Are you looking to take a dog friendly holiday rather than leaving your best friend behind? Successful travel with your pet needs some planning; there are a number of areas that require preparation. Whatever the length of journey, ensure your dog has a collar and appropriate ID. Pack essential items, such as leads, a few days before departure. It’s amazing what can be left behind in the mad dash to get the holiday underway.
Don’t forget the essentials
Even if you have booked a dog friendly cottage like Helsbury Park in Cornwall, which supplies basic dog items, always take the essentials for the car journey – food, water, bowls and poop bags. While you are looking forward to taking a dog friendly holiday, your four-legged friend may be a more reluctant traveller. If your dog is not a relaxed passenger, introduce smaller journeys at first, increasing the time spent in the car over time before embarking on a long trek. The vet can provide medicines to minimise sickness for dogs that suffer from motion sickness, but most dogs will adapt well to long periods spent in the car. Don’t forget, never leave a dog alone in a car on a warm day, this can lead to overheating and breathing problems.
Before embarking on your dog friendly self-catering break, encourage your dog to go to the toilet and avoid feeding just before leaving. A sensible tip is to take them for a good walk, this will help relax dogs and owners alike and everyone is more likely to settle quickly.
Using one of the many products designed to secure your dog during travel is a legal requirement in the UK. Specially designed harnesses, or reinforced crates will keep your dog(s) and you safe. If you opt for a crate this will also come in handy during your stay should you need to pop out for a short time.
Holidaymakers opting for public transport will find travel arrangements might be trickier. Rail franchise holders all have their own policies and while local buses will generally transport accompanied pets, long-distance coach operators appear to be less helpful. Check with individual companies before booking your dog’s holiday.
Airlines are surprisingly more obliging. The Pet Travel Scheme has changed recently for owners looking to take their pets abroad. The local vet practice should be able to provide owners with more information and ensure that their dog is fit to travel.
It’s never been easier to find dog friendly cottages and other dog friendly self-catering options in the UK. This market is well served with hundreds of properties that welcome pets, so that the families can spend their holidays together and wave goodbye to the separation anxiety and expense of boarding kennels.
Driving with Dogs…
This brilliant website gives full directions to a dog walk, and dog friendly pub or café, within 5 miles of all UK motorway exits. This means that you can arrive with a relaxed and happy dog, as well as breaking their journey to Cornwall with some healthy walking! Driving with Dogs has been created by two people and a border collie, who’ve tried and tested all the 400+ walks on the site. The M5 is fully ‘walked’ and is ideal for you to use on your way to Helsbury.
Key Points to remember
- Before you leave consider using a tick and flea treatment on your dog
- Never leave a dog alone in a car on warm day
- Have your dog checked by a vet before you go on a long journey
- When travelling by car, make sure your dog has plenty of fresh air and water, plus comfort breaks
- Leave plenty of preparation time if you are travelling by air
