Tips for Traveling with Your Pet

I’ve always loved travel. The sense of freedom, the experiences, the ability to see and experience different cultures fills my soul with joy. I’ve been lucky to have a successful career producing travel shows and working on other programs that have allowed me to see the world and get paid at the same time. 

Another love I have is for my dog: my Frenchie Ludo. Before Ludo was Cutter, and they have equally filled both me and my husband’s life with so much happiness. 

In 2017 my husband was offered a new job in Berlin, Germany and we decided to take this opportunity and set off on a new adventure to Europe. I would be lying if the idea of living in Europe and being able to explore so many countries that were in such close proximity was something that fueled my excitement for the move.

My husband had a job that would see him travel quite a bit, and to my surprise, the company encouraged significant others to come along for the ride. They firmly believed that having the support of family was important to their employee’s happiness when asked to travel for work for 1-2 weeks at a time. It was music to my ears, and I jumped at the chance to see more of Europe.

So, this is how we started our journey of learning to travel with our dog. We’re the kind of pet parents that would prefer to take our pup with us then let a stranger look after him or put him in a kennel. Back home in Los Angeles, we had a long list of friends who would jump at the chance to look after our Frenchie Cutter, but being in a new city we didn’t have that network yet. So, Cutter became an extremely well-traveled pup.

Cutter traveled with us on multiple trips to Paris, Copenhagen, Rome, Milan, Zermatt, Zurich, Munich, Prague, Florence, and of course exploring Berlin. Before that, he has been with us in New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Palm Springs, and Los Angeles.

It broke my heart when Cutter passed away suddenly in 2018, and what stung the most was that I was in Paris working on a film. So, I wasn’t there when he left our world and it still hurts when I think about that. After some time, we decided to get another dog, and Ludo came into our world. He was born in Croatia and we flew there from Berlin to pick him up, then drove two days to get home to Germany. So from day one, Ludo learned to travel with us and has now visited Paris, Munich, Copenhagen, San Francisco, Lake Tahoe, and Vail.

I’ve put together a small breakdown of tips to help your travel with your pup a little easier for both you and your fur baby. Although we had the ability to take both Cutter and Ludo on planes, I will stick to the tried and trusted road trip.

FOR THE CAR

If your pet is crate trained and your car has the room, a good option to travel with your dog is to have them securely in their crate in the trunk (if you have an SUV or van, etc.).

Ensure the crate is tethered so it’s nice and secure keeping your dog safe. Alternatively, you can use a car harness that connects to a safety belt. We personally have what looks like a child booster seat so our dog is at eye level with us and can look out the window. It’s secured to the backseat with a seatbelt. This allows our Ludo to be both secure and comfortable on longer drives. 

Take regular breaks on your drive so your pup can stretch their legs and do their business and have some water. It’s easy to forget that your dog needs water on a drive.

If your fur baby gets carsick or suffers from anxiety being in a car try skipping a meal before your trip. I don’t mean starving them but skipping breakfast could mean you skipping having to clean up after a sick pup. Plus, I say it’s easier to have a hungry dog than a sick dog! On longer trips, I would suggest giving small meals along the way rather than a larger one.

FOR THE HOTEL / ACCOMMODATION:

We usually travel with our dog's crate because hotels won’t often allow your dog to be left in a room unattended or they may have a policy you have to leave them in a crate when you’re out of the room. This is both for the safety of the dog and any employee entering the room – e.g., housekeeping, etc. 

Bring your pups favorite blanket and toy, no need to bring all their toys just one is more than fine. The familiar smell of their blanket/toy can help them feel more settled in unfamiliar environments (hotel rooms, Airbnbs, etc.). The blanket can be used as your dog’s bed or somewhere for them to sit. 

For food, we always pack our dog’s regular food when we travel. It may not be as convenient as buying something on the road, but most dogs can end up with an upset stomach when their food is changed. And like their toy/blanket, it will be more familiar to them. 

We always bring our dogs food and water bowls, and many hotels will not provide them.

GENERAL TIPS:

Make sure your dog’s microchip details are up to date. If you chose not to have your dog microchipped as a pup, make sure your pet’s dog tags are securely attached and your contact info is clearly readable. I personally don’t have my dog’s name on his tag, just our contact info, and registration.

Bring an extra leash or collar (if you have one) because you never know when the one you have could break. This happened to us in Rome, and we spent hours looking for someone to repair the leather collar we already had.

Always bring a water bottle on your travels — your dog needs to hydrate just as much as you do. 

Bring extra poop bags, and always carry them! Some hotels might have a pet relief area with bags, but most do not. 

Plan ahead. Do some research on the areas you visit to learn about any restrictions with dogs, pet-friendly parks, restaurants, cafes, etc. It will make your travels a little easier knowing that your dog will be welcome as well.

Best of all, enjoy the time in a new environment as your dog will love it too.

- Courtney + Ludo.