Dogs are members of our families too, so it’s only natural to want to take them with you when you travel. In order to make travelling with your dog safe and enjoyable for you and your pet alike, you need to do some research ahead of time. It’s vital to know laws, guidelines, and safety rules for travelling with a dog and you’ll have to tailor your itinerary to include your pet at every step of the way. If you’re considering taking a dog along on a holiday, you’ll find lots of helpful information in this dog friendly travel guide.
Tips and Advice for Travelling With Pets
There are a lot of special considerations to be taken when travelling with pets. Many of them depend on the time of year, the type and age of dog you have, and how you’ll be travelling. Use the following links to find the best, most current guidelines and advice for keeping dogs safe and happy no matter where you’re going or how you plan to get there.
Dogs Trust Travelling with Dogs – There are many helpful points which apply to travelling in a car with your dog. The one that some people still forget is DO NOT LEAVE YOUR DOG IN A HOT CAR. Another point is to ensure that your dog is properly restrained in the car – your insurance may be invalidated if your dog is loose and you have an accident.
Dog Guards R Us – The importance of having a restraint in the car for your dog. There is a video reconstruction showing the effects that a 30kg Labrador would have if thrown through the air whilst travelling in a car at 30mph. Scary stuff! You don’t have to spend a fortune on a manufacturer’s guard – there are plenty of excellent guards out there which don’t cost the earth, but remember – cheap doesn’t necessarily mean good!
Rules, Regulations, Safety, Directories & Checklists
Keeping your pet safe and healthy should be a top priority, especially when travelling. Use the rules and advice in these pages so you can take the right precautions to ensure the safety and welfare of your dog. You can also find out what the laws are when it comes to driving and flying with pets too.
DEFRA – Taking your Pets Abroad – There are plenty of holidays abroad that you can take your dog with you. This UK Government website will explain what the legalities are, such as micro chipping and vaccinations.
Protecting The Welfare of Pet Dogs and Cats During Journeys – A UK Government advice guide to travelling with your dog (or cat) either around the UK or abroad.
Winter Pet Care Tips – During Wintertime, there are other considerations for our dogs – some that we just don’t think about. Boness Veterinary Hospital has put together a great article full of tips for keeping pets healthy and safe during cold weather.
Travel Check List and Packing List – It’s easy going away with a dog, right? Wrong! It’s not just a case of putting them in the car and away you go – your dog has needs too. This checklist is a pretty good guide of things to remember, although I’m sure that there’s some things missing…..
Find a UK Vet – You’re away on holiday and your pet becomes ill. What do you do? Many holiday accommodation owners will have, no doubt, already given you a list of vets in the area, but what if you are out and about? Find Any Vet Uk will locate a vet near you. Hopefully you won’t need it!
We hope that you have found our Dog Friendly Travel Guide helpful.