7 Tips for Traveling Internationally with Your Dog

As well as entry requirements for the countries you travel to with your dog, you also need to consider the entry requirements to return home with your dog. Just because your dog was born in a country doesn’t give them the right to return home, once they leave!

If you live in the United States, recently the rules to bring dogs into the United States have changed. If your dog has only visited rabies-free or low-risk countries for dog rabies in the last six months, you’ll need to complete a CDC Dog Import Form before returning home.

Dogs must also be microchipped, be at least six months old and appear healthy.

If you have visited any high-risk countries in the last six months, the entry requirements are more complex, particularly if your dog was vaccinated overseas. Double-check which countries are considered to be high-risk for dog rabies in advance, and make sure you understand the requirements, so that your dog can return home.

As well as making sure you tick off all the entry requirements for your destination, it’s a good idea to review how dog-friendly your destination is. There’s no use booking a trip with your dog, only to find out there’s nothing that you can do together!

I’ve traveled extensively in Europe and found many of the countries to be very dog-friendly. (This is my list of the most dog-friendly countries in Europe.)

There’s plenty of enchanting old towns to stroll around, and dogs are welcome inside restaurants in many countries. But maybe skip visiting the museums on this trip.

It’s also important to investigate pet-friendly accommodation options. The percentage of hotels that allow pets varies greatly between different countries, even between adjacent countries. Some hotels also have size restrictions.

You may want to consider renting a holiday home or camping in some destinations instead.

Due to the smaller range of dog-friendly accommodation, I always recommend pre-booking your accommodation when traveling with a dog. Now is not the time to just turn up and find something when you arrive!

While it’s best to bring along your own dog food when traveling, so that a change in diet doesn’t upset your dog’s stomach, this isn’t always permitted when traveling internationally. Plus if you’re traveling for a longer period, you’ll likely need to buy more food at some stage.

Before you go, research whether you can take your own dog food. For instance, some countries may only allow you to bring in enough food for one day or not allow certain food ingredients. And of course if you feed your dog raw meat, you’re more likely to encounter restrictions.

Research in advance what pet food brands are sold in the country you’re visiting. There are usually some online pet food stores in most countries – visit their website and research your options in advance.

Many of the more common dog food brands are available in multiple countries around the world, so you may be able to buy the same food as at home. A long list of languages on kibble packaging at home is often a clue. Or else transition in advance to one that’s available at your destination.

I’ve generally found it’s best to head to the larger pet stores when trying to buy a specific brand of pet food abroad. For instance, in Europe there are many small pet stores that have a very limited range, but also larger big box stores.

Before heading overseas with your dog, it’s best to review your dog’s training and identify any areas that you should work on before departure.

For instance, when traveling to other countries your dog may encounter strange environments that they may not often come across at home, or when traveling closer to home.

Examples include noisy airports, riding on trains and buses, and regularly dining out at cafes. I met with a dog trainer before traveling to Europe with my dog to learn techniques to improve his manners at cafes.

It’s also best to crate train your dog well in advance before traveling, whether they will be traveling in a carrier bag in the cabin, or flying in a crate in the hold. Allow them time to get used to their crate, ideally feeding them in their crate. A dog that feels secure and comfortable in their crate will be a lot more relaxed on flights.

When traveling internationally, often long flights are involved. For instance, if flying from New York to Paris, the flight time is about seven hours. When you add on clearing security and immigration on either side, that’s a long time for a small dog flying in the cabin!

When flying with your dog in the cabin, I find it’s best to take into consideration what flights will be most comfortable for your dog, even if it’s less comfortable for yourself.

For instance, consider taking a red-eye flight, flying overnight, for long journeys. Hopefully your dog will be happy to sleep the entire flight in the dimmed cabin, and they will be less likely to want to potty.

Carefully consider whether or not to have a layover. When traveling with a dog, it’s best to avoid short, stressful connections.

BEWARE: If you have a longer layover and plan to leave the airport, your dog will also need to fulfill the entry requirements for the transit country. 

Research whether there are pet relief areas available at airports that you are passing through. While required at major airports in the United States, these facilities are still rare in Europe. Bringing pee pads and wipes is always a good idea!