How To Travel With A Dog

Many pet parents want to know if traveling with a dog is doable. Well, for a few summers in a row we brought our large dog on a three week road trip family vacation- you can see my Southwest road trip itinerary here. We absolutely loved taking our dog on vacation with us but we realize it is not the right choice for everyone. I have had lots of people ask me, “Should you go on vacation with your dog?” Traveling with a dog can be a fun and rewarding experience, but it requires some planning to ensure your furry friend is safe and comfortable. Here are my best tips for traveling with a dog or other pets.

What To Know If You Plan To Go On Vacation With Your Dog

Travelling with your pet is one the most special experiences. The bond changes, and with it, you get to know one another so much better. While at home, in a controlled environment, there can be only so much to explore, the outdoors are abundant with opportunities of unique experiences, adventures and stories that make the both of you evolve. I would suggest vacation planning for a long weekend getaway or a one-day trip to begin with and then try a full holiday trip with your pets.

While the idea of travelling with your pet is most exciting, there are some things that you must take into consideration before you go on vacation with your dog. Once you know where you are going and how you will get there, you will want to check into the specific requirements for your adventure.

10 Travel Tips For Dog Friendly Trips

1. Know your pet

Travelling with pets is on the rise and it may just be more possible than ever! First and foremost, know your pet, and before you decide where to go and what to do, ask yourself the following questions:

• What does he or she like to do, swim or hike?
• Does she enjoy a drive?
• Does he have any allergies?

On this note, there always a few of every kind of pet that does travel with their family and seem to enjoy it. However, in my opinion dogs seem to be the best pet travelers. Cats would most often prefer to stay at home in comfortable surroundings that they know with a cat sitter to check on them. But again, you know your pet best. Some dogs love long hikes while others may not.

Our dog is a German Shepherd with tons of energy so we knew he would love the long hikes we had planned for our road trip. We also knew since our vacation was three weeks long, he would really miss us and our wallets would really miss the cash! We decided to bring him along.

If you’re still yet to choose a pet, labradors are also fantastic breeds to travel with given their typically placid, relaxed nature; you could explore adoption or go with a responsible breeder like Lucky Labs if you’re looking for a puppy.

2. Places To Go On Vacation With Your Dog

With knowledge of your pet in mind you can select the type of places to go on vacation- the beach, the lake, the mountains, a downtown area. Know what works for your dog and pick something you both will enjoy.

3. Dog Friendly Vacation Rentals

There are lots of dog friendly vacation rentals these days. You can find pet-friendly campgrounds, pet friendly hotels, pet friendly luxury hotels, and AirBNB vacation rentals that will let you take your dog on vacation. Sites like Trip Advisor have pet friendly symbols and sites like Bring Fido are great for planning for your dog friendly vacation rentals. But be aware that some seemingly dog friendly vacation rentals, will specify that your pet must be under 35 pounds so read the fine print and call ahead if you want to be sure.

4. Baby steps

Your first trip should be a short one, maybe just to a nearby park for a hike. Go on vacation with your dog only when you and your fur buddy have tackled some nearby outings successfully first. Before the trip, make sure your dog is comfortable with car rides. Take short trips to get them used to the car and consider using a pet seatbelt or carrier for safety.

5. Pet Car Travel

If you are traveling by car and have a small pet, it is best to get him settled in a travel crate. This is for his own safety and you can always take breaks during the journey for him to stretch his legs. If you have a large pet, make sure you have him comfortably settled as well.

Since our dog is large we decided to rent a large pickup truck with an extended cab so that there was plenty of room for us stuff in the truck bed and for the kids and dog in the cab. There was no hump on the floor before the second row of seats and there was nothing under the seat so our dog, Scout, had plenty of room to stretch out. It was surprisingly affordable especially with what we saved on boarding!

Keep the vehicle well ventilated at all times, and have water breaks fairly often on vacation with your dog. If our pet’s nose is getting dry and warm, then they probably are overdue for a water break. Scout gets car sick if we feed him just before trips so we were mindful to make sure he had no food available for at least an hour before we drove. We also made sure to give him a long walk before hitting the road so that he had time to pee, poop, and get a little worn out before travel. You may find that hemp CBD oil for dogs is helpful for dogs that need calming when they travel. Avoid leaving your dog in the car in hot weather, as it can quickly become dangerously hot. In cold weather, make sure they stay warm.

Traveling can be stressful for dogs, so try to keep them calm and comfortable. Bring along their favorite toys or a familiar blanket to help them relax. I recently received a sample of a really cool new product for this purpose. When you are on the go, the SENTRY® Portable Calming Toy for Dogs is amazing. It also comes in handy if we have leave Scout alone for any length of time. It is a great little calming buddy for him that works through pheromones to produce a reassuring effect. 

6. Pet Airline Travel- How To Travel With A Dog On A Plane

Make sure you check with your airline for all pet travel requirements and suggestions. Have an airline approved carrier that is well labeled with your information. Make sure to have health documentation from your vet that shows that your pet is current on their vacations. If your animal is a emotional support animal, be sure to have your certified support letter.

As with rental properties, an ESA letter does not automatically give you a free pass with your dog. Many commercial airlines are waiving their “no charge” policy for emotional support animals. Their stance is they feel passengers were abusing the policy simply to avoid paying fees for their pets to fly. The number of Emotional Support Animal-friendly airlines is dwindling. Airlines that have banned the free-to-fly policy for ESA animals now include:

• Frontier Airlines
• United Airlines
• American Airlines
• Alaska Airlines
• Delta Air Lines
• Southwest Airlines

Do you have a small dog? Good news. If your pet is under 20 pounds, you can still bring them on your flight in a pet carrier after paying a fee. Service dogs are currently still protected for airplane travel. However, all non-service animal larger dogs over 20 pounds are not permitted on board most United States airlines and must do their traveling in the cargo hold. If you are going on international flights, you will want to check your airline’s requirements and the destination country for additional fees, required paperwork, and possible quarantine rules.

If your dog is a service dog, you will need to show proof of government registration. This registration must include the dog’s vaccination records, proof of training, and a description of the dog’s temperament. 

7. Pet Food and Water

For overnight vacations, carry some fresh dog food from home that your pet is used to. In a foreign environment, this will be his way of settling down. Ensure that your pet is well hydrated all throughout the trip on vacation with your dog, as dogs are prone to dehydration when in the car and on the beach. Have a few of his favorite treats with you so that your pup will know things are going well.

8. Be Alert

Be alert at all times for your dog’s safety. Remember, you and your buddy are here to enjoy, and his or her comfort is of prime importance. Make sure your dog gets plenty of shade and water. Shower them with cuddles and play to keep the excitement levels high. Keep your dog on a leash when appropriate. Be respectful of pet rules and make use of pet relief areas when possible.

9. Pet travel kit

This is a must for everyone who travels with their pet. Include this in your travel plan, and you are all set to go. To get you started, here are some basic things that you must include on vacation with your dog:

• Documents regarding vaccinations and medications
• Make sure your pet has current identification tags
• Make sure your pet is current with flea/tick meds (NextStar® is vet-recommended and and available over the counter. Here is my affiliate Amazon link).
• Bedding, bowls, and leash
• Toys to chew on if he is nervous or playful at the hotel
• Pet wipes to clean up messes
• Grooming equipment (if appropriate to your dog breed)
• Treats and food
• Poop bags to pick up after your pet

10. Plan pet friendly excursions

There are lots of dog parks and google makes it easy to find them as you drive and you want to have a dog stop. We did lots of pet friendly walking tours wether it was downtown Santa Fe, or hiking in the mountains. Sometimes we would talk turns staying with Scout with others went inside various places. Often we found pet friendly shops or restaurant patios so we could all enjoy the time together. We took Scout just about everywhere with us but we couldn’t take him into the Mesa Verde National Park. We brought our crate along and were able to leave him in the crate in an air conditioned cabin with prior permission from our KOA. Plan ahead and be prepared. You can also find some day boarding places if there is an attraction that your dog just can’t do but that you don’t want to miss.

Traveling With A Dog Conclusion

There you go! These are 10 tips on trip planning with your pet. By following these tips, you can ensure that your dog has a safe and enjoyable travel experience with you. So, go ahead and explore places, people and one another. Go on vacation with your dog and make some great memories and enjoy thrilling experiences! I hope you find these pet travel tips useful and let us know how your trip goes! I’d love to see your photos- tag @familyfocusblog! What is your favorite dog friendly hotel?

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