Powerful Key Insights to Traveling With A Dog

Traveling with a dog can be incredibly rewarding, but it requires careful planning to ensure both you and your furry friend enjoy a smooth, safe trip. Whether you’re driving cross-country or flying with your dog, calming a dog while traveling is essential. These tips for traveling with pets will help keep your dog safe and stress-free throughout your journey.

Travel Preparations

Just like you, your furry companion needs a few things to ensure they’re safe, comfortable, and well-cared for during the trip. Below are the key steps to take before traveling with your dog.

Get a Pre-Travel Checkup

The first step to any trip with your dog is ensuring they’re in good health. Schedule a visit to your veterinarian for a routine checkup. Make sure their vaccinations are up to date, and ask your vet about any additional recommendations specific to your travel plans, such as motion sickness medication.

Update Microchip and Pet ID Tags

One of the most important steps in travel preparation is ensuring your dog is microchipped. Microchipping greatly increases the chances of being reunited with your pet in case you get separated. If your dog is already microchipped, make sure the contact information is up to date in the microchip registry so you can be reached if your pet is found.

Along with the microchip, ensure your dog’s pet ID tags are also updated with your current contact information. A sturdy collar with a clearly visible ID tag is a simple but vital dog safety tip that ensures your furry friend can be identified quickly.

Understand Signs of Stress in Dogs

Traveling with a stressed dog takes all the fun out of going on a trip with your pup. Unfortunately, many dogs find travel stressful because it’s outside of their routine and comfort zone.

It’s important to recognize the signs of stress in your dog so you can address them early. These might include:

• Panting heavily
• Drooling excessively
• Pacing or restlessness
• Whining, barking, or howling more than usual
• Trembling or shaking

Once you know how to spot a stressed dog, you can take steps to help them feel more secure during travel.

Calming Tips for Dogs While Traveling

Dog travel doesn’t have to be stressful for your pet. By using natural calming aids, creating a familiar environment, and providing regular exercise, you can help your dog stay relaxed no matter how long the journey.

Manage Pet Stress Naturally

If your dog tends to get stressed during trips, natural calming aids like full-spectrum hemp extract or CBD oil are excellent for calming your dog during travel, whether it’s a short drive or a long flight. One of the major CBD oil benefits is that it helps reduce stress without causing drowsiness, keeping your dog relaxed but alert. CBD also supports overall canine well-being by interacting with the body’s endocannabinoid system, which helps regulate stress and balance mood.

For example, Earth Buddy’s Calming Chews made with organic, full-spectrum CBD and simple, regionally sourced ingredients, offer a tasty and effective way to promote relaxation during travel. They’re available in two dog-approved flavors: Beef & Pumpkin (10mg) and Duck & Apple (5mg). Another great option when travel stress kicks in is Earth Buddy’s Quick Calm, which provides quick absorption for fast CBD oil calming effects.

You can choose between CBD drops and CBD pet treats based on what works best for your dog. Treats provide pre-dosed chews that make stress relief feel like a reward, whileCBD drops offer flexible dosing and can be mixed into food or given directly.

By incorporating these types of products into your travel routine, you can manage pet stress naturally, ensuring that your dog stays calm, comfortable, and ready to enjoy the journey, no matter the destination.

Create a Cozy Space with Familiar Items

Making your dog feel at home while traveling can go a long way in reducing their stress. Bring along their favorite toys, blanket, or even their bed to create a cozy, familiar space, whether they’re in the car or a carrier crate. These familiar items carry the comforting scent of home, which helps make new environments feel less overwhelming.

If you’re driving, set up a soft, quiet area in the back seat where your dog can settle in. Use their blanket or bed to give them a secure, familiar spot. For airplane travel with a dog, make sure their carrier is lined with their favorite bedding.

Provide Exercise

One of the best ways to calm your dog is to get in a play session or walk beforehand. Physical activity plays a key role in calming your dog because it helps them burn off excess energy.

If you’re embarking on a long-distance traveling adventure like a road trip, it’s important to plan regular breaks for your dog to stretch, relieve themselves, and get some fresh air. These short breaks allow your dog to stretch their legs, relieve themselves, and get some fresh air, helping them stay calm and comfortable for the duration of the trip.

Air Travel With a Dog

Flying with your dog takes some planning to make sure they’re safe and comfortable. From checking airline policies to packing calming aids, a little preparation can make the trip stress-free for both of you.

Do You Need to Buy a Ticket for Your Dog?

Most airlines charge a fee for your dog to fly with you. The cost varies depending on the airline and whether your dog flies in the cabin or in the cargo hold. In-cabin fees usually range from $75 to $200, while cargo fees are higher. Check your airline’s pet policies and book your dog’s spot early, as there are limits on how many pets can fly on each flight.

Check Airline Guidelines

Before booking, check the airline’s pet policies since they can differ by size, breed, and the number of pets allowed. Smaller dogs that fit in a carrier crate under the seat can often fly in the cabin, while larger dogs may need to fly in the cargo hold. Make sure your dog’s carrier meets the airline’s size and ventilation requirements, whether they’re flying in the cabin or cargo.

You’ll also need the right paperwork, especially if you’re flying internationally. Most airlines require a health certificate from your vet, as well as up-to-date vaccination records. Some destinations may need additional paperwork, like proof of rabies vaccinations or other certifications, so double-check before you fly.

Other Things to Know When Flying with a Dog

Aside from airline rules, there are a few other things to keep in mind to make the trip easier:

• Health Check: Make sure your dog is healthy enough for air travel. If your dog is older or has health concerns, talk to your vet before booking.
• Calming Aids: Long flights can make dogs anxious. Consider natural calming options like CBD pet treats, and pack a favorite toy or blanket to keep them comfortable and calm.
• Flight Timing: Try to book direct flights to avoid extra stress from layovers. Morning or evening flights are usually cooler, which is especially important if your dog is flying in the cargo hold.

Car Travel With a Dog

Road trips with your dog can be a fun way to explore new destinations, but ensuring your dog’s safety and comfort is essential for a stress-free journey. Whether you’re traveling long-distance or just for a few hours, these tips will help keep your dog relaxed and secure during car travel.

Use a Dog Carrier or Harness for Safety

Safety should always come first when traveling by car with your dog. Allowing your dog to roam freely in the car can be distracting and dangerous for both of you. Instead, invest in a dog carrier or a specially designed seat belt harness. For smaller dogs, a carrier crate provides a secure space, while larger dogs may feel more comfortable with a harness that attaches to the seatbelt, keeping them safely in place.

Take Regular Breaks

If you’re embarking on a long-distance traveling adventure, it’s important to plan regular breaks for your dog to stretch, relieve themselves, and get some fresh air. Stopping every couple of hours helps your dog stay comfortable and prevents boredom or stress from building up.

Bring along waste bags and keep an eye out for safe, dog-friendly rest stops where your dog can get a break from being in the car. These stops are also a great time to offer water, a light snack, or a pet calming chew if your dog shows signs of stress.

Never Leave Your Dog Alone in the Car

While this is a well-known safety tip, it bears repeating. The convenience of leaving your dog alone in the car while you run a quick errand is tempting, but it’s never a good idea.

Even with the windows slightly cracked, cars can heat up dangerously fast in the sun—leading to heatstroke or worse. On a hot day, the temperature inside a vehicle can rise by 20 degrees in just 10 minutes, making it unbearable and unsafe for your dog.

Beyond the pet hazards from extreme temperatures, leaving them alone in a car can also cause dog separation stress. This added stress, especially after the excitement of travel, can lead to destructive behaviors like biting seats or scratching at doors, which not only damages the car but could be a hazard to your pet.

Have an Emergency Preparedness Plan When Traveling with a Dog

Even with the best plans, unexpected things can happen, so it’s smart to be ready for anything when traveling with your dog. If things don’t go according to plan, you’ll need to keep your pup safe. Pet emergency preparedness means creating a disaster kit or emergency kit that includes a pet-specific first aid kit. Here are the essential supplies to include:

• Basics like bandages, adhesive tape, antiseptic wipes, tweezers, and sterile gloves
• Medications your dog regularly takes, as well as an antihistamine such as Benadryl and motion sickness medicine
• Extra food, treats, and water
• Pet supplements and natural calming aids like CBD oil
• Copy of vaccination records and microchip information
• List of emergency pet clinics and pet-friendly hotels in the area you’ll be staying

By having an emergency plan, packing the right supplies, and knowing where to turn in an emergency, you can travel with peace of mind, knowing your dog will be safe.

For further reading, we recommend:

• https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/what-do-if-you-see-pet-parked-car
• https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/general-pet-care/travel-safety-tips
• https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/travel-safely-your-pet-car-airplane-ship-or-train
• https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/riney-canine-health-center/canine-health-information/cbd-what-you-need-know-about-its-uses-and-efficacy
• https://www.petmd.com/dog/behavior/signs-anxiety-dogs-and-puppies
• https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/pet-owners/petcare/microchips-reunite-pets-families/microchipping-faq
• https://www.akcreunite.org/travel/
• https://www.earthbuddypet.com/eb-blog/how-to-travel-with-a-cat/