Traveling with Farmdogs

By Melody Farquhar Chang

People who consider their dogs as part of the family rarely like to leave them behind when they travel, so they often choose to stay at home rather than leave them with pet sitters. Unfortunately, these people miss out on the wonderful experience of travel abroad because they feel they cannot take their dogs.

While it may be difficult to travel with some larger breeds, it is much easier than you think to travel with a small, well-behaved dog. Farm Dogs make wonderful travel companions, and it is relatively easy to travel throughout Europe and even internationally with them. They are small and easy to train for travelling. They readily adapt to new situations and environments. And because they are very sweet natured and charming, people find them delightfully entertaining and welcome them almost wherever you go. When properly trained for travel, they make very good canine companions and you will enjoy your holiday much more because you took them with you.

Before you travel anywhere with your dog, make sure he is housebroken and has basic obedience training. He should be able to sit under the dinner table and not beg for food. He should be able to walk nicely on a leash, and sit quietly by your side for periods of time. A well-behaved dog is welcome many places. An ill-behaved dog is not.

Crate training is very important if you plan to travel with your dog. It is not wise to leave your dog unattended in a hotel room unless he is in his crate. Left free, a hotel employee might accidentally let him out and he could get lost, or worse, he could bite someone. He might get bored while you are away, and tear up things in the room if left alone and free in the room. You should start crate training with your puppy at a very young age. However, if you have never crate trained your dog, you can start at any age.

When you select a crate, choose a size that allows your dog to comfortably stand up and turn around easily. There are crates available that are airline approved and designed to collapse for easy transportation. When you bring home your crate, make it comfortable with nice bedding material. Place the crate where your puppy or dog will have opportunity to go in and out of it at his leisure. Just leave the door open and let them get familiar with it over a period of days or even weeks. Once your dog has familiarized himself with the crate, close the door and leave him there for a short period of time. Gradually extend the length of time you leave him in the crate. Overnight crate sleeping is good training. After a while, your dog will think of his crate as a refuge, a place to get away from noise and feel safe and comfortable.

Before you travel anywhere, you need to be aware of regulations regarding animal transportation in and out of a country. You should ask your veterinarian which agency in your country you should go to inquire about these regulations. Most countries require your dog have a veterinary health certificate issued within 30 days of your planned travel dates. Your pet will require, at the very least, a current rabies vaccination and most likely other common vaccinations. Always make copies of your dog's health documentation. Affix one copy to your dog's travelling crate and keep a copy with you. A few countries have very strict regulations regarding importation of animals, such as the UK and Sweden, and it is very difficult to travel there with your dog. Some countries restrict certain breeds of dogs that have a reputation for aggression.

Throughout most of Europe, however, it is fairly easy to travel with your dog. On trains, when entering a new country, customs may ask to see your dog's health certificate and that is all. On many trains, there are specific cars where you may ride with your pet. If your dog rides loose on a leash only, you may be required to purchase a ticket for him. If you dog rides in his crate, he is usually considered luggage and a ticket is not necessary.

Many hotels in Europe will allow your dog to stay. Some hotels may charge an extra fee for having a pet, but it is usually not very much. Teach your Farm Dog a few cute tricks and have him perform for the staff, and you and your dog will be very welcome. Everyone loves a cute, smart little dog!

Many restaurants will welcome you and your dog, especially if he is well behaved during the meal. Your dog should be able to lie quietly under the table for an entire meal without begging. It is a good idea to select a table where there is little foot traffic. Also, carry a small pad for your dog to lie on so he will be more comfortable. You will find many restaurants will provide a bowl of water for your dog.

Airlines are usually very good with travelling pets. First, always be sure the airline knows you plan to travel with your dog. Special care must be taken with pets and the airlines need to prepare. When you make your reservation, let them know your plans. Do not show up at the airport with your dog and expect them to accommodate you without any prior notice. On short flights, your farm dog may be able to ride in the cabin, provided he has a carrier that he will fit into which also fits under the seat. The weight limit is usually 20 pounds or 9 kilos for a dog to ride in the cabin. On longer flights, your dog will need to travel in the special pressure and temperature controlled cargo hold of the aircraft. Airlines require that your travelling crate be large enough for your dog to stand up and turn around in comfortably. There must be absorbent bedding material and two dishes attached inside the door. One dish is for food, and the other for water. Since water is easily spilled, it is wise to attach a water bottle from which your dog can drink. Place the spout of the bottle over the water dish to catch any drips. It is a good idea to affix a small bag of food and a leash to the outside of the crate. When you board the aircraft, always ask the flight attendant to double-check that your dog is loaded properly in the correct cargo hold. You will feel better knowing you dog is safe and comfortable and on board.

Though it all sounds a bit complicated, it really is not that difficult to travel with a small, well behaved dog as long as you are prepared properly. My husband and I have traveled from the USA to Denmark and then throughout Europe with our farm dog, Flora. We traveled by air and then by trains mostly, backpacking and carrying our dog crate. We would walk our dog every morning, and then leave her to nap in her crate at the hotel while we toured museums, shopping areas and other tourist spots. In the afternoon we would return to our hotel and take her out for a long evening walk, usually finding a nice restaurant for dinner before returning to the hotel for the evening. Flora would lie calmly under the table during dinner, knowing that afterwards she would get a treat. We found most hotels and restaurants very dog friendly. She has traveled on airplanes, trains, subways, busses and boats right along with us. Flora has traveled across the Atlantic 7 times now from the USA to Denmark and other parts of Europe. Last year, we flew home to the USA with our new farm dog, Hannah. We now travel with two small farm dogs. They love to go wherever we go, and most of the time, we are able to take them along. After all, they are part of the family!

Read More About Traveling With Your Dogs

Flying With Dogs in Cargo and in Carry-on - Helene Riisgaad Pedersen

Traveling Testamonials - Michele and Greta

On-The-Road-Again : Traveling With Dogs - Tonya Jensen