Tips for Traveling with Dogs
Whether you are traveling with your dogs because you consider them part of your family and can’t bear to be away from them, because you were unable to find a sitter for them or because you think they will enjoy the vacation destination you may find that with a little advanced problem traveling with your dogs is not difficult. You do have to do your research before hand to ensure that your trip with your dogs will be enjoyable. Many hotels do not allow pets or place limitations on the amount or size of the dogs. Also, if you are planning to travel by airplane you should do your research carefully before booking a flight.
Finding a hotel to accommodate you and your dogs isn’t hard but it should be done in advance. Not all hotels accept dogs so it is recommended that you make your hotel reservations in advance so that you have adequate time to find a hotel in the desired area that will accept the number and size of dogs that you will be traveling with on your vacation. Planning to make your lodging arrangements when you arrive can be problematic especially if you find that many area hotels do not accept dogs. Even those hotels that do accept dogs may only allow dogs in certain rooms so it is a good idea to make your arrangements in advance at to make sure that the hotel staff notes that you will be traveling with dogs so that they can reserve an appropriate room for you and your pets. Many hotels charge additional fees when you have dogs staying with you. Sometimes these are refundable deposits that are returned to you if the room remains undamaged. Other times the fees are nightly fees assessed per animal. Still other hotels charge you a one time non-refundable fee that is justified by the additional cleaning that is usually required after an animal departs.
Flying with your dogs is also a part of your travel that involves advanced planning. Depending on the size of your dog, they might be able to travel with you in the cabin or they might have to travel in an airline approved crate in the cargo portion of the airplane. Small dogs that fit in carriers that can be placed under your seat are sometimes permitted to travel in the cabin but you should check with the airline before booking your flight. Large dogs are almost always required to travel in a crate in the cargo department. Again you should check with the airline because there are sometimes limitations on the amount of animals that they can carry and if there are already several dogs booked, you may have to choose another flight. Also, some airlines place restrictions on the time of year when they will allow dogs to travel. Some will not allow you to fly with your dogs if the temperature is too high or too low.
If your dog is going to be traveling in the cargo bay there are some tips you can take to ease the stress of their flight. They will be confined to the safety of the crate and most baggage handlers will be aware that there is an animal in the crate but placing a “Live Animal,” sign on the crate will make sure they are aware. You could also create a sign with your dog’s picture and name asking those who encounter the dog to say hello to them. Sometimes just hearing their name can help your dog to relax. Including a favorite toy in the crate can also put your dog at ease. You may be required to check in your dog early so it is important to walk them just before you check in so that they will be comfortable for the flight. A small blanket can also help your dog to feel comfortable while they are in their crate.
Traveling with your beloved dogs can enhance your travel experience. There are, however, a few precautions to take when doing so. These precautions will help to make the trip enjoyable for you and your pet.