Alternate corny post title: Taking The Ooch Out Of Traveling With Your Pooch
Many curious readers ask us how we manage to bring Burger along on nearly every on-the-go adventure (from our Alaskan Honeymoon to our recent Dallas road trip) so we’re here to share some tips and tricks that works for us. When it comes to hotels, we whipped up this quick little video to explain how we find pet friendly ones… and how we make sure that Burger’s comfortable and mannerly when we leave him in the room to attend events like weddings that don’t include a puppy plus one. Check it out below or see it here on YouTube.
As for getting a pooch to relax and sleep while road tripping in a car (waking only for drive-thru french fries), our biggest tip would be to evaluate your pet’s personality and truly consider whether they would appreciate being on the road with you for that length of time. Some dogs get carsick or even suffer severe anxiety from being on the move for that long, while others (like Burger) looooove it to pieces. Part of the reason that he enjoys it so much is because ever since Burger was a baby we’ve been taking him on drives- first short ones to get him acclimated and then longer ones as he became more adjusted. Happily, we’ve trained him to be an amazing little car traveler so the good news is that with time you can hopefully do the same with your pup.
When it comes to flying with your fur baby, there’s a lot to consider. First of all, be sure to call the specific airline you’ll be using and talk to them about their pet policies, which vary from company to company. You’ll want the airline to officially recognize that you’ll be bringing a pet aboard since there are a limited number of pets that can be on a flight (usually one or two per plane) and you’ll want first dibs. Don’t forget to ask about their requirements while you’ve got them on the horn (you’ll probably need to get a health certificate from your vet to ensure that your dog is well enough to travel and you’ll need to know what size/type of travel container they allow on their flights).
You’ll also probably have to pay a fee that usually ranges from $50 – $100. Oh and there’s a weight limit for dogs that can travel in the cabin like Burger (we’ve heard that the cut off is usually 20 lbs) so bigger breeds have to travel underneath the cabin near the luggage. This is a bit more risky since it may not be a temperature controlled environment down there (especially when the plane isn’t in motion), so be sure to research whether it’s safe to fly into Texas in the summer with your pooch (many airlines simply won’t allow it if it’s a super hot or cold destination, but it’s good to check that they’re considering your pet’s safety before blindly booking the trip).
As for pets who are small enough to travel in the cabin like our fur baby, they must be contained and stored either under the seat in front of you or on your lap in an airline approved carrying case (we love a soft padded bag with breathable mesh on both ends which has always been airline approved). How does Burger react to takeoff, a few hours of flying, and landing? He sleeps the whole time- so much so that people don’t believe there’s actually a dog inside our little canvas bag. It’s miraculous.
Oh and taking dogs out of the country (other than driving over the border to Canada) can get a lot more complicated (often requiring that your dog be left in “quarantine” for several days) so we’re way too nervous to attempt that. Which is why we’re happy to stick to trips in the good ol’ USA & CA for now- which haven’t let us down yet. Hope it helps! And happy pooch travels…
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