10 Safety Tips for Traveling With Dogs

With the holidays in full swing, many of us have planned trips to visit family. Whether your family is the next street over or across the country, you’ll need to do some extra preparations if you plan on bringing your dog along for the ride. The modes of transportation we use on a daily basis are created with humans in mind, not pets. This means you’re responsible for making the trip as safe as possible. To help you out, we’ve compiled 10 safety tips for traveling with dogs!

In the Car

1.Train your dog in car manners.

As with most (if not all) new things you do with your dog, you’ll need to do a little training when first introducing it. Traveling in the car is an especially important time to work closely with your dog to ensure their safety. Cars are just as dangerous to dogs as they are to humans. You will need to teach your dog the proper way to behave while in a car, such as not barking and sitting still. For tips on training your dog to ride in the car, check out this article posted by the American Kennel Club.

2. Secure your dog with either a seat belt or crate.

If we need to wear seatbelts for safety in the car, it makes sense that dogs shouldn’t free roam the car either. The best way to keep your dog from wandering is to get either a dog seat belt or a crate.

If you’ve never heard of a dog seat belt, they’re pretty cool! In general, it’s a strap with one end that connects to your dog’s harness or collar and another end that clicks into the seat belt buckle.  It effectively tethers your dog to limit their mobility. It should also offer some protection for your dog in the case of an accident. Just make sure to do your research to find a high quality, safety tested product!

If you go with a crate, there’s a few other considerations. A travel crate should be made of a sturdy material and padded if possible. It needs to be big enough for your dog to stand up and turn around inside of it. The crate should also be well-ventilated. It needs to be placed on a level area such as the floor of the back seat of the trunk. (Never place a crate on the back seat.) Finally, consider strapping the crate down to keep it from sliding around too much. Bonus: giving your dog a toy in the crate makes travelling a little easier. It gives them a distraction from the stress, and it gives them something to do!

3. Use the child safety locks on the windows.

If your dog is using a seat belt instead of a crate, they may end up pawing at the door to get a look out the window. To avoid incident, turn on the child safety locks. Not only is this important while you’re driving, but it’ll come in handy when stopping at gas stations or driving through at fast food restaurants. The last thing you want to worry about on a road trip is your dog somehow escaping through the window or a stranger stressing your dog out.

4. Keep all paws and heads inside the vehicle at all times.

A dog sticking his head out the window is such a common sight that some may forget the dangers of it. For example, debris from passing cars may get into your dog’s eyes. While unlikely, another possible scenario is a passing object hitting your dog. The object could be a mailbox that you pass a little too close to or something that a driver ahead throws out of their window. You never know what can happen on the road. This doesn’t just apply to when the vehicle is moving either. Other issues can arise when stopping or driving through. If your dog is protective or even just overwhelmed, strangers approaching your car can be a hazard to both your dog and the stranger. So while some people probably always let their dog hang out the window and have yet to have problems, it’s always safer to keep all parts of your dog in the vehicle.

5. Make sure your dog is wearing an ID tag.

Any time you take your dog out of the house, it’s always safer to put an ID tag on them. An ID tag allows people to find you if your dog somehow gets separated from you. This tag should have valid and up-to-date contact information for you.

On a Plane

6. Do your research before booking the flight.

Putting a dog on a plane makes things complicated. (As if flying isn’t complicated enough already.) The first thing you’ll need to know is if your dog’s breed is allowed on any planes at all. Examples of commonly restricted breeds are pit bulls, bull dogs, mastiffs, and pugs. The list goes on though, so look into your dog’s specific breed before buying them a ticket. Then, you’ll want to know where your dog will be on the plane. Depending on the size and weight of your dog, it may need to go into the cargo hold of the aircraft. If that’s the case, you also need to find out if your dog will be on the same flight as you or not. If your dog is allowed in-cabin, though, read over the airlines guidelines/policies, and make sure they’re in a durable carrier!

7. Be familiar with any relevant procedures involving your pet.

Transporting animals such long distances involves a lot of regulations and procedures. To make extra certain your pet arrives safely to your destination, read up on any related procedures. This includes locations and times for drop-off and pick-up, quarantine requirements, and how to report incidents. The more familiar you are with the rules, the more confidence you can have that the trip will go smoothly.

8. Pay a visit to the vet before the trip.

This step isn’t always necessary, but it can’t hurt to get your dog cleared before traveling with them. The vet can look your dog over, trim their nails, and verify that their vaccinations are up to date. Plus, this gives you a chance to consult with your vet about flying with your dog. The vet may decide to prescribe your dog medicine to help keep them calm, especially if they will be in the cargo hold and not with you. As long as you mention the imminent flight, your vet will know what information and advice to give you to ensure a safe and comfortable trip for both you and your pet.

9. Plan your dog’s feedings around the flight times.

Pets on planes don’t get a whole lot of bathroom breaks. Once you know what time your flight is scheduled, you’ll need to plan when to feed your dog accordingly. The U.S. Department of Transportation advises to not feed your pet solid food within six hours of the flight. With that in mind, feed your dog their meal several hours before take off. Your dog needs access to water, so keep making water available. Just plan to take your dog for a walk right before and right after the flight.

10. Arrive to the airport extra early in case of added fees or paperwork.

Once the research is done, the flight is booked, and your dog is prepared, you’ll still need to allow some time for possible added fees or paperwork. Despite the fact that an in-cabin pet is considered part of your allowed luggage, some airlines require you to check in before the flight. At this check in, you’ll pay any additional fees and get a tag for your pet’s carrier. Bring any vaccination records with you as well, both as proof of vaccination and as possible forms of identification. Since you have to go to the counter to do this, make plans to arrive early enough to get everything done in time for boarding.

Traveling with a pet can be hard if you don’t know what to expect. There’s a lot of things to consider for the safety of yourself, your pet, and others. This list of safety tips for traveling with dogs is intended as suggestions of key points to consider. But it’s hard to fit everything into 10 points! If you ever have any questions or doubts, take some time for your own research or ask a professional such as a vet. We hope this list helps you and your dog on your travels!

Planning on staying home for the holidays? Check out our definitive howliday care guide!

With the holidays in full swing, many of us have planned trips to visit family. Whether your family is the next street over or across the country, you’ll need to do some extra preparations if you plan on bringing your dog along for the ride. The modes of transportation we use on a daily basis…