Travelling with your dog can be a walk in the park - if you use common sense and plan ahead. The first thing to consider is whether your dog is up to the trip: he should be in good health and have good manners. At the very least, he should behave himself on-leash in strange and exciting circumstances; he should come when you call him; and he should be trained to stop barking.

Before you go

Phone around, or get a directory of pet-friendly lodgings, and find out if dogs are allowed at your destination. If you're driving, find out if dogs are allowed at motels and hotels along the way. When you are doing your advance planning, it is also a good idea to find out where the nearest vet or animal hospital is to your destination. It's not pleasant to think about, but you should prepare a "dog missing" poster with a picture of your dog and space to write in your contact information with a thick marker. You should also have one or two telephone numbers available - such as your cell phone number and the telephone numbers of people at home and at your destination - which you can inscribe on your dog's ID tag.

Consult your vet

Get your dog in to see the vet well before you leave to make sure there is time for all the appropriate vaccinations, especially if you're going abroad. Make sure his rabies vaccination is up-to-date, and that you have a rabies tag and certificate for him. It's also a good idea to have an identification microchip implanted, if he doesn't already have one. Your vet can put together a travel medical kit for you, which will include motion sickness pills and diarrhea medication.

In the car

Your dog should be trained to get in and out of the car properly. He should always get in before you and out after you, and never through the driver's door. Make sure he is on-leash before you let him out of the car.

 

"Ideally, your dog should travel behind a separating grid or in a carrier."

 

Otherwise, he should travel in the back seat of the car. Consider using a crate or a dog seat belt. Train your dog so that he doesn't interfere with the driver, and don't let him hang his head out of the window. Keep the windows rolled up to prevent injury. And never leave your dog alone in the car, especially on a warm or hot day. When travelling by car with your dog, have plenty of water available for him and take frequent breaks - about every two hours. To help prevent motion sickness, don't feed your dog just prior to departure.

By plane

Air travel is much more stressful than car travel, for you and your dog, because he will be moved around by airline personnel and out of your sight. Find out everything you need to know from the airline about how your dog will be transported, and oversee him on every stage of the journey. Avoid travelling when it is very hot or very cold as your dog may be exposed to the elements during the trip.

Be prepared

Following is a list of supplies you should bring with you when you go on the road with your dog:

Accessories

•	Crate or dog seat belt, if you're travelling by car
•	Sturdy collar with license, ID tag and rabies tag
•	An extra collar or lead and a long leash
•	Muzzle, if necessary
•	Favourite toys and blanket

Food and water

•	Bowls for food and water and a can opener (if you feed canned wet food)
•	Enough food for the journey, unless you know that you can buy it at your destination
•	A couple of gallons of water, if you're travelling by car
•	Treats

Supplies

•	Cloth and paper towels and an old sheet (for covering bedspreads and furniture)
•	Plastic bags and a thick marker
•	Comb, brush, tweezers, scissors, dog shampoo and odour neutralizer
•	First aid supplies
•	Flashlight

Papers

•	Vaccination certificates
•	List of microchip, license and rabies tag numbers
•	International vaccinations certificates and customs documents (if you're leaving the country)

With some planning and common sense, you can make sure your trip is a pleasurable experience for both you and your dog.