How To Travel With Pets » Dog

A Primer For Flying With Pugs

Anil P. — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 06:00:45 +0000

Many dog owners are often apprehensive about taking their pets with them on a plane ride but, pug owners especially, may be weary due to some specifics common to the breed. Breathing problems, sensitivity to temperature, and their small size might have you wondering if and how it’s best to fly with your pug.

All individual dogs are different, whether they’re pugs or not. That said, you need to prepare your dog for a flight much like you would for a long road trip to help them stay calm during the experience. Before booking your flights however, be sure to call and ask the airline if they have any specific breed restrictions. Fortunately, most major airlines don’t when it comes to pugs, but you should always check beforehand to be absolutely sure.

Breathing Right

Pugs have some trouble breathing from time to time in even ideal conditions, a problem which can be exasperated by the atmosphere inside of a plane at high altitude. For healthy pugs – meaning not overweight and who get plenty of exercise – the change in pressure won’t be dangerous. My pug goes to a vet checkup before each flight (a good idea for yours as well) and every single veterinarian has told me the same.

How Will They Fly?

Pugs tend to float around the 4.5-9 kilogram (~10-20lbs) range; with smack in between (generally) being the allowance for pets in the cabin vs. as baggage. Unofficially though, more important than their weight (which includes the carrier), is their size. Pugs are have a stocky build, making them weigh more than average for their size. Check the length and height requirements for your pet on a given airline; a kilo over might not be an issue if your pug is on the petite side.

Keep in mind it’s also important to consider your dog’s temperament; some small dogs don’t do well when confined and surrounded by a crowd of cabin passengers.

Layover Time And Temperature

Though your originating flight might be in beautifully mild weather, you need to check that it’s not too hot in any layover destinations. Actually, it’s easier and better for your pet to splurge for a direct flight when possible. Otherwise, make sure that it’s not too hot or cold at any given stop – some airlines do promise a maximum of 15 minutes outdoors for pets – but even that could pose problems in extremes of heat for a pug.

Avoid layovers along your path where the weather may be questionable or alert the airline when checking in your pug that it absolutely can’t be left outside for more than 10 minutes. Make sure this is written and attached to the crate but don’t hold too much faith in airline employees. Do your best to avoid these situations all together.

Not All That Different

When it comes to preparation, procedure, and planes, flying with a pug isn’t all that different than most other breeds. Your pug who’s in good condition will fly well if you get him or her ready to do so. With the advice above in mind and plenty of paperwork for you and exercise for them – you’ll both arrive at your destination happy no worse for the wear.

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5 Ways To Keep Your Dog Calm During Long Distance Travel

Anil P. — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 06:00:04 +0000

This is a guest post by Sarah Danielson who writes for Pitbulls, where you can find information on training, health, diet, and food for the popular and often misunderstood breed.

Traveling can be a pretty big hassle these days, even if you only have to worry about yourself. But throw a pet in the mix and suddenly you have a whole other world of headaches to worry about, not the least of which is keeping your animal companion comfortable and calm for the duration of this often stressful experience.

Prepare, Prepare, Prepare! – The best way to know how your pet will react to travel is to try it out on a smaller scale ahead of time. Try taking an overnight trip to a place that is about an hour away to see how your furry friend deals with extended time in a carrier and staying in a strange location. Or take a short plane ride to visit friends and return quickly. Knowing how your animal reacts to various types of travel could make a difference in the mode of transportation you choose for longer trips (or if you opt to take your pet along at all). And acclimation to trips couldn’t hurt, either, especially if you travel frequently.
Get Comfortable With The Carrier - You should have your pet using the carrier from the time you bring him home so that when you put him into it, he won’t automatically become agitated (as when you only use it for trips to the vet). Try using it as a bed by putting him in each night to sleep, and consider taking him on short rides in the car often.
Bring Toys And Treats – If your dog or cat is preoccupied with a favorite toy, he may not even notice that you’ve plopped him down in one of many travel accommodations. And treats are always a good way to distract your furry friend and let him know that everything is okay.
Meet Their Needs – Just because you aren’t plagued by thirst and the need to use the bathroom doesn’t mean your pet is in the same state. If you’re traveling by car, make sure you take frequent stops to let your pet stretch his legs, see the scenery, and heed the call of nature. For plane travel, just make sure he has the option to use the great outdoors at the last possible minute before you embark.
Explore Alternatives – Unfortunately, even the best laid plans may not keep your pet from going a bit berserk during travel. In the event that you simply can’t keep him calm, you may have to consider giving him a prescription to calm or knock him out (this is generally preferred for plane travel). If you are worried about the side effects of such drugs, then maybe he’ll be better off with a pet-sitter while you’re away.

Some pets are good travelers that are as at-ease in a car or carrier as they are at home. But the majority of animals become excited, agitated, and even frightened when you remove them from their element and force them to travel great distances. Whether you’re going on the road or planning a trip by plane or train, you need to ensure that you do everything in your power to make the experience easy on your pet.

Thank you very much for the guest post Sarah. Readers, as a side-note, you should be careful if you’re considering the 5th option, as many airlines don’t allow drugged animals to fly. You can read more from Sarah on Pitbulls.org.

[photos by: This Year's Love (two dogs looking at camera), PetteriO (small dog playing with ball)]

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Sign The Give Big Dogs A Break Petition To Remove Weight Restrictions At Hotels

Anil P. — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 06:00:30 +0000

Sign your name to the Give Big Dogs A Break petition to help show your support against weight restrictions in place at many ‘pet friendly’ hotels. Dog owners know that the size of dog isn’t nearly as relevant as the temperament and training and dogs should be evaluated based on these criteria instead.

We believe size should not be a factor in deciding which pets are appropriate hotel guests. Other factors, such as training, temperament and level of socialization are far more indicative of a well-behaved pet.

By instituting alternative policies, such as cleaning charges and crating requirements, hotels can welcome large dogs and avoid the undesirable outcomes their weight restrictions are designed to prevent.

While it’s not impossible to find places, like the Hotel Monaco in Washington DC, that cater to large dog owners, you can sign this petition (no sign up required) and help the Give Big Dogs A Break project reach its goal of 1,000 signatories. The project was created by Leila of And A Small Dog and Amy and Rod Burkert (whom I interviewed last year) who are the founders of Go Pet Friendly. They both happen to travel with their (over 25lbs) dogs Ty and Buster, and according to their blog poll, many of you travel with dogs in that weight range. So why not, give big dogs a break?

[photo by: MiND iN R4vE]

Dogs Not Allowed At The Hoover Dam

How To Bring Your Pets To The US

Anil P. — Sat, 01 May 2010 06:00:04 +0000

Bringing your pets to the United States along with you for vacation or a trip is a fairly straightforward process and these are the basics you need to know. This guide only applies to dogs and cat since all other animals, including birds and fish, require a completely separate (and much more complex) process.

You can begin researching information about importing animals other than dogs and cats by reading over the USDA’s import requirements.

Now that we’ve got that out of the way, lets start with some of the basics of bringing your pet to the US.

Nation Of Origin Isn’t (Usually) A Factor

The US customs officials who will greet you and your pet at the border won’t care where your pets are flying in from, provided you have a valid visa or are a US citizen yourself. That makes it a bit easier than traveling with your pets to Europe from the US, aside from individual state requirements that may apply. Be sure to check the official government website of US state you’ll be flying into for any additional information.

USA.gov has a complete list of all the official state government websites.
Do not use any natural bedding in the crate like straw or hay which will greatly complicate your pet’s entry into the United States.
If you’re coming from any of the countries on this list where screwworm is a problem you’ll need paperwork 5 days prior showing your animal isn’t infected.
Pets being imported into Hawaii or Guam will be quarantined for 5 days (up to 130). Dog Jaunt has good information on how to reduce that time to a few hours.

Also, it’s important to be aware of any breed restrictions (i.e. pit bull) that may exist in the local city or county you’ll be visiting.

Required Vaccinations

Dogs – You’ll need proof of rabies vaccination 30 days before arrival. Puppies too young (3 months or less) to be vaccinated must be accompanied by a confinement agreement [PDF].

Un-vaccinated dogs will be given the required shots and quarantined for 30 days. (Don’t do that to your pet, get the shots!)

Although dogs from some rabies-free countries may be imported without proof of vaccination it’s in your pet’s best interests to show documentation when asked for it. It’s better to have the appropriate paperwork rather than risk a lengthy quarantine.

Cats - Don’t require any specific vaccinations although some airlines require a veterinarian signed document stating that your pet is in good health. It’s a good idea to have one either way and good assurance in case anyone asks.

Call To Confirm The Requirements

Don’t take the risk that these requirements will have changed or that your pet may be under special restrictions so call to confirm with the Centers of Disease Control. Let them know your travel plans and dates in order to find out exactly what you’ll need and be sure to write it all down. Bringing most pets to the US with you isn’t difficult but takes advanced planning and preparation to get the right paperwork. Start at least 2 months in advance of when you think you’ll be traveling and budget out for several vet visits as well as the extra ticket for your pet.

[photos by: - POD - (black puppy), ryry9379 (yellow dog)]

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6 Pet Friendly International Cities For Travelers

Anil P. — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 06:00:46 +0000

These are some of the most pet friendly international cities, with pet friendly hotels, parks, restaurants, and malls. Ideally a good pet travel city lets you take your dog (in particular) to more places than less. Many of these places listed are in Western Europe, probably the most pet friendly region in the world.

1. Paris

Parisians are known for taking their dogs everywhere but unfortunately for letting them poop everywhere as well. Make sure to clean up after your four-legged friend and you’ll enjoy Paris’ dog friendly parks, restaurants (many allow dogs inside), and shops with your pet.

2. Hamburg

Germany in general is very dog friendly, and you’ll find there are very few places that don’t allow dogs. While sightseeing many churches and museums don’t allow pets but they’re welcome most everywhere else.

3. Amsterdam

This city literally has hundreds of pet friendly hotels and even more pet friendly restaurants, cafes, and bars. Amsterdam has a very liberal pet policy and they are welcome in many museums and other tourist attractions.

4. Rome

Most Italian cities are open to dogs of all shapes and if you’ve got a dog small enough to carry you can bring them almost anywhere, including public transportation (larger dogs need to be bought an extra ticket).

5. Toronto

Hundreds of pet-friendly accommodations, several off-leash dog parks, and plenty of emergency veterinarian services (just in case) Toronto is one of the best cities in North America to travel with your dog.

6. The US West Coast

San Diego, Seattle, and Portland are all great cities to travel with your pet. There are the usual off-leash parks and pet friendly hotels, but also great hiking and outdoor activities right outside of town that will enhance any trip to these cities for you and your pet.

For those of you traveling with pets from the US to Europe, make sure you call the embassy to confirm you’ve got all of the necessary papers to bring your pets in each individual country, even if it’s a member of the EU.

[photos by: TaylorMiles, TheManWithoutHair, Claudio.Ar, Giampaolo Macorig, swisscan, Leopoly]

3 Inspirational and Useful Books For Travelers With Pets

Basic Tips On Pet Travel

Anil P. — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 06:00:53 +0000

Chrissy Lyons goes over some good basic advice that’s important to emphasize especially if you’re new to flying with your pet or haven’t done it in a while.

How to Travel with Pets — powered by eHow.com

The most important tip I can’t stress enough, especially if you’re going on international travel, is to check and confirm the airline and import regulations you fall under. Getting the medical requirements and paperwork completed is the most difficult step of most trips with pets. Another good piece of advice Chrissy offers is to leave your pets’ collar on in case they need to be held on to or gotten a hold of by staff. She also shows a pretty good toy trick to keeping you cat or dog’s attention in the crate or carrier.

Rick Seaney’s Tips On Flying With Pets

My Guest Post At Go Pet Friendly: Traveling With A Pug

Anil P. — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 06:00:11 +0000

My guess is that most of you travel with dogs. I travel with my pug, Falafel who is a dog but like all pugs has some special travel needs. If you’re interested in seeing my traveling buddy as well as learning more about what to expect if you will or want to travel with a pug, check out my guest post at Go Pet Friendly, traveling with a pug.

If you are a pet owner I highly recommend you taking a look at Go Pet Friendly, a search engine made just for travelers with dogs, cats, and other pets. You can also read more about Go Pet Friendly road trippers Rod and Amy in my interview with them.

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3 Inspirational and Useful Books For Travelers With Pets

Anil P. — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 04:55:54 +0000

Traveling with pets requires preparing your animals beforehand, being aware of their natural tendencies, and learning all of the added rules and restrictions before you head out. These 3 books can help you do all three, while at the same time entertaining and inspiring you.

1. Cesar’s Way – Cesar Millan

Regardless if you use Cesar’s methods to train your dog, this book helps you think like one and appreciate how migratory these animals are instinctively. You’ll learn to think in terms of your dog’s daily circadian rhythms, understand the importance of wearing them out physically before setting off, and little tricks on making them feel comfortable during the car or plane ride.

Cesar’s Way is now available on Amazon.com.

2. Cruising With Your Four-Footed Friends: The Basics of Travel with Your Cat or Dog – Diana Jessie

A great resource whether you plan on taking your pets on a boat or not. Reading this book will show you that it’s possible to take you dogs and cats anywhere, no matter what form of travel you choose. One of the few pet travel books with specific information for boaters, it’s full of useful information like port entry requirements and how to potty train a dog when you’re out to sea.

Cruising With Your Four-Footed Friends is available in paperback.

3. Traveling With Your Pet, 11th Edition: The AAA Petbook

Although it does include information about how to prepare your cat or dog for a road trip, the book Traveling With Your Pet is really a good resource and listing of pet friendly accommodations and places to stay around the US or Canada. Aside from good data on hotel prices for pets, Traveling With Your Pet is loaded with pet friendly (and some off leash) parks, specific pet rules for each airline, and emergency vets found along hundreds of towns and cities.

Traveling With Your Pet, 11th Edition is a useful resource when you’re offline. When you’ve got a good Internet connection though, be sure to check out Go Pet Friendly for updated listings.

Your Recommendations

What books do you recommend other travelers with pets read before or during their road, boat, or plane trips? I’d love you hear your suggestions in the comments.

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Interview With GoPetFriendly Road Trippers Rod and Amy Burkert

Anil P. — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 06:00:48 +0000

Rod and Amy Burkert run GoPetFriendly.com a site that lets travelers find pet friendly accommodations so they can enjoy extraordinary travel experiences with their pets. They’re currently traveling across the US and Canada and were kind enough to answer a few questions about their trip, website, and pets.

Tell us a little bit about your trip.

We are on our first “official” GoPetfriendly.com road trip with our two dogs – 3500 miles over 24 days. We started in the Pocono Mountains in Pennsylvania. We’ve traveled due west through Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. As I write this, I am in western Wisconsin visiting family. We are planning a side trip to Iowa to look at RVs. Then we are headed north through Minnesota to Kashabowie, Ontario for a fishing vacation. We’ll return home over the north shores of Lake Superior and Lake Huron, then over to Niagara Falls and Buffalo, and finally back home by way of New York’s southern tier. Our travels and travails will be published on our blog.

In a ‘tweet’ of 140 characters or less, describe the purpose of Go Pet Friendly.

That’s easy: We travel with our pets to make it easy for you to travel with yours!

What’s the biggest hassle you’ve found that pet owners experience while making travel arrangements?

Finding pet friendly accommodations is relatively easy. However, tracking down the actual pet policy is, by far, the biggest hassle. So, we’ve collected and provide on the website a detailed, uniform policy for the hotels and campgrounds in our database. This way, people will know if there are number, size (weight), or breed restrictions, if additional fees are required, or what pet amenities, if any, exist.

Where are some of the best cities to travel with pets?

Generally, the best cities are those that have a large pet population. So San Francisco, New York, Chicago, Portland, and San Diego come to mind. In these cities, there are many businesses that cater to the dog owner population – which makes it easy to find pet friendly places to stay and things to do when you travel to those cities.

How about the worst?

Though Canadian cities generally rank high on our list for sightseeing, they are not the best cities to visit because the health codes there generally prohibit any dining with doggie options.

We hear so much about traveling with dogs, what’s some advice you can give to cat owners?

My wife and I are allergic to cats so this advice is purely anecdotal. Travel with cats is similar to travel with dogs in that they are both subject to the same disruption anxieties. Travel with cats is easier because you can generally leave them in the hotel room while you go out to eat. However, finding accommodations can be harder because cats are accepted by fewer hotels.

What’s one thing pet owners might not know about traveling with their pets?

That there are so many activities you can do with your pet. Beaches, state and national parks, wineries, shopping (many businesses are pet friendly – you just need to ask), ferry rides, amusement parks, major league baseball games.

How do you work in walks and bathroom breaks for your dogs on the road?

We exercise the dogs first thing in the morning. This exercise combines a long walk and training commands to tire their bodies and minds. Then, we limit our travel to about 300-350 miles per day. We will make two stops, either at a rest stop or a point of interest, to get the dogs out of the car. If one of our stops does not involve a short hike, we will do another walk and exercise period at night.

Finally, how do your two dogs (Ty and Buster) like being on the road so much?

Ty is so laid back, he’s happy where ever his bed is. I’m not even sure if he knows or cares about being on the road. His motto: have bed will travel. Buster, on the other hand, is so curious and loves exploring new places. I swear, he would drive to the next city himself if he could.

Thank you very much for taking the time to answer a few questions, best of luck on your trip! Aside from the GoPetFriendly website you can get more updates on the road by following Rod and Amy on Twitter @GoPetFriendly and their blog GoPetFriendlyBlog.com.

How To Prepare Your Dog For A Road Trip

What Frequent Travelers Should Ask Themselves Before Getting A Dog – Part 2

Anil P. — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 19:09:40 +0000

This is the second part of a series about what frequent travelers should ask themselves before getting a dog. To get the complete checklist read what frequent travelers should ask themselves before getting a dog part 1.

Once you’ve gotten past the first three major questions about whether or not you should get a dog (which you’ll need to ask whether you’re a traveler or not) it’s time to get to the travel-specifics. You may be ready to be a dog owner but are you ready to be a frequently-traveling dog owner?

Ask yourself the following three questions to find out.

4. Are You Ready To Be Restricted?

Traveling with any pet, even with the most travel-friendly one (dogs), restricts your schedule, where you can stay, and how you can travel at times. You will face and have to deal with the added work of finding a pet friendly place to stay, a suitable airline (try Pet Airways), and dealing with the dog stereotypes you’ll face. For every well-trained dog there are ten others who are giving your pup a bad name. Most of these restrictions are easy to adapt to if you’re will to accept them.

5. How Old Will Your New Dog Be?

As I mentioned, if you’re planning on getting a puppy you’ll need to stay in one place and establish a good routine for them for at least 1-3 months. The younger your dog is the easier he or she will be to train and you can get your puppy used to traveling in their adult lives. (If you’re training a dog for the first time I highly recommend Cesar Millan’s two books Cesar’s Way and Be The Pack Leader.) The first year of any dog’s life is critical to shaping their behavior. Get a puppy and not training him will make traveling with them difficult if not impossible.

Also, you can consider getting an older dog who is already trained. Shelters are full of older dogs who need homes and would love to follow you all over the world. Older dogs are often calmer as well making them it easier to prepare your dog for a road trip.

6. What Size Or Breed?

Smaller dogs under 25 pounds can usually accompany you in airplane cabins, are easier to wear out on shorter walks, and eat less food (which will help your travel budget). If you’re thinking about pugs, bulldogs, or other dogs with breathing issues you’ll need to beware of airline breed restrictions.

Also, large breeds like pit bulls, St. Bernard’s, and dobermans may be restricted at your destination (some states in the US and a handful of European countries). You don’t want to end up with your dog being quarantined or confiscated so make sure you do your research thoroughly and look for breed-specific information.

Can You Wait?

Finally, getting a dog is something that nobody should rush and travelers have even more to consider. The answer to this last question, “can you wait”, is always yes. You don’t have to get a dog now or ever. Having a dog can be an extremely rewarding and dogs are natural travelers but if your answers to these questions make you realize that now is not the time, wait until it is.

[photos by: heather]

What Frequent Travelers Should Ask Themselves Before Getting A Dog – Part 1