Test Drive Dog Travel

You can talk to friends, read our tips, listen to your vet... but the ultimate test is actually travelling with your dog. If you are concerned what your travel day will be like, go for a test drive.

If you have recently purchased a dog carrier make sure your dog is comfortable with it. Leave it open near an area your dog normally lounges. Occasionally, throw a treat or two into it so they discover the joy of entering the open carrier.

If the carrier has a removable liner, put it in your dogs crate or bed so they can lie on it. This will give the new carrier a familiar smell with their own brand.

Now it is time for the official test drive. Try and match as many things as travel day as possible. If you have booked an 8am flight, wake up the time you would on that day 5am? Feed them earlier than you normally would, walk them earlier, and pack them into the car for the fake drive to the airport. When you arrive pack the dog into the carrier and go for a walk.

You will learn a few things about your dog and yourself. Did you manage to get the dog into the carrier easily? Did you have to stuff them in and zip up quickly? Did they whine while you walked around?

Doing a test run will hopefully keep both pet and owner calm on the actual travel day. There is no substitute for experience so the more parts of travel you can simulate the easier your official travel day will be. Bon voyage!