What mode of transport should you choose when traveling with your dog? Plane ? Boat ? Car ? Motorhome or Van? I share all my advice with you so that you can find the mode of transport that best suits you and your dog!

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To go on vacation or weekend with his dog, each master and each dog has his preferences. Before planning your heavenly vacation on the other side of the world or a few hours from home, it is important to know how you will take your dog! Car, train, carpooling, bus, pedal boat, plane, ferry… take stock of the advantages and disadvantages of each mode of transport to choose the one that best suits your holidays WITH your dog.

Today, I suggest you do a little overview of all the means of transport that you can choose to go on vacation or weekend with your dog. Ready to take off? Let's escape together for a few minutes...

 

Sandaya 54 high-end and dog-friendly campsites

Traveling with your dog by car

The car is certainly the most common and practical means of transport for traveling with your dog. Provided of course not to go to the other side of the world. Traveling by car with your dog does not impose any constraints in terms of timetables or routes, unlike other means of transport. To travel in complete freedom it is really ideal. It is the possibility of taking regular breaks to visit, discover or just give your dog time to stretch his legs and do his business. Take the opportunity to give him a drink. 

My dog ​​travels in the trunk of my car. Accustomed since childhood, she has her bearings and her habits. Our trips always go very well. I reserve the whole trunk for her and I put our luggage in the back… I can assure you that as soon as I don't travel alone, we are quickly very tight and she is very comfortable in the back 😉

Unfortunately not all dogs are comfortable in the car… Some dogs don't like car journeys: they are sick or anxious. If you are concerned by this problem, I give you some simple tips and tricks to facilitate your journeys in the article Traveling with a stressed or anxious dog. 

What equipment is suitable for your trip? For your car trips with your dog, you need to equip yourself a little for the comfort and safety of your dog: Transport cage for dogs, Safety harness, seat cover… You will find more information and details about these equipment in the article Traveling by car with your dog. Depending on whether your dog travels in your trunk, on your back seat or even in the front next to you, you will not need the same equipment.

TIP: If you can't take your own car to go on a weekend trip with your dog, know that carpooling with your dog is possible. For some time now, the blablacar application has added a button that specifies whether the routes are accessible to animals or not. Good idea, think about it! 

Traveling with your dog by train

Traveling by train with your dog is not always easy. I don't think you'll learn anything by telling you that trains aren't the most dog-friendly spaces out there. Nevertheless, it is a solution for long journeys or when you don't have a car. Any advice before departure? For a “calm” journey: board the train with a “tired” dog. Take him for a walk before leaving so that he simply wants to doze peacefully all the way at your feet.  

To take the train with your dog, you naturally have to think about buying his ticket. Since June 23, 2022, a single rate for pets has been in place. Now, whatever their size, small dog or big dog, your pet will travel thanks to a ticket that will cost 7€. Dog and human must have a valid transport ticket. To buy your ticket and that of your dog, you can go through the SNCF website. You can Create your account and add your dog as a passenger. It will be taken into account in the algorithm for your next route searches.

To make your train journey with your dog go as smoothly as possible, prepare your journey well. In the article Traveling by train with your dog, I give you simple advice to put into practice for a successful trip! I interviewed many Wouafer's who travel regularly by train and who shared their advice and anecdotes with me.

Flying with your dog

Traveling by plane with your dog can be a source of anxiety, both for the master and for the dog. Many dog ​​owners refuse to fly so they don't have to make the trip… Sometimes flying with your dog is unavoidable, so let's see how it goes together.

First, make sure you find a company that will accept your dog. Then, you will have to find out about the flight conditions which are specific to each company. The size of the dog accepted, the breeds accepted, the number of places in the hold differ for each airline. GOOD TO KNOW: because of their breathing difficulties, some companies refuse snub-nosed dogs. 

Are you going abroad? Pay attention to the regulations concerning dogs on site because each country has its own rules. At a minimum, your dog must be chipped, must hold a European passport and have an up-to-date vaccination record to enter and leave the territory. 

Traveling by plane with your dog can be a source of anxiety, both for the master and for the dog. Many dog ​​owners refuse to fly so they don't have to make the trip… Sometimes flying with your dog is unavoidable, so let's see how it goes together.

First, make sure you find a company that will accept your dog. Then, you will have to find out about the flight conditions which are specific to each company. The size of the dog accepted, the breeds accepted, the number of places in the hold differ for each airline. GOOD TO KNOW: because of their breathing difficulties, some companies refuse snub-nosed dogs. 

Are you going abroad? Pay attention to the regulations concerning dogs on site because each country has its own rules. At a minimum, your dog must be chipped, must hold a European passport and have an up-to-date vaccination record to enter and leave the territory. 

To travel by plane with your dog with complete peace of mind, I invite you to read the article Take a plane with your dog. In this article, you will discover the testimonials of 3 owners who fly with their dog. They give you their tips and valuable advice!

Traveling with your dog in a motorhome or fitted out van

Traveling with your dog in a motorhome or converted van is very fashionable! How many masters decide to leave with their dog for a simple holiday? Traveling in a motorhome with your dog is LI-BER-TY! No constraint interferes with your vacation. You stop where you want and when you want. You are free to discover, visit or simply take the time to live! Leaving in a motorhome means leaving room for the unexpected and what good does that feel in this world…! No need to find dog-friendly accommodation, it rolls with you. It's a kind of two in one: mode of transport and accommodation combined.

In a motorhome or camper van, there are still a few rules to follow for your safety and that of your animal. Do not leave it loose in the passenger compartment when you are driving, it is very dangerous, place it in a transport cage specialized. You want to test this new way of traveling simply, you will find the answers to all your questions in the article Going in a motorhome with your dog.

Traveling by bus with your dog

Traveling by bus with your dog remains very complicated today. In France, only one company allows access to dogs on board its buses: Isilines. However, access is very regulated since it is limited to dogs under 5 kilos traveling in a transport cage… On the dog-friendly side, bus companies still have a lot to do… It is very very very limited… but I had to talk about it to be exhaustive in this article devoted to possible modes of transport for holidays with your dog. And then this info will delight all owners of chihuahuas, toy spaniels, bichons, yorkshires, pekinese, miniature pinschers...

Take the boat or the ferry with your dog

If you plan to find the Corsica,Ireland or Sardinia with your dog. You will have to take the ferry with your dog! And to tell the truth, it's a rather pleasant way to travel with your dog. Of course, not all companies are created equal and some are more dog-friendly than others. As for the plane, you will have to compare the small lines to check the travel conditions of your dog on board.

The ships of the Corsica ferries company seem to be rather dog-friendly. Several Wouafer's have shared their travel anecdotes with us on board… Dogs are allowed everywhere except in the restaurants. They have “dog toilets” on deck and some overnight travel cabins are dog friendly. Only downside, on the ships, there are quotas for dogs. These boats are therefore often fully booked: remember to book your ticket online in advance ! 

In some companies, you can take your dog with you on board the ship, others will ask you to leave it in a kennel specially equipped for it in the hold. Most companies today integrate the dog as a full member of the family. And it is no longer rare to see dogs on tourist boats. 

Can my dog ​​get seasick? What to do to relieve it? What should I take for the crossing? I answer these questions and give you lots of details in the article  Take the ferry with his dog.

Go on a cruise with your dog

And if you go on a cruise with your dog? I'm sure some of you didn't even know about this way of traveling, am I wrong? Of course, when I talk about cruising with your dog, I'm not talking about the huge cruise ships that cross the seas and oceans around the world... I'm talking about small human-sized boats that allow you to discover the canals and French or European rivers.

I tested this type of cruise with my dog ​​and it's just a joy! We let ourselves go with the flow, thinking of nothing. We watch the landscape pass before our eyes, we discover wild fauna and flora that we would never have seen, there is no noise… I loved this stay! Besides, I tell you in detail in the article Rent a boat and go on a cruise with your dog”. Maybe I will make you want to test this new way of traveling?!

dog boat - dog cruise - dog holidays - take your dog

Traveling in a pedal boat with your dog

Lol… In a pedal boat you wouldn't go very far but know that some people do travel by canoe or paddle with their dog. They go upstream from the river and descend it on a roaming trip over a few days, bivouacking at night. It is for example this experience that Yohan shared with his dog Thetis. He crosses France on a paddle with his dog

Don't forget your dog's life jacket!

Traveling by bike with your dog

On the roaming side, you could also choose to travel by bike. Going on a bike with your dog is a very nice experience, which requires a little preparation, but which will allow you to bring back lots of nice memories in your head. Discover the route of the Loire by bike of Cécile and her dog Hector, or The Flow Bike with his dog, a trip that Fleur took on a bicycle with her dog.

Top 5 dog bike baskets and trailers

Find a dog friendly destination

Before booking your trip, you must make sure that your destination will be a dog-friendly destination. In the tab dog friendly accommodation from EmmèneTonChien.com, you will find a selection of accommodations that the Wouafer's have tested and shared on the site. The accommodations on the site do not only accept dogs, they welcome them! Often tested and recommended by the Wouafer's themselves, you will be sure to have a good time with pooch.

It's fine to find dog-friendly accommodation, but you still have to find an activity that you can share together. To find the coolest activities and the most beautiful visits to do WITH your dog at your place of stay, I invite you to discover the activity section from TakeYourDog.com! You will be able to find out about all the dog-friendly activities to share together in the surroundings.