As we approach the Christmas holiday season, many of you will be looking to travel to see friends or relatives and are wondering about the pros and cons of taking your dog with you. Travel will normally be either by car, bus or plane so I won’t be discussing travel by boat or train.
Car: this mode of transport gives you the most flexibility when it comes to stopping for bathroom breaks or just to stretch the legs. Most dogs don’t spend a ton of time on long distance car rides so you will need to be wary of your dog becoming stressed or simply needing a break. Stress can be reduced by sitting with your dog in the back seat as the close proximity of a human will help relax your dog.
Bus: most bus companies will not have a problem with you bringing your dog on board as long as the dog is well behaved and clean. The dog will need to stay off the seats. The acceptance of a dog onto a bus is at the discretion of the bus driver and there may be a small charge for your dog. It is always worth checking with the bus line ahead of time. For a long journey it will be a judgement call on your part whether your dog has the right temperament to tolerate sitting still for long periods and has no medical issues affecting its ability to go without a bathroom break for long periods. You may want to consider taking your dog’s favourite mat along for comfort.
Plane: here is where the size of your dog matters as to whether it can travel with you in the cabin or be forced to travel in the hold. The general guideline is that your dog will need to be in a crate which can fit under the seat in front of you. If your dog needs to travel in the hold, check with the airline on the temperature in the hold and make sure the crate your dog is kept in is big enough to allow your dog to stand up and move around. Because of the stress on your dog being in an unnatural environment and without his/her owner, I suggest putting your dog’s favourite blanket in the crate along with a couple of toys and something that smells of you as this will help to alleviate their stress. You may want to consider giving your dog a sedative for the flight. Check with your vet first.Before having your dog loaded into the hold or come into the cabin with you, try to ensure your dog has a bathroom break. The length of the flight will determine whether you give your dog treats to eat during the flight as there will be no opportunity for a bathroom break once you’re in the air!
Service or support dogs, of any size, have access to the cabin on airlines and will need to sit on the floor next to their owners throughout the flight.
It is never an easy decision whether to take your dog with you or not but sometimes leaving your dog with a friend or relative or putting them in a boarding facility may just be the best for both you and your dog.
