As vaccinations ramp up and restrictions begin to ease, you might be thinking about taking a holiday this summer. If you bought or adopted a dog during the lockdown, it could be the first time you’re facing the question of what to do with your dog when you travel.
Today we’re taking a look at some of the challenges dog owners face when they have a holiday coming up, and what they can do to overcome them!
Traveling abroad with your dog is one of the most challenging things you might face as a pet owner!
Start by checking all the requirements at your destination: all countries will require a health certificate, showing your dog is in good health with no communicable diseases, along with proof of recent vaccinations for relevant diseases (but always and especially rabies). Some countries have extra requirements to meet, so it’s important to check well in advance to make sure you have everything ready.
Coming home with your pet can have different conditions to meet, so don’t neglect to check this – if you get something wrong, your dog could be taken into quarantine for up to four months! These measures are to protect the UK’s pet population from infectious diseases, and to prevent people shipping and selling dogs illegally and cruelly, so it’s important to comply!
Travel within the UK comes with less administration, but no less planning. You need to make sure you’re taking your dog somewhere it’s going to be happy, and minimise disruption to its routines if you want it (and you!) to have a happy holiday. You need to make sure your accommodation is dog friendly, and that there are local pubs and restaurants that you can bring it to when you’re eating out.
You also need to think about packing – you’ll need to factor in bedding, food and toys for your dog, and potentially extra cleaning products too! If you suffer from dog diarrhea and vomiting while you’re on holiday, you’ll want to be able to clean up quickly and efficiently.
Fortunately, there are lots of resources online to help you plan your trip, from lists of dog friendly accommodation around the UK to rankings of areas and tourist attractions for dog friendly they are, whether dogs are welcome in pubs and bars and if there are dog friendly activities for you to enjoy there!
With a little planning, you can enjoy a great summer holiday with your dog, either abroad or staycation in the UK.
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