How To Travel With A Dog Internationally

Introduction

Whether you’re traveling with your dog to a neighboring country or journeying farther afield, adding a canine companion can make any trip better. But global travel with pets comes with extra planning and preparation. Our comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know about international travel with a dog, including how to choose the right destination for your pup and what steps you’ll take to ensure his or her comfort and safety at every step of the journey.

Determine Whether You Should Travel With Your Dog

If you’re traveling with a small dog, it’s often possible to bring them in the cabin. Other times, though, dogs are required to be checked in as luggage and transported in the cargo hold of an airplane. This can pose some issues for them and their owners: if there is turbulence or extreme heat or cold on board, it could be dangerous for your pet. If they have food allergies or other health concerns that require special attention (like heartworm medication), then checking your dog may be less stressful than leaving him alone at home while you’re gone.

Conversely, if you have a large breed of dog like a Great Dane or Mastiff—or even just an especially tall one—then they will need to travel in cargo because regular carriers won’t fit them comfortably enough for takeoff and landing. Larger dogs are also more likely to make noise during flight because their joints move differently than smaller ones do when they get excited about something new happening around them; this could disturb other passengers on board if there aren’t any empty seats available near yours where people can sit down together without being bothered by noises coming from across the aisle!

If your pet isn’t trained well enough yet before traveling long distances then consider having someone stay behind with him/her until he/she feels comfortable enough around strangers again after being away from home overnight.”””

Plan Early and Often

It is incredibly important to plan early and often when it comes to traveling with a dog internationally. Planning ahead will save you money and stress, help you avoid last-minute problems, and ensure that your dog has the best experience possible.

The first step in planning is to book your airline tickets as soon as possible, preferably before booking a hotel or car rental (but after buying your pet ticket). This ensures that you have the most flexibility in terms of when and how often you fly with your pup without having to worry about price increases or availability changes affecting things later on. If one option isn’t available anymore when it comes time for booking your trip, there are many more out there—and by planning early enough, they’ll all still be available!

The second step is booking pet transport space on flights where needed. This means contacting airlines directly about whether or not they allow pets onboard at all (or under what conditions), then researching which airlines accept pets according to those conditions if applicable. You may also need vaccination records ready at this time so that transporting them can go smoothly once tickets are purchased: these should be kept up-to-date at all times anyway since vaccinations aren’t good forever; check expiration dates regularly so that nothing goes wrong later on down the line – especially when traveling abroad!

Get the Necessary Vaccines and Pet Passport

The first order of business is to make sure your dog has the required vaccinations. While this will vary from country to country, it’s a good idea to check with both the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and each individual country you plan on traveling with your pet. In most cases, this means getting a rabies vaccination and an International Health Certificate (IHC). It may also be necessary for your dog to have a microchip implanted for identification purposes.

Once that’s taken care of, it’s time to apply for a pet passport from the USDA if you’re traveling internationally by plane or ship and want him/her there on official documentation (note: not all countries require passports).

Make Your Dog Comfortable During the Trip

When you travel with your dog, make sure they’re comfortable. Dogs can get car sick just like people can, so if you’re traveling by car or train, try to avoid taking them out for bathroom breaks during the trip. If that’s not possible, give them plenty of food and water before getting in the car so they don’t need to be let out for a snack mid-trip.

If you’re flying with your dog(s), it’s important not to leave them in the car while waiting at the airport terminal (or any other location). Even when weather is warm outside and there aren’t any storms coming through, it can still get really hot inside that metal box! Also consider whether or not you want your pup near other animals—some airports have very strict rules about allowing dogs on planes at all times because of health reasons (such as allergies) so check ahead of time if this might be an issue for anyone else involved with your flight plans.

Explore Your Destination with Your Dog

Once you’ve got the logistics down, it’s time to explore your destination with your furry friend!

Find the best dog parks, dog beaches, and dog-friendly restaurants. There are always some great places for you and your pup to go on walks together in any city. Try to find ones where there are other dogs around so that they can socialize a bit too. If there are no parks nearby but you have a car, try driving out of the city for an hour or two to explore what’s outside of its limits!
Find the best pet-friendly hotels (and don’t forget about Airbnb). You’ll want to make sure that wherever you’re staying has accommodations made specifically for pets—this includes an option like a kitchenette so that they can eat food without worrying about spilling anything on expensive furniture or having extra charges added onto their bill at checkout time! We recommend doing all kinds of research beforehand so nothing comes as surprise later on when it counts most: during travel itself!

Having a dog along for your international travel can be great!

Dogs are great companions. While traveling, you will have more opportunities to meet people and make new friends.
Dogs are a great way to exercise while on vacation. You won’t need to go to the gym or jog in the morning because your dog will be there with you, running around or taking walks all day long!
Having a dog around makes everything feel like home—even when it feels like you’re far away from home!

Conclusion

We hope that this article has been helpful. If you have any questions or concerns about traveling with a dog internationally, be sure to consult with your veterinarian or other trusted authorities before making a trip. We wish you and your furry friend the best of luck on your journey!