We’ve all seen cars drive by with dogs sticking their heads out of the passenger window to enjoy the rapidly passing view. But is driving with your dog next to you in the car a safe thing to do, or even legal?
Meanwhile, it’s only in the last twenty years or so that we’ve been allowed to take our dogs with us when we travel abroad.
This month, the team at Green Lane Farm Boarding Kennels is finding out how to travel with a dog at home and abroad, and how you can make it as easy and straightforward an experience for you both as possible.
Driving with your dog
Having a dog running loose around your car while you drive is not a good idea for what we hope are obvious reasons. Nevertheless, because all drivers are not sensible in their approach, the Highway Code specifies that drivers need to: “Make sure dogs or other animals are suitably restrained so they cannot distract you while you are driving or injure you, or themselves if you stop quickly”.
With this in mind, what can you do to make sure that you and your dog are both safe when travelling together in a vehicle?
There are four common solutions:
- Putting it in a crate
- Securing it with a travel harness
- Putting it in a carrier
- Installing a boot gate
Each of these has its own advantages and disadvantages, and individual dogs will react differently to these methods of containment. The boot crate is likely to be the best solution if you have a suitable car.
As long as your dog is secured, it can travel in the front seat, but move the seat as far back as you can and switch off the passenger side airbag. You also shouldn’t allow it to stick its head out of the window; so, while it’s good to leave a small gap for air, it shouldn’t be so big that it might encourage your dog to try and escape.
It’s always best to start getting your dog used to travelling as young as possible so that you can find the right solution that allows it to travel safely and with a minimum of stress. It’s also a good idea to start it with short journeys and extend as you go to give it a chance to acclimatise itself to the experience. Treats are also a great way of reinforcing car journeys as a positive thing!
Another common issue with some dogs can be travel sickness. Avoiding feeding them for at least two hours before any journey should help, but if the problem persists, your vet should be able to give medication that will help settle their stomachs.
Here are a few more things that should make car travel easier for you both:
- Make sure you take plenty of water for your dog to drink
- Do what you can to make sure your dog stays cool
- Make regular exercise and toilet stops
- Put familiar toys and/or blankets with your dog to help it stay relaxed
Travelling abroad with your dog
When you travel abroad with dogs, the journey is probably going to be considerably longer and therefore the potential for them to get distressed even greater.
The first thing you’ll need is a passport showing that you’re up to date with all necessary inoculations and treatments. Different countries have different regulations, so make sure that your dog will be allowed into your destination before you set off.
Your method of travel is most likely going to be by Eurotunnel or ferry – it is possible for dogs to fly with some airlines, but we really wouldn’t recommend it.
Using the Eurotunnel means that your dog will have to stay in the car, but on the plus side, it’s a much quicker trip and you would be able to stay in the car with it. And when you get to the other end, there is a dedicated exercise area for you both to use.
You might be able to have your dog with you on a ferry, but that may mean that it has to wear a muzzle, so you’ll need to be confident that it is happy to do so. Some ferry companies might insist that your dog has to stay in the car, but that you can’t. If this is part of their terms, we’d strongly recommend that you find another way of travelling – locking your dog in a car on its own for several hours is never a good idea.
If you have an anxious dog who doesn’t like to travel, you may find that the best solution is to holiday separately and book it into a boarding kennel where it can be looked after by experienced professionals.
Here at Green Lane Farm, we’ve been caring for local dogs, cats and other much-loved family pets for over 50 years and know how to provide a welcoming home from home. Find out more by getting in touch with us today.
