterinarian directly – whether it concerns a change in feeding routine or the potential administration of calming medication.
Always verify the conditions of the specific carrier and the laws of the destination countries in advance. Standard requirements include a certificate of the animal's health status. Most airlines allow traveling with cats and small dogs in special carriers that fit under the seat.
Tip: Also take your dog's breed into account. For example, brachycephalic breeds (dogs with short noses, e.g., French Bulldogs or Boxers) tolerate travel less well than others.
Ideally, of course, choose a direct flight without transfers. In hot weather, prefer morning or evening flights outside of peak temperatures; in winter, conversely, aim for around noon. In any case, arrive at the airport on time and, for larger pets, ensure timely check-in. If you are taking an animal on board, try to check in among the last. An overcrowded departure terminal can unnecessarily stress the animal. On the plane, it is better to alert the cabin crew, whether you have your dog placed under the seat or in the cargo hold.
Car travel
It is advisable to practice car rides. Simply take the animal for a shorter drive before a long trip so it gets used to it. However, one rule applies without exception – never leave an animal in the car unattended (especially in summer months, there is a risk of overheating, similar to children).
You can place the dog in the luggage compartment in a carrier that is secured against movement. If you decide to keep the dog in the car, it should not sit in the seat next to the driver or on a passenger's lap. Also, be careful about letting them stick their head out of an open window – there is a risk of injury or infection caused by dust and debris.
It is ideal to place cats in a (well-known to them) carrier. For short distances, specially designed bags for carrying smaller pets are also suitable. Place such a "stored" cat on the back seat or in the trunk of the car. Do not forget an absorbent pad or a little cat litter. However, be cautious with feeding – excessive amounts or poorly timed meals can lead to motion sickness.
Regular breaks are important – roughly every two to three hours. During these, we give our pets some exercise and fresh air. However, it is good to take the animal for a really long walk before the journey itself. This will tire them out, and they can rest during the trip (which will be convenient for both them and you).
The basic rules are therefore: ensure the animal's safety (special harnesses or seat belts will help), increase its sense of security (protected space, show your presence, talk to it), and take care of its comfort (do not forget to appropriately regulate the temperature or radio volume).
Train or bus travel
When traveling by bus, it is again necessary to verify the conditions with the carrier. Usually, it is appropriate to have the animal in a carrier and ensure it does not come into direct contact with other passengers, for whom it might not be welcome. A common requirement is also a protective muzzle.
Train travel is usually the least complicated. Equip the animal with a muzzle, have everything necessary at hand, and just to be sure, ask fellow passengers in the compartment if they mind the presence of the animal. A great advantage is the ability to walk in the corridor or the availability of water in the restrooms.
Tip: If you are taking your dog into nature or to a campsite, ask your veterinarian about effective protection against ticks and fleas.
Final advice: use common sense!
If you are planning a demanding hike through the wilderness or to the tropics, where you sweat just by blinking, think about it – wouldn't it really be better for the pet to stay at home? It could be with loved ones who are willing to provide care, or perhaps in specialized dog hotels.
We asked the experts
Rudolf Desenský, dog psychologist:
"Every dog is stressed by what it does not know and what it experiences for the first time. The level of stress increases with age and the degree of lack of proper socialization. This implies that dogs that are in constant contact with strangers and whose owners take them almost everywhere with them will not experience travel stress as much as dogs that almost never get 'out of the house' and do not come into contact with strangers. After all, you are not alone on a bus or train, and even around the car, for example at a gas station, other people are moving. If a dog is not used to contact with strangers, the movement of surrounding people will stress it.
Traveling by plane is the most demanding for dogs, where especially with larger dogs that are not allowed in the cabin, airport staff will handle them. Therefore, it is necessary for the dog to be trained for direct contact with various people, as a 'touch-me-not' dog will unnecessarily perceive the movement of people or contact with them as a problem.
Traveling itself can also be trained. I have several dogs in my pack that initially hated car travel. I take these dogs everywhere, even shopping, where they wait for me in the car with the windows slightly open. First, I drive to places where I can see the dogs in the car, later I leave them alone in the car when I go for a small purchase. Over time, they learn to sleep even during my longer shopping trips in supermarkets. In the summer, however, it is necessary not to have the windows closed in the car, as the vehicle would turn into a hot baking oven within minutes and your dog could lose its life. After a while, my dogs started to like traveling and I rather had to be careful not to forget to close the car doors. They would have gone to live in the car.
When traveling by plane, find reviews of the airline regarding how they handle animals. You can often read that some companies are not very friendly to dogs; there are even cases of dog deaths."
Irena Červeníková, owner of the e-shop Iridog.cz:
"When traveling with a dog, we can encounter more situations that could endanger our pets. Probably the most common are means of transport, difficult terrain on trips, or misunderstanding from surrounding people. If we travel by bike, for example, where there is a risk that the dog might run into the road or jump directly under the wheel, it is good to have it secured safely in a dog carrier or other transport device. On trips and mountain hikes, where there are often sharp rocky places or muddy and slippery sections, there is a risk of slipping and injury.
It is necessary to have your pet under control even in a car, train, or public transport. Not all people are animal lovers, and out of fear, both the dog and the fellow passengers could come to harm. It is therefore practical to prevent such events using bags or dog carriers (of course, in the case of small to medium breeds). We can easily determine its optimal size based on information about the breed and the length of the specific dog's spine.
When traveling with pets, we should of course mainly pay attention to classic things like maintaining a drinking regimen (today you can also buy travel water bowls made of waterproof textile materials. They are therefore more compact than metal or plastic bowls.).
Furthermore, on hot days we should monitor whether the animal is overheating. Some breeds are more delicate than others and need more cooling. Which is also related to age. The older the dog we have, the more we should monitor it when traveling and ensure that it really lacks nothing. We should also be able to consider whether the trip is suitable for the dog and whether it will not be unpleasant for it. We certainly won't take a dog that doesn't like people to a fair, and we certainly won't take one that is fresh after surgery on demanding walks."
