Holiday Travel Tips for
Pet Parents
Practice Makes Perfect
Before you go on a long road trip with your dog, go on a few practice runs. Try driving to a park a little further away or just drive around town for a bit. This will give you insight into how your dog does in the car and if you have to make any adjustments for your longer upcoming trip.
When we first started traveling with Luna, she would often throw up in the car. For us a seat cover is a must! We also learned that restraining her actually helped because she wouldn’t be able to pace back and forth as much. Not feeding her right before we left also helped lessen the chance of barf happening.
Have Plenty of Water Accessible
If you are driving for hours at a time, it is important to have a way for your pets to drink some water if they need it. So many pet parents forget this while on road trips and only offer a drink during pit stops and at the final destination. Often, this is okay but keeping your pet hydrated is so important that it’s not worth the risk.
Keep Treats Close
Just like humans, dogs can get super bored while stuck in the car for hours at a time. Try to plan frequent breaks to give everyone the chance to stretch their legs, but in the mean time you or your passenger (if you are driving) can distract your pups with small training treats. Make sure they are small enough that they won’t cause extra bathroom breaks, but tasty enough they keep your dog’s attention.
Follow Leash Laws
Really you should always keep your dog leashed in an unknown place, especially when it’s near a major highway or lots of car traffic. Even extremely well-trained dogs can get spooked and accidents can happen. Resist the urge to let your dog jump out of the car in a busy parking lot even if it’s just to stretch their legs and take a bathroom break. Rest stops are often also busy with other people and their pets who you know nothing about. Stay safe and keep them leashed.
Always Have the Camera Ready
Road trips are exciting adventures. You never know what you might see along the way. Keep your camera handy because you’ll want to remember this experience with your pet, even if they seem like they are a pain in your butt while you’re doing it.
Air Travel Tips for Pet Parents
Pick a Trusted Carrier
Not all planes are equal, so make sure you read the requirements of an airplane pet carrier for the airline you are flying each time! No one wants to show up at the airport to find out their pet carrier doesn’t meet the required standards. Then what do you do?
Look for a carrier that allows your pet to have enough room while still fitting underneath the airplane seat in front of you. You’ll also want a carrier they can’t break out of, but allows you reasonable access to your pet if you need to soothe them.
Train, Train, Train!
No, not choo-choo trains… this isn’t Planes, Trains, and Automobiles. We’re talking about dog training!
If your dog (or cat) isn’t comfortable in their carrier today, they aren’t going to be magically comfortable on the day your plane takes off. In fact, they are probably going to be WAY less comfortable because they have to be crammed under a seat and listening to the loud sounds of the airplane, especially at take off.
Try Out Any Medications or Relaxants in Advance
If your dog is often anxious or you think you might want to give them something like Benadryl or a hemp based treat to help relax them, definitely try this out in advanced. Though most of the times it is perfectly safe to give your dog something like this if you follow the dosage, some dogs may have reactions. The LAST THING you want is for your dog to react to a new medication or treat while you are 30,000 feet in the sky. Unfortunately, there isn’t much that can be done at that point so I always like to do a trial run to help rule out the possibility.
You can easily do this as part of your training. Though, don’t overdo it because you don’t want these medications or oils to lose their effect before you get into the air.
Give Your Seatmates a Heads Up
You never know how other people feel about dogs or cats, but a good pet parent is always respectful of others feelings and fears. It’s always a good idea to let them know upfront that you are traveling with a pet. If a neighbor has an issue, they may be able to switch seats with someone who doesn’t or just move to an open seat if the plane isn’t completely full. Hopefully there won’t be an issue, but if so you can tackle it head on! Who knows you might even find a fellow pet lover.
It’s also good to let you seatmates know if you anticipate any outburst from your furry travel companion or the need to get up during the flight. Trust me, not all pets are perfect travel companions!
Greet Your Flight Attendants
It’s always a good idea to treat people with courtesy and respect! It’s possible that you may need their assistance or something extra during the flight, so I like to put my best foot forward and make a good first impression. It’s also a good idea to let the flight attendant know that you do have a dog with you in case you do need something later on.
Expect Something To Go Wrong
Be prepared to think on your toes. Something may and probably will come up, so being mentally ready for it is the first step. And if it doesn’t, it will feel even that much more of a successful trip!
