Traveling Pet Gear

Do you know that there's such a thing as dog travel? Indeed, these furry animals have always been considered as man's best friend-and for a good reason. Who else can probably cheer you up at your loneliest times or protect yourself and even your home from unwanted strangers? And today they are becoming to be the perfect traveling companions.

However, if you think that an international travel with your dog is as easy as placing him in a dog kennel and off you go, then you're dead wrong. There are a lot of things that you have to keep in mind.

If you aren't sure on what to do during a dog travel, here are 5 of the best suggestions for you:

1. Prepare your dog for the trip. The truth is it's not only humans who need to keep themselves healthy before traveling. Your dogs too should be fully prepared. As his owner, it's your main responsibility that he is healthy before, during, and after the trip. A good dog preparation includes visiting his veterinarian at least once each week prior to your departure. This way, the doctor will be able to give him the right vaccines that will make him immune to dog-related diseases, which can be prevalent in the country you're planning to visit. Also, you can at least determine if your beloved dog is suffering from a minor or serious illness. You definitely wouldn't want to mess with immigration officers simply because your dog is sick.

2. Create his own identification ID. It may sound so funny, but if you don't like to lose him during your dog travel, you may just want to follow this advice. Dogs can sometimes get too excited, and before you know it they're already wandering aimlessly without your knowledge. You can have someone customize the dog tag for you, or if you are artistic enough, you can simply create your own. What's important is it wouldn't get lost. It's also ideal to place the same identification in your dog kennel, just in case his kennel or even your dog gets lost during transit. Definitely, don't forget to attach the newest photo of your dog. Keep a copy to yourself too.

3. Plan your accommodation beforehand. This is extremely important. There are actually hotels, motels, and inns that wouldn't allow pets, including dogs, inside your room or even in their establishment. Before you even catch yourself at such a bad position or be on a heated argument with the receptionist or manager, you may want to do some research first. Better yet, call them. If they do accept dogs, make sure that you have already arranged a possible accommodation for your pet before dog travel. Do they have their own dog kennel, or can you use your own? This question and more should be answered immediately so you can complete your dog preparation.

4. Make sure your dog is a traveler. There are just some dogs that aren't meant to travel for one reason or the other. If your pet is already old or is suffering from a health condition, it could be best if you forgo with the dog travel and leave him with his vet while you're on your trip. Moreover, if you have the desire to be on an international travel with your "best friend," you may want to train him at a very early age. You can allow him to ride with you in your car so he'll get used to driving for hours.

5. Train your dogs. Training dogs isn't only meant to entertain you, but it becomes handy when you're going to travel. It's essential that you can control your pet to ensure that he doesn't go berserk when meeting strangers or in a foreign place. You don't want to catch the ire of other people.

Milafel Hope Awe is a writer, copy editor, SEO specialist, and entrepreneur. She is currently maintaining a copywriting blog called Writer on the Loose.

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Traveling should also be included in your list of Chihuahua training. Traveling with dog is not unusual nowadays. People just can't seem to leave their beloved Chihuahuas behind. They can not imagine their Chihuahuas spending time alone in their crate with only toys to keep them entertained, while they themselves are enjoying the travel miles away.

However, traveling with your dog, especially when traveling by air, may not be as easy as it seems to be, there are a lot of things to consider. It is important that you are well prepared before taking that flight or before booking that flight. Before you book, contact the airline to check if they allow pets or if they have guidelines with regards to traveling with pet.

Dogs can travel in two types, either in cabin, also called carry-on or in the cargo hold. Dogs in kennels more than nine to ten inches in height should be placed in the cargo hold while those less than nine to ten inches are allowed in the cabin. Keeping your pet inside the kennel at all times for the duration of the flight is another requirement of airlines when traveling.

There are also weather restrictions when your pet is traveling with you. Example is when your plane will be hovering over a freezing point temperature, pets will not be permitted to travel especially if this temperature will cause discomfort to your pet. But if you will really insist on taking your pet with you despite the weather restriction, the airline will have you sign a waiver releasing them any responsibility. That is if you want to risk your pet's health.

Remember also to check your travel destination. Some countries require quarantine for pets to keep their country free of diseases. So it helps if you'll undergo a background check before flying. Airlines also require full physical examination and tests for various diseases before they will be allowed to fly. The certification of this physical examination should be dated within a certain amount of time before the date of the flight. Meaning the examination done years ago will not be accepted if you plan to take the flight in the next couple of days.

With all these preparations, don't forget to think of your pet's comfort. Toys, as well as food and water for longer flights are necessary to ensure that your dog is comfortable all through out the travel period. Once you are set, all you have to do is sit back and enjoy every moment of your travel with your adorable Chihuahua.

Richard Cussons is a writer and a dog expert. Discover more about Chihuahua dog at this site dedicated to Chihuahuas.

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1. Plan well ahead - Make a checklist of what you need for your dog when travelling to your particular location. Check out the weather conditions and if the location is suitable for your pet.

2. Check for pets allowed at place of stay - Make sure that the residence where you will stay allows pets. You can book for hotels which allows pets and also check if the hotel can care for pets if you want an evening out alone.

3. Secure ID for Dog - Make sure your dog has an ID secured to him always when you travel especially if you do not have a microchip. A penciled mark of your hotel name would not hurt. Also carry a photo of your pet in case he gets lost.

4. Carry First Aid - Take precautionary medicine for your dog especially for car sickness, vomiting, stress, etc. You should also carry ointments and bandages for scrapes and wounds. Consulting the vet about needed medicines depending on the medical history will help.

5. Clean up material - Always carry a few rags or old tees to clean up behind your dog. Even though your dog is trained, new locations and weather can cause accidents.

6. Travel with food and water - Always carry some meals and enough water for your dog. Remember that your dog may adapt to the new food gradually. Take tissues to cleanup the mess in car or outside.

7. Crate travel, safe travel - Crate training your dog if you want to travel with him is a great idea. Firstly, it gives him a secure feeling of home away from home and secondly, it helps to keep him in a place and away from danger which will allow you to concentrate on the traffic and driving. It is also mandatory for air travel. Travel in low traffic times when flying.

8. Leash up - Always hold you dog on leash, especially when walking down traffic and crowded roads. It helps to control him and also keep him from wandering and getting lost. He needs to be protected from snowbanks especially during winters!

9. Treats and toys - Carry some of his favorite treats and toys. This can help him feel reassured when cranky and you can also associate travel with fun.

10. Keep Records - Vaccinate him on time, give him his shots required by the country and airline and take a copy of his medical history.You never know when you will need them.

Follow the above and have a fantastic vacation with your pet!

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An increasing number of places throughout Australia, and even worldwide, have accommodations which cater for pets as well as people. Although they are increasing, when preparing to take a pet friendly holiday with your dog, it is always wise to plan ahead. Most accommodation destinations urge travelers taking a pet friendly holiday to book ahead. The facilities for dogs can vary greatly between each venue so determining exactly what is provided will make your pet friendly holiday a more relaxing experience for both you and your pet.

Driving to your selected pet friendly holiday destination is another area where it is wise to take some care. Many times there have been dogs traveling loose in the car or even on the driver's lap when a sudden stop or an accident has caused the pet to sustain injuries due to traveling unrestrained in the car. There are several harnesses and carriers made specially for pet friendly traveling, which can lessen the risk of injury. When traveling in your car with your dog on a pet friendly holiday it is also important to take plenty of water for your pet to drink and never to leave your pet in a closed car.

Once you travel to your pet friendly holiday destination, it is important to ensure that you follow the conditions set out by the venue. These are likely to include keeping your dog on a leash whilst out and about, cleaning up after your dog, keeping your dogs quiet to avoid disturbing other guests & there may be designated areas to stay away from with your dog. Many pet friendly holiday destinations now allow dogs to be inside. There may be provisos to this, such as not leaving your dog alone in the room 7 keeping them off the furniture.

To make your pet friendly travel as comfortable as possible, it is always a good idea to take any special bedding and toys that your pet may be used to. Also, ensure that your dog has an ID tag with your name and phone number in case you were to be accidentally separated.
Planning ahead for your pet friendly travel will result in a great time for both you and your dog and as the accommodation for pet friendly holidays increase, more of us will be taking our four-legged friends along.

Basics to remember:

o Make sure you bring enough water for your pet to drink on the trip. Packing your pet's favorite foods is also a good idea as it may not always be readily obtainable at your holiday destination.

o Use your leash to keep your dog with you whenever you leave your car.

o Make sure you use wither a purpose built pet carrier or pet harness while driving.

o Update your pet's identification tags in case you and your dog become separated whilst away from home.

o Pets should never be left in closed cars.

o Always supervise your pet when initiating contact with strangers, particularly children.

o Make sure your pet has been treated for fleas and ticks prior to traveling

o Clean up after your dog at all times.

For more information, articles and great pet resources, visit http://www.PetTravelGuide.com.au a comprehensive guide to traveling with pets.

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We enjoy camping, and love to take our yellow lab, Kayla, along with us. With Illinois currently as our home base, we've taken her on trips as far away as California, Utah, New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona, and South Carolina for wonderful camping trips. Being prepared for road trips with your dog is very important. And in this article I'd like to share some of the things I've learned from our experiences.

Before you hit the road:

*There's nothing worse than loading up the car and heading off for a long-awaited family vacation, only to discover your carsick dog is throwing up all over the back seat sixty miles from home. So make sure your dog can handle long car trips well before you leave town. Take you your dog on several "practice runs" of varying time/distance, and if your dog does experience car sickness, consult your vet about possible remedies, or consider leaving your dog home.

*Speaking of the vet, we get print-outs of all our of dog's most recent records to take with us on the road. We do this in case she has to visit a vet while we are away, and some kennels require them for short-term boarding and/or grooming. And we make sure she's up to date on all of her vaccinations. If one will expire while we are away, we make sure she gets it before we leave, even if it's early.

*If you'll be staying in motels along the way, make sure you are familiar with chains that accept dogs in the room. Don't wait until you are tired from a long drive to start looking for a motel, because many won't allow pets, and you could be searching for quite a while. We do one of two things. Either we call ahead and reserve a room at a motel we know accepts pets. Or we plan to stay at a chain we know allows pets. Motel Six and Holiday Inn have pretty broad acceptance policies, as do many Super 8's and Day's Inn (though not all, so make sure you know which ones do). Some motels will allow pets on an individual basis. Just make sure you have travel guides, or have done internet searches, so that you are know where you will be welcome with your pet before you leave home. (For example, AAA guides list which motels allow pets, and there are many pet-travel websites that list them as well.)

*If you'll be camping, make sure you know the rules for dogs in campgrounds before you arrive. Most private and public campgrounds will allow pets, but require them to be leashed at all times. We have discovered that National Parks allow leashed dogs in parking areas and paved walkways, but most won't allow them on hiking trails. Zion National Park has a 2 mile paved trail on which dogs are allowed, and they welcome in their campgrounds. Grand Canyon allows dogs on the paved "Rim" trail, but not on hikes down into the canyon. Bryce Canyon allows dogs, but only in cars on in parking areas. However, Red Rock Canyon in the Dixie National Forest, near Bryce, allows dogs not only in campgrounds, but also on all of their hiking trails (as long as they are leashed). My advice is to find out before you go by visiting web sites or calling ahead so that you aren't disappointed by the restrictions when you arrive.

What to bring:

*Kayla has her own "suitcase" - and whenever she sees us take it out of the closet, she knows we are about to take her on a trip (and she gets very excited). Here is what we keep in her bag:

1. A couple of towels (she's a lab, likes to swim wherever she sees water, so they are handy for drying her off, or if she has an unexpected accident, throws up, etc.).

2. Plenty of plastic grocery bags for picking up after her while on the road. One of the reasons pet owners are unwelcome in many places is because they don't pick up after their dogs in rest areas, motel lawns, campgrounds, etc. So make sure you always clean up after your dog.

3. A couple of filled water bottles and water dish. We offer Kayla water at every rest stop, and occasionally even on the road if she seems thirsty. Keep her hydrated. As much as dogs love to travel, it can also be stressful for them.

4. Individual baggies of food portions, if her mealtimes will occur on the road. We also include a few treats, to reward her for being such a good girl in the car.

5. Chew toys/balls: Kayla doesn't usually like to chew things while we are driving, but some dogs do, and it helps alleviate boredom.

6. We also bring wet wipes and paper towels, in case of any spillage or accidents.

7. Bringing a dog bed of some sort is helpful because motels don't like dogs on the beds. If your dog uses their bed regularly at home, it also brings something familiar along with them. If it will fit, you might put it on the seat where the dog will ride as well. The familiar scent is comforting, and offers more comfortable ride for the dog.

*In addition to the items we bring in Kayla's suitcase, we keep her medical records in a safe place.

*Some dogs get pretty excited when traveling, and are hard to restrain. This can cause dangerous situations for drivers. If your dog has a hard time sitting still during the trip, you might consider a dog harness which attaches to seat belts. There are many out there, and make the trip safer for you, and more comfortable for the dog (like when you make those sudden stops or turns that throw the dog onto the floor).

While on the road:

*Frequent stops: We try to stop every couple of hours at a rest stop. Normally Kayla doesn't need to go potty that often at home, but being in the car for long stretches can be stressful and/or boring for a dog. So we stop more frequently to let her get out and stretch her legs. She LOVES rests stops (all those new smells) and sniffs every blade of grass she can. We find it is good for us as well, because when we travel without her, we stop very rarely. But with Kayla, we find our travel experience more enjoyable because we get to take a break from driving and stretch our legs too. Just remember to always pick up after your dog. It's the right thing to do, and in some places, it's the law.

*We don't let Kayla stick her head out the window when we are driving, particularly at high speeds. As much as dogs love doing this, it can be harmful for them. Objects flying through the air may strike their faces and do damage to eyes and ears. When we do open the window to let her hang her head out, we do so only at lower speeds.

*Never leave your pet alone in your motel room. It's against motel policy, and if a dog destroys objects in a room, you have to pay for them. In addition, if a barking dog annoys other guests, you may be asked to leave. If a motel has several problems with pets, they may change their pet policy, so for your sake and other pet lovers, always stay with your dog.

*On a warm or hot days, we try to never leave Kayla in our parked car for long periods of time. On the rare occasions that it's unavoidable, we try to find shade and leave the windows cracked, and get back as soon as possible. Most of the time we can avoid leaving her alone by splitting up to do shopping and other errands, always leaving one of us with her.

*Related to the suggestion above, we tend to eat "on the road." We get fast food or other take-out food while driving, and eat it in the car so as not to leave Kayla unattended for long periods. If we do go in to eat at a restaurant, we try to go after dark, when the sun is down, and leave the window cracked. Then one of us checks on her every half hour or so (particularly when it's very hot) and makes sure she has water and is doing okay. Traveling in the cooler months makes this less necessary - but if your dog is a barker it can quickly become a nuisance to other patrons, so be respectful of them.

Other general suggestions:

*The reality is that sometimes while on the road, we like to visit places Kayla isn't allowed. So rather than leave her alone at camp or in the car, what we do is check around at local kennels for day boarding possibilities, or even overnight boarding. For instance, we spent a day at Disneyland a few years ago, and for $10, she was boarded at the Disney Kennels for the day (she even got a certificate after her stay). On a rafting trip in Colorado, we found another day kennel nearby where we could leave her. And for an evening excursion, we know we can leave her overnight. Sure she'll miss us, and we'll miss her. But she'll be safe and well cared for, which is what is most important. (Be prepared that this is where you may need a copy of her medical records - and make sure her Bordetella (Kennel Cough) Vaccine is up to date.)

*Be patient with your pet. Traveling is an exciting experience for them, but can also be stressful because you are removing them from their regular routine. Just like children, they may not behave as they normally do at home. Kayla tends to bark at anyone who wanders near our campground, and is hard to handle on her leash when we get anywhere near a river. Be calm and consistent with your dog, understanding that this is a new situation for them. And if it seems to be causing more problems for you and your dog than it's worth, you may have to consider leaving your pet at home in the future. Hopefully that won't happen - but if it's what is best for your beloved dog, then you do have to keep it under consideration.

These are just a few suggestions I have from several trips with our dog, Kayla. It certainly isn't exhaustive, and I may add things as they occur to me or I experience them in future travels. But I hope the suggestions are helpful for you as you consider traveling with you dog.

Susan Ryder is an animal lover and creative writer. This article has been submitted in affiliation with (http://www.PetLovers.Com/) which is a site for Pet Forums.

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Like most dog owners, you probably take your dog with you on weekend excursions and trips to the country. When it comes time to take a longer vacation, however, we always face the dilemma of what to do with Fido.

Traveling with your pup is not always practical, especially if you are flying somewhere. However, there are ways to make dog travel easier and more convenient -- it just requires a bit of planning.

The best way of traveling with your dog is to go by car or recreational vehicle. You can make as many stops as needed and your dog has the space to stretch out. Dog travel by plane is a little bit more complicated but it is not impossible.

If you are planning on flying somewhere with your dog, she will probably have to go in the cargo hold. This can be stressful for dogs, as the cargo hold is noisy and cold. Most airlines will not allow you to take your dog with you during winter weather -- it is simply too cold for a dog!

When traveling with your dog, always keep in mind her safety and comfort. She should have plenty of water to drink at all times, but since she will be less active during the actual traveling time you can probably cut back on her food a little bit.

Think about where you might be staying

Where are you going to stay when you are traveling with your dog? If you are planning on staying in hotels, be sure you know their restrictions and policies regarding dogs. Some hotels will not let you leave the dog alone in the hotel room. If you want to attend an event that prohibits dogs, you will have to arrange for a pet sitter for a few hours. If your hotel caters to dog travel, they may be able to help you locate a local pet sitter.

Maybe you're going to stay with friends when you are on the road. If your dog likes to jump on the furniture you should bring along a couple of old sheets to use as cover slips. Your friends will appreciate this touch and will be more likely to welcome you back for future visits with your pup.

Your dog will feel more secure if you bring some objects from home. Although she will be happy to be with you, if she has her bed and a few toys she will feel more comfortable and less anxious. This will make dog travel more enjoyable for everyone involved.

Because of their natural curiosity, dogs make wonderful travel companions. They also pave the way for making new friends when you are on the road. Dog travel can provide some of the most memorable vacations of your life and give you new perspectives and experiences everywhere you go.

Copyright 2005

Jane K is a lifelong dog enthusiast with a family of four beloved dogs of her own which provide the inspiration for this site. To learn more about how to care for your own beloved dog visit her at http://www.simply-dog-care-and-more.com

You are welcome to reprint this article if you keep the content and live link intact.

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