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Traveling with a dog - Copyright Grischa Georgiew @ fotolia.com

Traveling with a dog

When it comes to the well-deserved family vacation, it is very clear for many families: The beloved dog must definitely come with you! Many holiday home providers or hotels are already geared towards vacationers with dogs and accordingly offer many options for vacationing with four-legged friends. A trip with a dog is, however, time-consuming and should be prepared in the best possible way, because not only the food for the dog, but also the entry regulations of the respective holiday country should be observed.

Once you start planning your vacation, a lot of considerations and preparations have to be made in advance if you decide to take your family dog ​​with you on your travels. Where do you want to travel? A beach holiday can also be a great holiday destination for dogs - as long as they can also go to the beach. When planning your holiday destination, you should definitely pay attention to the entry regulations, because here it is important, for example, to arrange for a rabies vaccination for the dog at an early stage, if this has not already happened.

Planning travel preparations with the vet - Copyright BillionPhotos.com @ fotolia.com
Planning travel preparations with the vet - Copyright BillionPhotos.com @ fotolia.com

The EU pet passport, identification with a microchip and the already mentioned rabies vaccination should not be missing in any EU member state. Some countries have other entry requirements, which should be checked before you travel. If possible and available, a pedigree certificate or DNA proof should also be carried along in order to clarify which breed the dog belongs to in case of doubt. It is best to ask your veterinarian whether there are "travel sicknesses" that you can protect your dog from - preparing a small first-aid kit for your four-legged friend is certainly not a bad idea.
Many travel providers help in advance to find the right vacation home for the family with a dog. Particularly dog-friendly domiciles are therefore often marked so that dog owners can rely on the fact that the stay for the four-legged friend is also pleasant. In the case of holiday homes, there are of course large, in the best case fenced gardens, in which the dog can romp around to their heart's content. Special dog owner hotels have also developed as a trend. In some of them, guests can choose the dog food in advance - food, dog baskets and bowls are available in the room on arrival.

The journey by car

Traveling by car with the dog is particularly useful - small breaks can be taken here as often as possible so that the four-legged friend can stretch their legs. Water should always be available to him on the road trip - it is better to test whether he can tolerate food in advance so that there are no nasty surprises on the journey. To prevent the water from spilling over in the bowl, there are special travel bowls or water bowls that prevent it from overflowing.
Safety precautions should of course not be missing in relation to the dog. If it is to be carried in the trunk, transport boxes made of plastic, aluminum or soft material are ideal. These save weight and space, so that additional luggage can be stowed in the trunk. Here, however, you should definitely pay attention to ventilation slots on the sides or in the upper area of ​​the transport box. In any case, these should remain free.

Temperature development in a closed car

If you want to buy a transport box for the dog especially for the trip on vacation, make sure that you allow him a certain acclimatization phase beforehand. If the dog is used to his transport box, he will behave calmly while driving because he feels comfortable in it. If a little more space is available, a partition grille between the trunk and driver's cab can also secure the dog. So he has more freedom of movement and can change his lying or sitting position as desired, even while driving. If the dog takes a seat on the back seat, a special belt in connection with a harness secures the dog as best as possible.
If the dog is in the car, it should never be left in the closed car, especially in the warm season or especially in southern climes. Temperatures in a stationary car can mean death from heat stroke for the dog left behind. Since dogs regulate their body temperature solely by panting, they are particularly affected by warm temperatures. At a temperature of 28 ° C or more, the dog has difficulty keeping its body temperature moderate. This can have drastic consequences in the car, especially in summer: even at outside temperatures of 20 ° C, the temperatures in the car (in the sun) rise to 30 ° C after 36 minutes and to 60 ° C after 46 minutes - an absolute risk to life for your four-legged friend .

Addendum

Copyright green car magazine

Cover picture: Traveling with a dog - Copyright Grischa Georgiew @ fotolia.com

N. Hawthorn
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