Even during the most wonderful weeks of the year, you shouldn't, and indeed shouldn't have to, forgo your dog. This is also important, as your beloved furry friend much prefers to be with their pack than sitting alone and sad in a dog boarding kennel. Only if there's no other option should the dog absolutely stay with relatives or friends they know well. We at SABRO prefer to take our dogs with us on vacation. But before that, there are many things to consider when you're dashing off on vacation with your dog. In this article, we'll present our experiences and directly applicable tips.
Preparations for a successful vacation with your dog
1. Check: Dog-Friendliness
If you're not traveling self-sufficiently in a campervan, you should first check whether the vacation rental or hotel of your choice even allows pets. If you want to save yourself a long search here, we recommend the website Hundeurlaub.de, where you can find suitable, dog-friendly accommodations for all popular vacation destinations. Incidentally, the site was awarded the clear test winner for dog vacations by the renowned travel magazine fvw in 2018 after an anonymous test vacation. By the way: Austria, France, Switzerland, Sweden, Poland, and the Czech Republic are considered very dog-friendly vacation countries. Many EU countries have special regulations when it comes to entering with a dog – so it can happen that certain breeds (keyword: fighting dogs) are not allowed. You must also consider this for all transit countries when traveling by car.
2. Check: Dog's Health
If you are traveling to another country, you should definitely plan a short visit to the vet beforehand to have your dog's vaccination status and condition checked. Be careful: in some Southern European countries, there are infectious diseases such as babesiosis, filariasis, hepatozoonosis, or leishmaniasis, which are transmitted by local parasites.
All EU countries require an EU pet passport, also known as the blue passport, a valid rabies vaccination, which must have been administered at least three weeks before travel, as well as a microchip (preferably ISO standard 11784 or 11785).
You should also always have a small dog travel first aid kit in your luggage, which includes tick and insect spray, sunscreen, diarrhea tablets, motion sickness medication, wound spray, and other items. Your vet will advise you individually for your dog. A little favorite food and treats, as well as poop bags, are also recommended.
3. Check: Bringing a Piece of Home
Your dog will be happy and feel more secure if they have a cozy piece of home with them on vacation. This could simply be their favorite blanket. It's even easier with a special dog travel mat, which can be compactly rolled up and always kept with you. You can even pack our KUDDE dog bed small with the new accessory using a standard vacuum bag and take it with you on vacation. A food and water bowl should, of course, also be a given.
Traveling by Plane or Train with a Dog
Flying means absolute stress for your dog. And if they weigh over five kilograms, in this unpleasant situation, they will also be separated from you because they have to be transported in the cargo hold. If they weigh less than five kilograms, they are allowed in the cabin, but not out of the transport box. Also not so nice! We therefore advise against vacation trips with dogs by plane. If there's no other option, only in the cabin and only for a short distance.
When traveling by train, it's similar: small dogs must be in a transport box, larger ones, after paying half the fare or the child's fare (depending on the route), are allowed to sit leashed and muzzled in the train carriage, but – just like on a plane – have no opportunity to go for a walk. Especially in the event of unforeseen incidents, this can be unpleasant for everyone, even with a grooming kit in the suitcase. Basically, a train journey should not last longer than two to three hours.
Traveling by Car with a Dog
The car is the optimal way to travel with a dog. There are no dog-haters here, you decide when to take a break, you can pack enough food and water, and you offer your dog a retreat that they usually know. The top priority during the journey is the safety of your four-legged friend, because dogs that are not secured with a safety harness, partition grille, or a transport box can, for example, incur fines of up to 75 Euros and a point in Flensburg (German traffic penalty system) in Germany. With us, you will find suitable car accessories for small and large dogs.
Incidentally, you can counteract potential car sickness during the journey by not feeding your dog extensively for several hours before the trip.
With the dog at the vacation destination
You've arrived safely at your destination, what now? It's best to thoroughly research the vacation spot before you travel so that you can immediately comply with the local laws, such as leash requirements. Just like at home, you shouldn't sit on the beach with your dog in 30-degree heat or at midday. Since they prefer to run anyway, take longer beach walks during cooler times. Before you go, check which beach sections and restaurants allow dogs. Otherwise, in any case, enjoy your vacation and have some beautiful days.
Where have you already been on vacation with your dog? Do you have tips for other dog owners? We look forward to your sunny comment.
