Before You Travel
If you decide it does make sense to bring your dog along, there are preliminary preparations to make.

• Contact your destination and make sure your dog is welcome where you are staying.
• Go to your veterinarian and make sure all your dog’s vaccinations are up to date.
• Ask your veterinarian to make sure your dog is in good enough health to travel.
• See if there are any particular health concerns (i.e. insects, cold, heat) at your destination. Take necessary precautions.

Packing For Your Trip

• Bring health and rabies certificates, which are needed when crossing some borders.
• Bring a recent color photo of your dog to help identify him if lost.
• Pack bowls, leash, toys, crate, medicines and grooming equipment.
• You may want to bring food if traveling by car or if you aren’t sure where to get food at your destination. Sudden diet changes can lead to digestive upsets and spoil the trip for you and your pet.
• Make sure your dog is wearing ID tags, and preferably carrying your permanent contact info as well as your destination contact information.

Traveling By Car

• It’s best to have a crate or car carrier in the back of your vehicle. Don’t put it in direct sunlight.
• If your dog is out of the crate, make sure he’s buckled up. Special harnesses that connect to the seat belt are available. Don’t use a leash – in a sudden stop, this could cause serious injury.
• Do not put your dog in the open bed of a pick-up truck.
• Do not feed your pet for at least three hours before leaving on a trip.
• During stops, provide fresh drinking water for your dog. You may also reward him with a dog snack for being a good traveler.
• Feed your pet shortly after you arrive at your destination or when you have stopped for the day.
• Always put your dog on a leash before letting him out of the car.
• Never leave your pet in a closed car on a hot day. The heat and insufficient air circulation can quickly lead to heat stress and even death.

Traveling By Air

• Try to avoid peak travel periods when delays and stopovers are longer, especially in very hot or very cold weather.
• Plan a trip with as few stops and transfers as possible.
• Make hotel, resort and airline reservations for your pet well in advance.
• Some airlines allow cats and small dogs to travel (generally for an additional charge) with their owner if the carrier fits under their seat. Otherwise, rent or purchase a carrier or crate which meets airline regulations and affix a LIVE ANIMAL sticker. Mark it with your name and address and the name of a person who can be contacted about your pet at your destination if necessary.
• Put a cushion or blanket on the crate floor. Attach a water bowl to the crate door. The bowl should be deep, but not too full of water to avoid spilling.
• On the day of the flight, take your dog for a long walk before leaving for the airport.
• At the end of the trip, pick up your pet promptly.
• Be prepared for your dog to spend time in quarantine at foreign destinations. Ask your travel agent or the consul of the country you plan to visit about quarantines.

At Your Destination
At your vacation site, observe all rules regarding pets. Confine your dog in a carrier or restricted space when leaving it home alone. Promptly clean up after your dog. Your consideration will help keep pets welcome as guests.