Dog owners who are planning a trip often face the choice of leaving their pet at home or taking them along. Traveling with dogs can be stressful, but so can being separated from their owner. If a dog is gradually accustomed to traveling from a young age, they will perceive trips calmly, even with enthusiasm. Traveling with a dog can be more complicated than traveling without one, as it involves additional considerations. Therefore, many prefer to find a private individual or pet boarding facility that provides boarding services or to ask friends or relatives for help. But there are many owners who don't want to be separated from their four-legged family member even for a couple of days or weeks. This article is addressed to them.

Which Dogs Are Best for Traveling. If you're an avid traveler and are considering getting a dog, it's worth thinking about whether the pet will be able to share your joy of traveling with you.
Active, energetic dogs such as Labradors, Huskies, Dalmatians, Dobermans, and Tibetan Terriers enthusiastically embrace adventures and changes in environment, but they find it difficult to sit still for long periods in a vehicle. It's best not to take them on long trips or to travel in private vehicles with frequent stops. Also, breeds like Dachshunds, Beagles, and Chow Chows are known for their restlessness.

Saint Bernards, German Shepherds, Pugs, Pomeranians, English Bulldogs, and other calm and sedentary breeds are more suitable companions for traveling. Almost all Shepherds, Collies, Border Collies, Dobermans, Retrievers, and Poodles are considered ideal travel companions due to their calm temperament, provided they are properly trained. Mixed-breed dogs, as well as some small breeds like Poodles, Spaniels, and Yorkshire Terriers, generally handle travel well both psychologically and physically.

Helpful Tips for Traveling with a Dog in Your Own Vehicle To make car trips an exciting adventure for your pet rather than a source of stress, you need to gradually accustom them to the car from childhood, gradually increasing the distance and duration of trips. The main thing is to take the dog not only to the veterinarian or groomer but also on countryside walks and to other interesting and enjoyable places.

Many dogs experience motion sickness in vehicles, although their vestibular apparatus is more stable than humans'. Nausea is often caused by stress, sharp and intense odors in the car, or loud music. To prevent motion sickness, try to remove such irritants from the car, embark on the journey on an empty stomach or 3-4 hours after eating, and administer special veterinary motion sickness medications if these measures do not help. During long-distance trips, be sure to make stops at least every 4 hours to give your pet the opportunity to stand on solid ground, stretch their legs, and relieve themselves. Avoid feeding the dog while on the road, but make sure they have access to water; bring a bowl with you.

To make your dog's car journey as comfortable and safe as possible, consider purchasing some additional accessories: For small dogs, you can place them in the front passenger seat, attach a harness to them, and fasten them using an adapter to the seat belt buckle.
You can also transport a small pet in a carrier, which should be secured to the seat using a seat belt or Isofix attachment. If a large dog travels in the rear seat, it's better to install a mesh screen behind the front seat backs to prevent the pet from climbing forward to the driver. You can attach a special hammock to the rear seats. It serves as a barrier between the dog and the driver, protects the seats, and prevents the pet from falling in case of sudden braking. Sliding grates in the windows will help ensure a fresh air flow into the cabin while preventing the dog from sticking its head out of the window. Seat covers, door panel covers protect the car interior from damage if the dog travels outside the carrier. Bring along your pet's favorite toys to keep them entertained during the journey.

If you plan a long trip with stops for overnight stays, and your pet is not used to spending the night alone in the car, look for hotels, motels, or campgrounds on your route where pets are allowed.

These are just a few tips to make traveling with your dog a more pleasant experience for both you and your furry friend. With proper preparation and consideration, you can enjoy many wonderful adventures together.

• Tip: Searching for a hotel with pet-friendly status is best done through Booking.com. However, if a hotel meets all your criteria except for the presence of a pet-friendly label, you can contact the administration directly. They may accommodate your request. There are situations where a pet-friendly hotel refuses to accommodate large, long-haired dogs or charges a fee for them almost as high as for a human. It's best to clarify all these details (possibility of accommodating a dog of a certain breed, weight, cost of service) in advance via email. Even better, contact Booking.com support and ask them to send such a request to the hotel. Booking.com responds very quickly to inquiries in written form. Depending on the response, you can either confirm your booking and go or look for another hotel. Be sure to save the correspondence; it will serve as a strong argument in complex situations.

Traveling with a Dog by Plane

• First of all, familiarize yourself with the specific airline's policy regarding pet transport. Many airlines do not transport dogs of fighting breeds, as well as short-nosed breeds, as they are prone to breathing problems that can be exacerbated during flights. Also, check whether advance booking of a place for the dog is necessary. Many carriers can provide support in the cargo hold with a temperature regime comfortable for the animal, but only by prior arrangement. It also makes sense to compare the cost of transporting a pet on different airlines to choose the most advantageous option.

Important points:

• Regardless of whether the dog travels with you or in the cargo hold, you cannot give them sedatives or tranquilizers; their reaction to them in flight conditions can be unpredictable.

• Make sure the container or crate for the dog is spacious enough and reliable and suitable for air travel.

• If the dog is supposed to travel in the cargo hold, be sure to attach a note with its name and your contact information to the container. Write legibly and make sure the note doesn't come off or get lost.

• Not all airlines allow passengers to visit their pet in the cargo hold. Therefore, in the cargo hold, along with your dog, you need to check in containers with food and water and attach notes with their name so that specially trained staff can feed and water your friend.

Travelling Together is More Fun. Many dog owners claim that traveling with their pet is much more enjoyable and interesting than without them. However, any trip requires preparation, planning the route, and leisure activities considering that you will be accompanied by a four-legged friend who is unlikely to be interested in shopping and museums. It's necessary to mentally prepare your dog for the journey, and this preparation should be gradual, ideally starting from a young age.

If you plan to use public transportation, familiarize yourself with the rules of the specific carrier, and before an international trip, learn the rules for importing or transiting animals that apply in the specific country and prepare all the necessary documents. It's easiest to travel with your pet by personal car you'll only need some equipment. There are companies that provide containers, carriers, and other accessories to make traveling with a dog easier, available for rent. However, if you plan to travel frequently, it's better to buy such equipment in DOGYMART.