Holidaying with dogs

Who has not experienced this at some point?

You look forward to your long-awaited holiday for weeks. In order to enjoy a relaxing holiday, you need to take some precautionary measures. After all, the dog should enjoy the holiday as much as the rest of the family.

Compromises while on holiday?

We can certainly accept compromises on occasion. But what about the dog? Will it be happy with the solution of sleeping in the dog trailer or in the car? Or perhaps it will be lucky enough to be allowed into the house? But what if the whole place is carpeted or if some other dog previously relieved itself on the tiles and your dog now feels the need to preserve its own scent for posterity? Or if what was described as a secure fence around the garden for lots of doggy fun turns out to be a measly hedge that allows regular visits from neighbouring dogs? And don't forget: The bed for us owners. We're not bothered by the fact the other dogs may also have slept in it, are we?

The choice of dog beach.

Check the location carefully on the Internet beforehand and don't simply take the landlord’s word as gospel. Do this before you discover to your dismay that the dog strand is actually a fishing lake in which your dog is unwelcome and the sea is a two-hour drive away.

These are all problems that one really doesn’t expect.

The voice at the other end of the line sounded so friendly. How she enthused about the bliss that awaits people and pets in this area. Just a few impressions of the many mishaps that could befall us. Therefore, one should plan very carefully and make detailed enquiries before setting off. This will calm the nerves and ensure a wonderful holiday for man and beast.

Preparations when travelling with dogs

When making preparations to go on holiday with your dog, you will notice that children and dogs have a lot in common. Both would prefer to leave right now with no ifs and buts, both are often unable to tolerate long car journeys and both are prone to mood swings. Even if your pooch is waiting for you with his lead in his mouth, so to speak, and can hardly wait to embark on the journey, make sure you take enough time to make all the necessary preparations in peace!

• Vaccinations
  Your vet will inform you which vaccinations are necessary in your holiday region

• Pet passport
  Your dog may enter the majority of EU states with a pet passport. However, some countries require additional proof of immunity and vaccination. Consult your vet in good time

• Health
  You know your dog’s health best. Ensure that your dog is in good health. If in doubt, take your dog to the vet for a check-up to be on the safe side. Remember to worm and de-flea your dog and ensure that its rabies vaccination is up to date. Proof of antibodies may be required in certain countries, which requires long-term advance planning.
  You will find additional information on the topic of health here >

• Health certificate
  Some countries pose health risks, and require proof of a health certificate for your dog. Once again, the following applies here: different countries have different customs

• Proof of identity
  It is always important to be able to “identify” your dog. Microchips, dog tags and tattoo numbers are helpful here. Fresh water You must prepare for your journey depending on the season and destination. In summer, for example, your dog will require a great deal of fresh water, and should receive this on a regular basis. Plan to take a break approximately every two hours so that your dog can stretch its legs and relieve itself. You’ll benefit from this too

• Travel sickness
  Some dogs suffer terribly from nausea when travelling in a car. There are ways of relieving your dog’s discomfort. Ask your vet

• Safety in the car
  If you’re taking the car, ensure that you and your dog travel safely. A dog jumping around in the car can quickly result in accidents. Help your dog to get used to travelling in a car, and, if necessary, in a transport box

Always remember to take enough pet food with you.

Dietary changes may have unpleasant consequences for your dog. Problems with flatulence, an increase in defecation or diarrhoea frequently result – issues you really don’t need while on holiday. It’s better to take too much food with you than not enough. It is also advisable not to feed your dog for 2 hours prior to travel. Otherwise, the excitement may make your dog “sick as a parrot”. If the journey is going to take a long time, then plan some longer breaks and feed your dog in peace.

Tip:

Those who feed Meradog can rely on proven Mera quality. The holistic nutrition system is based on the latest scientific findings and meets all the requirements of modern dog food. The high-quality ingredients will promote health, well-being and performance in your dog. To ensure healthy feeding during the holiday, we also offer small pack sizes so that you can feed your dog conveniently and without compromise.
Go to food finder >

It goes without saying that your personal travel and emergency first-aid kit may be very extensive, and you should discuss its contents with your vet. A check list of essential items is provided below:

• Medicines prescribed by your doctor
• Electrolytes (powder or tablets to treat frequent diarrhoea)
• Clinical thermometer
• Tweezers (to remove foreign bodies, for example))
• Disposable syringes 10-20 ml (to rinse wounds or eyes)
• Eye ointment
• Ointment/spray for wounds (preferably containing antibiotics to prevent infection)
• Tweezers to remove ticks
• Antihistamines (tablets or injections for allergies)
• Bandages (outer bandages, cotton wool, elastoplast, gauze bandages, gauze swabs etc.)
• “Dog gloves” for protection, in the event that your dog gets something stuck in its paw

Tips for holiday accommodation with dogs

Take a close look! When choosing your accommodation, you should consider carefully in advance the things that are really important to you. Do you want a hotel, a guest house, a camping van, a holiday home or similar? Because the manner in which you are actually going to spend that long-awaited holiday is often decided at this early stage. Unfortunately, experience has shown time and again that people must inform themselves in detail to avoid ending up disappointed. Your faithful hound will thank you from the bottom of its heart.

• Hygiene
  In particular, keep in mind that accommodation specifically aimed at dog owners may often be aimed more at the dog than the owner. With regard to hygiene, your opinion may differ from that of the landlord. Try to obtain as many photographs as possible. These will provide a first impression of what awaits you

• Several dogs
  If travelling with several or very large dogs, consider renting accommodation with a securely enclosed garden. Ask whether your dog can remain in the garden without coming in to contact with other dogs or children. You should also check the height of the fence, as 40 cm will not present an obstacle for a large dog. Based on experience, this can be quite a challenge in practice. Particularly if travelling with several dogs, check carefully whether the number of dogs is permitted and welcome

• Costs
  The costs of accommodation are also an important criterion. In many types of accommodation, a flat rate is charged per dog. Even if it sounds annoying and you might get the impression that the dogs are unwelcome, one can only hope that these costs are also invested in hygiene. Don’t be under any illusion that this will be a cheap holiday. You will no doubt be aware that even a holiday without your dog is often very expensive. Take the costs as a given and enjoy the fact that your dog will be keeping you company in its inimitable fashion

• Activities
  Enquire about activities that can involve your dog in the surrounding area. * Unfortunately, not all restaurants allow dogs. But where is it to go? Have a plan B ready if it cannot accompany you. The best thing to do is to call the local restaurants to explain that you have a dog. If your dog is only used to kennels or if you need to leave it on its own for a short time but want to be sure that it is safe, you should only choose accommodation that can verify a clean and secure kennel. This will also be a challenge

• Dog trailers
  If you travel by car with a dog trailer, your dog will certainly feel very much at home for a short period. After all, most trailers these days have air conditioning and very comfortable for our four-legged friends. Despite this, you should lock the trailer just to be on the safe side before someone tries to “rescue” your dog. This is because many people have no idea how luxurious modern dog trailers can be, and have a very sceptical view

Aircraft are a stress factor

The prospect of travelling by air with a dog makes many dog owners very uneasy. Many are unfamiliar with the procedures at airports and are unsure of what precautions they must take before embarking on the journey. If you decide on this mode of transport, you should be aware that a dog qualifies as freight on board from a purely legal perspective. Put simply, this means:

The dog is freight - or luggage

Some airlines will allow small breeds (approx. 5-7 kg) to be transported in a suitable box in the passenger compartment. However, bigger dogs must be checked in more or less as luggage. This means that it will be transported in a suitable container in the loading area of the aircraft. To ensure smooth handling, you are best advised to contact specialist companies that will be happy to answer any questions you may have. They will often arrange for the timely registration of the dog shipment, which eliminates the risk of you forgetting something important in this regard. They will also be more than happy to advise you of the entry requirements in the respective countries. Dog owners are often filled with dread at the prospect of leaving their dog all on its own in the loading area. However, experience shows that the flight itself does not affect our four-legged friends as much as one might think. In fact, it is the separation from the master or mistress that causes our dogs grief. If the dog is never left on its own, it will quite likely feel as if its world is collapsing during the flight.

Get your dog used to the impending situation in advance

If you don’t wish to inflict this stress on your dog, take steps to make this type of journey as comfortable as possible for your pet. Arrange to have the transport box delivered well in advance so that your dog can get used to this exact box and ensure that your dog only has positive associations with the box. By doing this, you have already completed one of the most important steps to ensure a stress-free flight. Get your dog used to the fact that it will spend ever-increasing amounts of time on its own inside it. Of course, it is essential your dog uses this time for a refreshing nap, and doesn't consider it a punishment to have to stay there. The best way is to take a long walk beforehand and exhaust your dog with a ball game or similar. After that, it will be happy to have a snooze. Make sure that you praise your dog and give it a friendly welcome when let it out of the box. Don’t overdo it in such a way that the dog associates this reaction with the notion that the box might mean something sinister. Bear in mind that what you convey to your dog has meaning to it. In other words, if you behave as if the box is something very nice for your dog, it will see it in the same way.

How to make your beach holiday with dogs a success!

What greater pleasure for a dog and its owner than to frolic on the beach and simply make space for the soul? All you have to do is check one or two details in advance. After that, nothing will stand in the way of your enjoyment and you can spend happy and carefree time with your four-legged friend. To ensure that you and your dog can really enjoy the pleasures of the beach, you should select a more isolated region in advance. Enquire about dog beaches in the surrounding area. Bear in mind that beaches are often off-limits to dogs from the end of March to the end of September. Outside of these times, you can go on beach walks for hours on end without restriction.

• Other dogs
  Be prepared for the fact that your dog will certainly want to say "hello" to any other dogs you happen to meet. However, to be on the safe side, you should keep your dog by your side or on a lead if other dogs are also on leads or if the owners appear to be nervous. Remember that not everyone has a sociable dog

• Doggy poop bags
  Always bring enough bags to clean up after your dog. For no matter where your dog relieves itself, the results are not welcome anywhere

• Toys
  Bring a brightly-coloured toy with you. Otherwise it will be buried never to be seen again should your dog decide to rearrange the dunes. If your dog likes to swim, it is also wise to bring a toy that floats. You can also cram a great many items into "dog packs". The range of products on offer is large. Get your dog used to the idea as he is sure to discover plenty of new things

The possibilities here are virtually endless.

Do you love the mountains, forests and do you live in very close touch with nature? That's great because your dog is too. It will enjoy the time spent with you to the full and will always be your faithful companion. In the section below, you will find a few suggestions for your hiking and active holiday:

• Route planning
  If you want to go hiking with your dog, you should adjust the distance covered each day to your dog’s capability and plan the route accordingly
• Paw care
  If you enjoy hiking across mountains or along rough tracks, protect your dog's paws with dog shoes or special paw protection treatments. They might look funny, but they protect against numerous injuries and guarantee a comfortable hike
• Water & breaks
  Particularly on hiking trips, adequate supplies of water as well as breaks are essential
• Dog equipment
  Put your dog on a lead that allows you plenty of free movement. There are numerous options available from specialist retailers. Particularly on your outdoor and hiking trips, the use of "dog packs" is recommended. Don’t overfill these and check before you buy that they are made from quality materials so that your dog doesn’t become overheated and that they don’t impede your dog's movement. Get your dog used to them and remove the pack during all breaks so that the dog can relax fully. Don’t ignore your pooch’s urge to play and bring along a few toys – choose something lightweight from what is sure to be a wide selection