Holiday with a dog – the most important points summarized.

Before planning your vacation, you should always consider whether your dog can tolerate the climate of your chosen destination. Dogs regulate their body temperature by panting and are much more affected by extreme heat than humans. Four-legged friends with dark or long fur suffer particularly from high temperatures and vacations can quickly become a strain.

Then there is the question of the distance of your destination. You should keep in mind the limits of what is reasonable for your dog and choose a destination closer or further away depending on how well he or she is able to travel.

The plane is the most stressful for the dog and should only be chosen if absolutely necessary. Animals weighing over 5 kg must be transported in special boxes in the cargo hold. This has a much lower pressure than the cabin and is also air-conditioned, which can be dangerous for older animals. Smaller dogs weighing less than 5 kg can be taken into the passenger compartment in a transport box (the size of hand luggage) but must not leave the box en route.

It is advisable to contact the airline, as each airline has its own regulations and prices.

If you are travelling by ship or ferry, it is also advisable to contact the shipping company in advance to find out about the respective regulations for transporting your pet. As a rule, dogs must be kept on a leash, some ships require a muzzle, and some ferry companies ban dogs altogether. You should also remember that your dog can get seasick. Before you start your journey, take a day trip on a boat to test your four-legged friend’s seaworthiness.

Travelling with Deutsche Bahn is well regulated. Dogs up to the size of a domestic cat are transported free of charge in a transport container. Larger dogs must be on a leash and wear a muzzle, then they pay half price. Make sure you have enough time when changing trains so that you can find the nearest green space with your dog.

Traveling by car offers the best privacy and independence. The pace and breaks can be tailored to the dog. There will be no encounters with anxious or less animal-loving people. You just have to make sure that your dog is adequately secured in the car. And don’t forget sun protection.
The accommodationThere are now a lot of dog-friendly accommodations on offer. However, the difference between “dogs allowed” and “dogs welcome” is often enormous. It is definitely worth taking a closer look at the accommodation of your choice.

For travel within the EU

Vaccination and identification are mandatory for dogs when travelling. In order to avoid being quarantined, dogs need an identification document when travelling across borders within the EU. The pet passport has been mandatory since December 29, 2014. It is used to identify your dog, cat or ferret. Your four-legged friend must therefore be identified and the corresponding number must be noted in the passport. Until July 2011, animals were tattooed; after July 2011, identification with a microchip is mandatory in Germany. In some countries, the microchip is mandatory. A local veterinarian who is authorized by the respective state authorities issues the EU pet passport and also enters the owner’s details.

Rabies vaccination is mandatory The pet passport also provides information about the animal’s vaccination protection. Immunization against rabies is mandatory. Since the vaccination protection is only fully developed after 21 days, three weeks must pass after the first vaccination before crossing the border. Puppies may only be vaccinated at twelve weeks. Therefore, a young dog may only enter and leave the country when it is 15 weeks old.
Important: Each traveler is only allowed to bring five pets with them. To be on the safe side, you should find out about the regulations of your holiday destination well in advance of your departure. There are different requirements for your four-legged friend to enter the country within the European Union. Great Britain, Finland and Malta require an additional tapeworm treatment for dogs. Ireland requires a blood test to check for rabies. Denmark prohibits the entry of certain dog breeds, such as pit bulls.

For travel outside the EU

When entering non-EU countries, it is advisable to consult the Foreign Office, as the regulations vary greatly.
Before you travel, make sure you find out about the regulations regarding leashes and muzzles to avoid high fines. Crossing the border without an animal passport can have serious consequences. The dog can be sent back at the owner’s expense, may have to spend six months in quarantine, or in the worst case, be put down.

We have a few tips to help you make sure everything goes well on your holiday.

Your dog should drink plenty of water before you set off. You should reduce or stop feeding puppies or dogs with known travel sickness around 8 hours beforehand. If your four-legged friend is travelling in a transport box, put a blanket or pillow in it so that he feels comfortable. Get your dog used to the box in good time; it might become his favourite place.

If you are travelling by car, we recommend choosing a route that is not prone to traffic jams. You can also consider travelling at night. Regular breaks for walking, drinking, playing and stretching his paws will relax your dog. You should also ensure that he gets enough fresh air. It is better not to allow your dog to stick his head out of the open window. This can result in conjunctivitis. Sunshades for the side windows are helpful to avoid direct sunlight. You may only leave your dog alone in the car for very short exceptional cases. Do not park the car in direct sunlight and the window must be open at least a crack.

You should always pay attention to your dog’s condition when travelling by train, ship or plane. Nervous restlessness or staggering can be signs of poor circulation and should – if possible – be a reason to interrupt the journey.

As soon as you arrive, find out about the customs and rules of your accommodation. Is it mandatory to keep your dog on a leash or muzzle? The rules can vary depending on the breed of dog. You will definitely be given help at the reception of your hotel or when you hand over your holiday apartment.

At campsites, look for the dog park and find out where your dog is not allowed. It is also advisable to ask your neighbours whether they like dogs before booking a pitch. This can save you a lot of trouble.

Everything at your holiday destination is new and exciting for your four-legged friend, and this stress factor should not be underestimated. Your dog’s reactions may therefore be more violent than usual. This also applies to meeting other dogs and romping around in the new home. Diarrhea can be a common sign of stress, so a remedy for it should not be missing from your travel first aid kit.

Parasites are the biggest danger to your four-legged friend on vacation. Some can be vaccinated against, but unfortunately many cannot. Local dogs are usually immune, but newcomers usually are not. The risk posed by many stray dogs should not be underestimated.

Here is an overview of the most common parasites in Europe:

• Babesiosis is transmitted by ticks, vaccination is possible, tick spray helps, occurs in Mediterranean countries, tropics, Hungary, southern and western Switzerland
• Leishmaniasis is transmitted by small flies, insect spray helps, occurs in Mediterranean countries
• Filariasis is transmitted by blood-sucking insects, insect spray helps, occurs in Mediterranean countries, especially Spain
• Hepatozoonosis is transmitted by ticks, tick spray helps, occurs in Italy and France, Africa, Southeast Asia, India, Middle East,

Keep an eye on your dog so that small poisonous animals such as spiders, snakes or scorpions do not pose a danger to him.

Consider taking out dog liability insurance in case something gets broken. As this usually also covers damage to rented objects, this insurance is a good idea for vacation and at home. You can also take out travel cancellation insurance in case your dog gets sick. Würzburger Versicherungs-AG or Allianz Versicherung offer this.