Travelling with your puppy
There are so
many more opportunities to take your puppy away with you on
holiday these days. In fact, in most newsagents you'll find
publications that list holiday accommodation where you and your
pet will be made most welcome.
You can even take your pet on holiday abroad, thanks to the
Pet Passport Scheme (PETS). This means that pet dogs living
in the UK can go to, and return from, European countries
without quarantine. But organising a pet passport can take
about eight months, so planning ahead is essential.
It almost goes without saying, but whether you intend to
take your puppy on holiday at home or abroad, you should ensure
he has the correct vaccinations before travelling, and that
they're up-to-date. If you're in any doubt, then please consult
your vet.
Preparing your puppy for the journey
It's essential that your puppy is fit and healthy before he
travels. However, during long journeys, dogs can become sick
and show symptoms of distress. It is advisable to ask your vet
about travel sickness remedies, even tranquillisers if your dog
isn't a good traveller.
And as you'd expect, it's important to get your puppy used
to the car before he travels. Once he's used to his household
surroundings, place him in the car to sleep for half an hour,
or allow him to explore the inside. When he's used to the
surroundings, you can take him on short journeys, gradually
increasing their length over time.
Before you hit the road
Your puppy should be fed well in advance of any travel. If
this isn't possible, you should consider putting off feed time
until you arrive at your destination. And make sure he's
wearing a collar and tag with your address and contact
numbers.
You might like to consider
microchipping, too.
Basically, microchipping is an effective and simple way of
linking your pet to you, and is a virtual guarantee of you both
being re-united if he gets lost, strays or is stolen. A simple
injection of a tiny microchip the size of grass seed is
inserted under the skin. This cannot be seen but it can be read
by a scanner. Your vet will be happy to give you more
information about microchipping.
Now that you're on your way
Your puppy should always be transported in complete safety,
preferably in a purpose-built cage safely secured to the car
(in the luggage department if you drive an estate car).
However, if it's not possible to put your puppy in a cage, he
should be securely placed in the back of the car in a special
dog seatbelt or harness. Alternatively, in an estate or
hatchback, put him in the space behind a fitted dog guard. But
always remember that your pet should be able to stand up and
turn around, and sit and lie down comfortably. And please,
never shut him in the boot or keep him in the front unless he's
secured.
Give your puppy a break
If you're going on a long journey, take a break; stop the
car and let your puppy have a drink of water and a little
exercise. If you're making a short stop, for a meal or the
toilet, never leave your pet in a hot, unventilated car;
leave it in the shade with a window partly open. And don't
forget: The sun's position changes throughout the day. Your
car may have been in the shade an hour ago, but could be in the
full glare of the hot sun now.