When you go on vacation, of course, you want to bring along your dog. After all, they’re part of the family.
But what if you’re planning on heading overseas, instead of somewhere close to home. Traveling internationally with a dog is a big step to take, and there are many extra things that you need to consider.
Here are 7 tips that will help make your trip easier and more enjoyable.
Note: This is a guest post from a long time “online friend” – Shandos Cleaver. She’s the author of the dog-friendly travel blog Travelnuity and the book Off the Leash in Australia. She’s traveled with her Miniature Dachshund, Schnitzel, around the world (he’s visited 36 countries!), so I thought she was the perfect person to write this article.
1) Consider Your Transport Options
If you’re based in the United States, the easiest international destinations to visit with your dog are Canada and Mexico, especially if you have a medium or large dog. After all, you can simply drive across the border in your own car, as long as you have the right insurance for Mexico.
For most other destinations, you’ll likely need to fly in a plane. This is relatively easy to do if you have a dog small enough to fly in the cabin, with many American airlines and European airlines offering this option.
While most US airlines don’t have a weight limit for dogs flying in the cabin, many other airlines have a weight limit of 8kg (17.6 lbs), including the carrier. Even if there isn’t a weight limit, the maximum carrier size is quite small, although the exact dimensions vary. Plus usually airlines specify your dog needs to be able to stand and turn around inside it. (Usually no problem for a Mini Dachshund!)
Some airlines also offer the option for larger pets to fly in the hold, either as excess baggage or cargo. However, understandably, many pet owners are wary of the risk involved, particularly for just a short vacation. Plus there are often temperature restrictions during the middle of summer and winter.
2) Research the Entry Requirements of Your Destination
When choosing an international destination to visit with your dog, you’ll also need to keep in mind the rules to travel with pets to your destination.
While human travelers may or may not need visas to travel to different countries, pets often require specific vaccinations, plus a pet health certificate. The combination of vaccination certificates and health certificates are often referred to as a “pet passport”.
For some countries, the entry requirements for dogs are fairly simple. For instance, if you’re traveling from the United States to France or Italy, both part of the European Union, your dog simply requires a microchip, a valid rabies vaccination and a USDA-endorsed health certificate.
However, there are some countries with far more complex requirements. For instance, forget dreaming of a holiday with your dog to Australia or New Zealand. Both countries have a long list of steps to prepare a dog for import, plus a quarantine stay of at least 10 days.
Island countries without rabies tend to have the strictest requirements. (Even Hawaii has complex rules to import dogs!)
To find out the rules for travel with a dog to a country from the USA, it’s best to head to the USDA website. Select the country you intend to visit from the dropbox, to find out the entry requirements for your pet.
3) Check the Rules to Return Home
As well as entry requirements for the countries you travel to with your dog, you also need to consider the entry requirements to return home with your dog. Just because your dog was born in a country doesn’t give them the right to return home, once they leave!
If you live in the United States, recently the rules to bring dogs into the United States have changed. If your dog has only visited rabies-free or low-risk countries for dog rabies in the last six months, you’ll need to complete a CDC Dog Import Form before returning home.
Dogs must also be microchipped, be at least six months old and appear healthy.
If you have visited any high-risk countries in the last six months, the entry requirements are more complex, particularly if your dog was vaccinated overseas. Double-check which countries are considered to be high-risk for dog rabies in advance, and make sure you understand the requirements, so that your dog can return home.
4) Review Dog-Friendly Options at Your Destination
As well as making sure you tick off all the entry requirements for your destination, it’s a good idea to review how dog-friendly your destination is. There’s no use booking a trip with your dog, only to find out there’s nothing that you can do together!
I’ve traveled extensively in Europe and found many of the countries to be very dog-friendly. (This is my list of the most dog-friendly countries in Europe.)
There’s plenty of enchanting old towns to stroll around, and dogs are welcome inside restaurants in many countries. But maybe skip visiting the museums on this trip.
It’s also important to investigate pet-friendly accommodation options. The percentage of hotels that allow pets varies greatly between different countries, even between adjacent countries. Some hotels also have size restrictions.
You may want to consider renting a holiday home or camping in some destinations instead.
Due to the smaller range of dog-friendly accommodation, I always recommend pre-booking your accommodation when traveling with a dog. Now is not the time to just turn up and find something when you arrive!
5) Taking Dog Food Abroad
While it’s best to bring along your own dog food when traveling, so that a change in diet doesn’t upset your dog’s stomach, this isn’t always permitted when traveling internationally. Plus if you’re traveling for a longer period, you’ll likely need to buy more food at some stage.
Before you go, research whether you can take your own dog food. For instance, some countries may only allow you to bring in enough food for one day or not allow certain food ingredients. And of course if you feed your dog raw meat, you’re more likely to encounter restrictions.
Research in advance what pet food brands are sold in the country you’re visiting. There are usually some online pet food stores in most countries – visit their website and research your options in advance.
Many of the more common dog food brands are available in multiple countries around the world, so you may be able to buy the same food as at home. A long list of languages on kibble packaging at home is often a clue. Or else transition in advance to one that’s available at your destination.
I’ve generally found it’s best to head to the larger pet stores when trying to buy a specific brand of pet food abroad. For instance, in Europe there are many small pet stores that have a very limited range, but also larger big box stores.
6) Train Your Dog Before Travel
Before heading overseas with your dog, it’s best to review your dog’s training and identify any areas that you should work on before departure.
For instance, when traveling to other countries your dog may encounter strange environments that they may not often come across at home, or when traveling closer to home.
Examples include noisy airports, riding on trains and buses, and regularly dining out at cafes. I met with a dog trainer before traveling to Europe with my dog to learn techniques to improve his manners at cafes.
It’s also best to crate train your dog well in advance before traveling, whether they will be traveling in a carrier bag in the cabin, or flying in a crate in the hold. Allow them time to get used to their crate, ideally feeding them in their crate. A dog that feels secure and comfortable in their crate will be a lot more relaxed on flights.
7) Prepare for the Long Flight
When traveling internationally, often long flights are involved. For instance, if flying from New York to Paris, the flight time is about seven hours. When you add on clearing security and immigration on either side, that’s a long time for a small dog flying in the cabin!
When flying with your dog in the cabin, I find it’s best to take into consideration what flights will be most comfortable for your dog, even if it’s less comfortable for yourself.
For instance, consider taking a red-eye flight, flying overnight, for long journeys. Hopefully your dog will be happy to sleep the entire flight in the dimmed cabin, and they will be less likely to want to potty.
Carefully consider whether or not to have a layover. When traveling with a dog, it’s best to avoid short, stressful connections.
BEWARE: If you have a longer layover and plan to leave the airport, your dog will also need to fulfill the entry requirements for the transit country.
Research whether there are pet relief areas available at airports that you are passing through. While required at major airports in the United States, these facilities are still rare in Europe. Bringing pee pads and wipes is always a good idea!
Final Thoughts
Taking your dog with you on an international adventure can be a blast, but don’t make it too exhilarating by getting caught off guard by something that you didn’t expect.
Instead, use these tips to prepare for the requirements, and set your expectations, well in advance of your trip.
Author Bio
Shandos Cleaver is a travel writer and author who specializes in dog-friendly travel. Originally from Australia, she has traveled around the world with her Miniature Dachshund, Schnitzel. Schnitzel has visited 36 countries, including most European countries, plus ten of the United States. He loves off-leash walks with lots of stops for sniffing, eating and sleeping under the covers.
