Top 10 Tips for Stress-Free Pet Travel
Hitting the road (or skies) with your four-legged sidekick? It’s all fun and games until someone starts barking at the luggage. But fear not—we've got your back (and your paws) covered. Whether you're jet-setting or road-tripping, these top 10 tips for stress-free pet travel will keep your journey smooth, your pet happy, and your memories filled with wagging tails and purrs of approval!
1. Choose the best method of travel
Your trip is guaranteed to be less stressful if you take a moment to think about what works best for you and your pet. Consider your pet’s size, temperament, and health when making deciding between flying, driving, or taking a train. Jet Wag offers a comfortable pet-friendly air travel option that is optimal for comfort, safety and relaxation.
2. Familiarize them with the environment
If traveling by car, you can start by introducing your pet to the car for small periods of time (cats, I’m talking to you!). Make this a fun and exciting experience for them. Build up the sessions until your pet is looking forward to the trip! If traveling by plane, try exposing them to the experience as much as possible. Take them on short visits to your local airport (think regional airports, not international/commercial airports where we would go to fly on Southwest or Delta). Have them hear the planes taking off, landing and taxiing around. Get them used to the smells and the sounds of the check in area. Again, make this an enjoyable and fun experience for them. Perhaps take them to a nearby park afterward so they know that days like this are FUN! When the day arrives for them to board the plane, they’ll be much more comfortable and relaxed about what is to come!
3. Schedule a vet check up
A pre-travel visit to the vet is crucial to ensure your pet is healthy and ready for the journey. Make sure vaccinations are up to date, and obtain any necessary health certificates or travel documents. Your vet can also provide advice on calming techniques or medications if needed (more on that here).
4. Pack for your pet!
Pack your pet’s essentials in a travel bag. Include anything they may need while you travel with your pet and once you reach your destination. Some pet travel must-haves include food, a water bowl, waste bags, familiar treats (not the time to try out a treat they haven’t had before!), and any medication. If you are your pet will spend time apart during your journey, it’s always nice to pack a lightly worn article of your clothing so they have a familiar scent to comfort them.
5. Get up to snuff on a safety kit
Before you travel, make sure your pet has an up-to-date ID tag that’s worn on a secure collar. For extra security, consider microchipping your pet if they don’t already have one. And be sure to keep their microchip number in your phone! In the rare instance that your camera roll isn’t full of recent photos of your pet(s), be sure to get them to cheese for the camera. We like to store our pet’s information in a little folder on our phones for easy access in an emergency!
6. Take note of pet-friendly activities
Research pet-friendly hotels, AirBnBs, restaurants and (if you’re driving) rest stops along your route. If you have a specific place in mind but can’t see any information on the company’s pet policy, give them a call! We find that businesses have very little hold times on the phone now that most information can be found online. Websites like BringFido.com make it easy to find accommodations that welcome pets. If this sounds overwhelming, leave the work with us! Jet Wag offers a service to arrange a comprehensive and customized pet travel plan that outlines pet-friendly accommodations, services, restaurants and activities for your trip!
7. Use calming products
Consider using calming products made for pets such as anxiety wraps, natural supplements or pheromone sprays to help your pet relax during the trip. If you haven’t tried these with your pet before, it may be useful to try the product out at home first to see how your pet responds. Many pet parents are big fans of these products and say they really help their pets who are prone to anxiety, especially during travel.
8. Plan breaks and exercise
If you’re traveling by car, plan ahead by locating pet-friendly rest stops along your route. Places with shade, water and ideally some grass to run around are all wins! Your pet will LOVE getting to zoom around and have a refreshing beverage before resuming the drive. If you’re planning to travel with your pet by plane, ensuring your pet has a good amount of zoomies and play time before boarding will set you up for success! For all group flights with Jet Wag, we provide stimulating toys and an enclosed grassy area for running and bathroom breaks at your departure airport so everyone is ready for relaxation once we board.
““With every dog I trained or handled, and there were hundreds each year, I practiced the skill of not projecting a thought, intention, or expectation onto anything the dog might do. This allowed me to bypass thinking and let the dog’s actions show me what was the immediate-moment energetic equation in what was happening before me.””
9. Maintain a routine
If you’re traveling by car, plan ahead by locating pet-friendly rest stops along your route. Places with shade, water and ideally some grass to run around are all wins! Your pet will LOVE getting to zoom around and have a refreshing beverage before resuming the drive. If you’re planning to travel with your pet by plane, ensuring your pet has a good amount of zoomies and play time before boarding will set you up for success! Group flights with Jet Wag provide stimulating toys and an enclosed grassy area for running and bathroom breaks at your departure airport.
10. Stay calm and positive
Whether we realize it or not, our pets pick up on our emotions (read: Your Dog Is Your Mirror: The Emotional Capacity of Our Dogs and Ourselves). If we’re calm as a cucumber and think positively about the journey going well, then our pet will most likely to do the same. Keeping a calm and sunny disposition can help your pet feel at ease and enjoy the trip as much as you!