Practical Tips For Traveling With Pets

Have you ever wanted to go traveling with your pets? If this is something you have been considering, then there are ways that you can take your beloved four-legged friends with you on your travels. 

As such, today, we’ll summarise several of the best practical tips for traveling with pets to help you make the most of your experience without having to leave your pets behind!

Practical Tips for Traveling with Pets You Should Know 

So, you want to take your pet traveling with you, but you’re not sure how to go about this. Don’t worry – there’s no need to leave your pets behind, and today’s article may help you find the best solutions for your own traveling needs. 

So, please don’t leave things to chance; read on to learn more about the different travel options you could consider and which might be the best for your own holidaying experience.

1. Start Your Search With a Pet-Friendly Hotel

More and more of us are taking our beloved four-legged friends along with us for the holidays, and with this in mind, a growing number of establishments also allow pets to stay. 

However, while this trend is growing, there are also many that won’t allow you to bring your pet during your stay – and so the first tip we can give, before booking your holiday, is to make sure there’s a local hotel that will happily cater for you and your pets, alike.

2. Make Sure You’ve Got Your Pet’s Health Records and Passport to Hand

Another key, practical tip for traveling with your pets is to keep a copy of your pet’s medical records to hand. Indeed, before you can take your pet with you on holiday, you’ll need to make sure that you’ve sourced a copy of their medical records from your vet, as this will allow you to take them across borders.

Proof of your pet’s vaccination status and health is vital for pretty much any country. With this in mind, making sure you have copies of this information, to begin with, will make it much easier to ensure that you have a seamless experience taking your pet with you on holiday.

Before traveling, you’ll also need to ensure that your pet has a passport. Indeed, just as it is for us, a passport is a necessity for your pet to travel abroad with you. Luckily, these are relatively easy to arrange through your vet, so reach out to them if you need any help with this.

3. Make Sure Your Pet is Microchipped

Another crucial tip we can give for traveling with your pets is to ensure that they are microchipped. Indeed, your beloved pet can wander off relatively easily when you go traveling, and if you don’t know the region or terrain, tracking them down can be more difficult.

Fortunately, a microchip may help reunite you with your pet if they do go missing. So, please don’t leave things to chance; make sure you choose the right solution for your beloved dog by getting them microchipped before you go traveling, for safety.

As well as getting your pet microchipped, we highly recommend that you get a new collar made up for your pet (if you don’t have one already) that includes your name and contact details. This can allow locals to reach you if you’ve lost your pet more quickly than with a microchip, making it an excellent way to reunite with them if the worst should happen. After all – we all hope nothing will go wrong, but being prepared helps us resolve matters easier if it should.

4. Take Treats With You

During the traveling experience, your pet may get a little stressed or anxious at all of the new people, sights, and sounds; this is only natural. Luckily, there are numerous great ways you can attempt to calm your pet’s anxiety and nerves, and taking their favourite treats and toys with you can be an excellent option in this regard. Meanwhile, if your pet begins acting stressed or anxious at any time, taking them for a walk or using trained behaviours (such as “sit” or “stay”) can be an excellent way to reassure them and help ensure that they enjoy a good experience, too.

5. Always Teach Your Pet Manners First

When taking your pet with you on holiday, always teach them manners first. We’re not saying your pet necessarily needs to be the type to win obedience classes every time, but making sure that they’ve got the basics mastered is vital. 

This simple tip can help ensure that everyone has a calm and enjoyable traveling experience overall. This will also help you to ensure that your pet has a good experience, too, without getting distressed at every turn. And, as we’ve already mentioned, distracting your pet with trained behaviours can also be a good way to help them feel less stressed if they’re nervous.

6. Make Sure You’ve Got All the Necessities

When we normally travel, thinking about the necessities isn’t quite so complicated. Indeed, we often don’t pack food, cutlery, and the likes for our travels, as there’s the assumption that we’ll be eating out for much of the holiday. However, this isn’t the case for your beloved four-legged friend, and as a result, it’s vital you’ve packed all of the necessities to ensure they’re well cared for throughout the holiday. This might include their bowls, food, any medications they need, and the like. 

Collapsible water bowls are a particularly good idea to take with you, as these allow your pet to enjoy a refreshing drink even when you’re on the go. Whether it’s a walk around the local cities or a hike up a steep hill, keeping your pet hydrated shouldn’t be an impossibility – and, with this in mind, always work to make sure you’ve packed everything that your pet might need to stay healthy and happy.

7. Check the Rules for Each Airline or Travel Provider First

As a final key tip, it’s well worth checking the specific rules of each airline or travel provider first, as this can help you make the most suitable travel choices for you and your pets. Indeed, not every travel provider will allow pets; meanwhile, some may require that your pets stay separate during the flight or boat ride itself. 

As such, deciding on the most suitable policy for your pet’s needs is critical during your traveling experience to get the best solution overall. After all, while some pets will be calm traveling alone, others may be more nervous; luckily, you know your pet better than anyone, and this can help you make the most suitable options for your traveling needs.

Final Thoughts 

If you’ve been looking for great, practical tips for traveling with pets, then we hope today’s guide may have helped. Indeed, while there’s no single solution for traveling with your pets, these tips may help you find the best traveling opportunities for your four-legged friends, too.