Although there are a few hurdles that need to be overcome, it is totally possible to bring your furry friend along with you on your travel adventures. However, this is only achievable when you take the time to plan and be willing to get a little creative.
If you would love to read more about traveling with your dog, here is a list of a few of my favorite dog-friendly travel blogs. Hopefully, you can find the answers you are looking for here and get inspired to take your dog along with you on your next trip.
Table of Contents:
Boogie the Pug
Boogie the Pug is a blog that covers everything you need to know when traveling with a dog. Boogie is a rescue pug that is owned by Candy, the person who runs the website.
Here are a few examples of articles that you will absolutely love;
How to plan a trip with a dog
Here you will find several subtopics. Here are a few great examples:
Helpful commands to teach your dog before traveling
Here Candy suggests that some of the most useful commands your dog should learn before you travel include:
- Sit – This will come in handy when you’re in line at the airport or getting ready to board, in a crowded location, and when you’re at a restaurant.
- Stay – This one is important especially as you handle tasks like checking in or buying a ticket. This command is also useful for when you are in a compact space such as a hotel room or RV (see also ‘Are Cats Allowed In Hotels?‘).
- Quiet – This is important in case you are staying in a rental, RV, or hotel, or for when you are on trains, airplanes, or buses. It also comes in handy in public spaces such as stores and restaurants you visit.
Taking your dog to the beach
According to the blog, here are some considerations to keep in mind:
- Check the beach rules – Before going to the beach, check to see the regulations they have in place – some beaches only allow dogs in designated areas or at certain times of the day
- Carry sunscreen – Dogs, just like humans, are susceptible to sunburns especially if they have shorter coats. Keep your dog safe by bringing along dog sunblock that is FDA approved
- Get the right gear
Must-have dog travel items that are often overlooked
A typical pet travel checklist is outlined here, including:
- Dog travel bed
- Pet first aid kit, which typically includes rubber gloves, antiseptic cleaning wipes, scissors, tweezers, and more.
Boogie the Pug deserves a spot on this list because it covers almost every aspect of traveling with your dog, from how to prepare yourself for the trip to accommodation options to look out for, and everything in between.
The Tropical Dog
The Tropical Dog is a blog by Maria that discusses her life and travels with her dog, Shark. It also offers several tips on traveling with a dog.
Maria shares several reasons to travel with a dog, including:
- A dog helps you determine where to go because traveling with your canine limits the number of countries you can visit
- A dog provides you with great company on your travels
- A dog is a good conversation starter and will help you interact with new people on your trip
- A dog will change your perception of what is possible when it comes to traveling
- A dog will help you stay motivated even when you get lazy on your trip
- A dog will help you exercise more and stay in shape
- A dog helps you feel safer
A few articles you will love include:
Traveling with a dog in Peru
This covers the different destinations that are dog-friendly in Peru, including Lima, Cusco, and Machu Picchu. It also discusses the pet import regulations specific to Peru, including:
- A veterinarian health certificate that specifies the products used against parasites
- A vaccination certificate (depending on the pet’s age)
- An official health certificate for the export of pets that is issued by your country of origin
Traveling with a dog by air
Here you will find tips on how to go about traveling by flight with your dog, including:
- Collect information about the destination country’s regulations as well as the airline conditions.
- Make an appointment with your vet to discuss documents, vaccines, and other health-related issues.
- Buy a travel crate that is certified by the IATA.
- Arrive at the airport 3 hours early for an international flight and 2 hours early for a national flight.
The Tropical Dog provides a useful resource covering a variety of destinations in the world, including Bolivia, France, Greece, Mauritius, and the U.S.A.
The Adventure Dog Blog
The Adventure Dog Blog is run by Danielle, who describes herself as an adventure-seeking dog lover. She travels with her two Border Collies; Mica, and River, across various states in the US.
Some articles you will love include:
7 must-have travel apps
This article covers some of the most useful apps to have on a camping trip, including:
- Free campsites – This is a great resource for people who want to go through detailed reviews of a variety of campsites
- All trails – This app not only provides you with camping options but also includes information on the most dog-friendly trails
- Roadtrippers – An app for finding campgrounds, scenic stops, hiking spots, and other similar destinations
Hiking with a fearful dog
This article focuses on how you can have a pleasant hiking experience with a dog that is fearful or reactive, including such tips as:
- Do your research – This is the only way to know what to expect
- Ensure the hike is mentally stimulating
- Don’t strain your dog – If you notice that your reactive dog is not enthusiastic about the hike anymore, end the hike immediately.
How to deal with your dog when he/she acts out
If your dog acts out as you travel, here are a few things Danielle suggests you can do:
- Create some distance between you and your dog and whatever triggered your dog to act out.
- Hold on to your dog’s collar
- Kennel your dog- If your dog is crate trained, place him in a crate to regulate his energy
The Adventure Dog Blog is on this list because it goes into a lot of detail when it comes to handling the behavior of your dog when on a trip.
Travelnuity
Travelnuity is run by Shandos Cleaver, a blogger who travels around the world with her Miniature Dachshund, Schnitzel. She posts about dog-friendly travel in different parts of the world.
Some of the topics she covers that you will love include:
Ultimate Europe guide
This is a comprehensive traveling guide for traveling to Europe with your dog. Some of the areas covered include:
- Paperwork for traveling in Europe with a dog – the rules for traveling with dogs are the same for almost every country in the EU, which makes it easier to determine the paperwork you need.
- Local transport in Europe with a dog – basically, you have two main long-distance traveling options in the EU; flying or catching a train.
- Dining out with your dog in Europe – There are several European countries where dogs are likely to be allowed into a café or restaurant, including France, Italy, Croatia, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, and Hungary.
Ultimate USA guide
Here she covers:
- Paperwork you will need – for many states, paperwork is only necessary if you plan to make a permanent move. However, there are a few states that have a complicated vetting process.
- Dog-friendly accommodation – A great accommodation alternative is renting an RV with a company that permits dogs in the vehicle.
- Dog-friendly sightseeing – including national parks, beaches, and hiking trails.
Ultimate Australia guide
Here she focuses on:
- Driving around Australia with a dog – this is the best option when it comes to visiting different destinations in Australia with your dog. Your dog will be comfortable and you won’t have to worry about restrictions.
- Using dog-sitters and kennels – because quite a few tourist spots in Australia aren’t particularly dog-friendly, you may want to consider getting a dog-sitter or bringing a kennel along on your travels.
Other helpful articles on this blog include:
- 5 ways to save on your dog-friendly holiday
- 5 tips for feeding your dog while traveling
Travelnuity stands out because it lays out everything you need to know when traveling to a variety of destinations in Europe, Australia, and North America.
My GBGV Life
This is a blog by Emma that discusses a variety of topics, including traveling with your dogs. It features Madison, Bailie, Olivia, and Katie, her dogs.
One of the main dog traveling articles here is “Scenes from a Sioux Falls Road Trip”. It discusses the dogs’ trip to Sioux Falls in South Dakota and details the activities the dogs were engaged in, including visiting dog-friendly stores and taking walks to various attractions.
Other related travel articles include:
This blog is a great source for activities to engage your dog in while you are on the road.
The Nomad Pup
The Nomad Pup is a blog by Molly about her travels with Atlas, her dog. The main topic of discussion is her adventures with Atlas in Crete, Greece, where she resides.
Some of her destinations in Greece include:
She also writes about trips to other destinations, including:
Other articles covered in the blog include:
The Nomad Pup stands out because it tackles less-discussed aspects of dog travel, such as adoption in a foreign country (in this case, Greece)
The Ramble
This is a blog that is run by Gigi, a freelance writer who travels the world with Luna, her pint-sized pooch. She covers a wide variety of topics such as:
Is Latvia dog-friendly?
According to Gigi, Latvia is one of the most pet-friendly places she has visited so far.
- Restaurants and cafes – Most of the restaurants that Gigi came across in Latvia were pet-friendly, with many of them even offering water to Luna. she claims that was even able to get Luna into one of the best restaurants in Latvia by simply inquiring if it was okay to have her indoors.
- Beaches and hiking trails – Beaches and hiking trails in Latvia are supposedly dog-friendly, with the only restriction encountered being in a resort area.
- Transportation – Trains are overwhelmingly dog-friendly and the most ideal when traveling with your dog in Latvia. On the other hand, although buses are generally dog-friendly you are not allowed to take your canine with you on a cross-border trip to Estonia.
The most (and least) dog-friendly countries in Europe
Gigi lists the following countries as some of the most dog-friendly:
- Austria
- Belgium
- Italy
- Latvia
On the other hand, she considers these countries to be the least dog-friendly:
- Bosnia & Herzegovina
- Spain
- United Kingdom
Other useful articles you will find on The Ramble include:
- Gear up in the K9 Sport Sack Air2 pet backpack for any outdoor adventure! The sack features a thick rest pad so your pal can "sit" comfortably, while leaving his paws and head out to explore. Easy to put on with adjustable chest strap for your pooch,
- The K9 Sport Sack is intended for use only by healthy dogs and is not prescribed for any injury, ailment or other infirmity.
- Veterinarian-approved design with built-in safety D-ring for collar hookup and fully ventilated sides.
- Great for hiking, errands, and long walks, with light reflecting chest strip for added safety.
- Top load.
This blog is especially useful to those navigating Europe with their furry friends.
Conclusion
Traveling with your dog is a great way to expose him to new experiences, and to open yourself up to learning about and appreciating the places you visit even more. For instance, bringing a dog along is the best way to explore parks and neighborhoods that you might have overlooked if you traveled alone.
The best part is that when you bring your dog with you on your next adventure, you won’t have to worry about leaving him at home for too long, and it provides the perfect excuse to strengthen your bond even more.
Last update on 2022-01-11 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
