Taking Your Dog with You on Your Travels

There comes a time when you need to leave your dog behind. This is typical to go on a short vacation. It’s doable, both financially and for your dog, because you return quickly. If you need to travel for longer, however, then circumstances change. Travelling for work can mean being gone for months on end. When that happens, you need to either find a great person to leave your dog with for all that time, or you need to bring him with you. Here is a quick guide on how to bring your dog with you when you travel, and how to decide whether it’s worth it or not. It is important to know if your dog will be in heat during the trip because it generates so many questions, such as what to prepare, what might happen to your pet, and what to do when your dog is in heat.

1. Know Which Airlines are Pet Friendly

When you want to travel with your dog, you need to know which airlines are out there that will let you. Some airlines allow you to bring your dog into the cabin in small carriers, like the ones you can get from petcratesdirect.com if they are small enough. Otherwise, the airlines typically will only accept dogs if they are in the cargo hold. Please note that, for the most part, service dogs are generally exempt from these rules. On some airlines, these pets can even ride in the cabin with you for free. 

2. Know the Weight of Your Dog

The weight of your dog is key when it comes to determining how much it will cost. Sometimes, bringing your furry best friend can be a financial burden; costs can range anywhere from under $50 to over a few hundred dollars.

3. Get the Necessary Papers

There are pet passports and vet papers that you need to have filled out before you step onto the plane, but you also need to consider the return journey. Some countries will also insist that your dog is kept in quarantine for a specified period to ensure that your pet doesn’t have any diseases. Know exactly what will happen when you bring your pet with you and decide whether it’s necessary to put them through the stress of travel, or if you can instead find someone to take care of them for you. 

4. Make Sure It’s Worth It

If you are traveling for a long period of time, it makes sense to bring your dog with you. If you just want to bring your dog with you on vacation, however, you should rethink your decision. Traveling is very stressful for dogs, and if it’s only for a few days, you should instead make other arrangements.   

5. Make Other Arrangements

If your pet can’t go with you on your travels, then you need to make other arrangements. You can find a kennel that can take care of your dog while you are away, or you can ask an experienced friend to take care of your pet. You will want to make sure that your companion is well-taken care of and happy while you are gone, to soften the blow of you leaving.

Whether your dog can go or not depends on your situation and on the airline carrier. Regardless of what the result is, you need to make sure your dog is well-cared for. He relies on you for his well being and happiness, so you need to make sure that whatever you decide, it’s the best decision.