Alternate corny post title: Taking the Ooch Out Of Traveling With Your Pooch
Many readers ask how we manage to bring Burger along on nearly every adventure—from our Alaskan honeymoon to a recent road trip to Dallas—so we wanted to share the strategies that work for us. When it comes to hotels, we made a short video explaining how we find pet-friendly rooms and how we make sure Burger is comfortable and well-behaved when we need to leave him in the room for events like weddings that don’t include a plus-one for puppies. If you’re interested, we also posted the video on YouTube.
Road trips with a dog can be a joy or a challenge depending on your dog’s temperament. Our biggest piece of advice is to honestly evaluate your pet’s personality and comfort level with travel. Some dogs get carsick or develop severe anxiety during long drives, while others—like Burger—absolutely love it. Part of why Burger enjoys the car is that we began taking him along when he was a puppy. We started with short drives to help him acclimate and gradually increased the length of trips as he grew more confident and relaxed. With patience and consistent exposure, many dogs learn to enjoy or at least tolerate car travel.
To set your dog up for success on the road, establish a few routines: feed smaller meals before travel, offer potty breaks during longer drives, and provide a familiar blanket or toy in their carrier or seat area. Using a well-ventilated, secure crate or a harness designed for car travel helps keep your dog safe and creates a defined resting spot. Short training sessions reinforcing calm behavior in the car—rewarding quiet, relaxed behavior with treats or praise—go a long way. For dogs prone to anxiety or motion sickness, consult your veterinarian for tailored advice; they can recommend gradual desensitization techniques or, in some cases, medication for particularly sensitive dogs.
Flying with your dog requires advance planning and close communication with the airline. Call the carrier you plan to use and ask about their specific pet policies, since they vary by airline. Make sure the airline records your intention to travel with a pet, as flights often limit the number of animals allowed in the cabin. Ask what documentation is required—most airlines will request a recent health certificate from your veterinarian—and confirm the dimensions and type of travel container they accept.
There is usually a fee for bringing a pet on board, typically in the $50–$100 range, and airlines often impose a cabin weight limit for pets traveling with passengers, commonly in the small-dog range. Larger dogs may need to travel as checked baggage or cargo, which has additional risks and restrictions. Some destinations or extreme temperatures may lead airlines to prohibit in-cabin or cargo travel for animal safety, so check whether your chosen route or season could affect your pet’s ability to fly.
For small dogs that can travel in the cabin, they must be contained in an airline-approved carrier stored under the seat in front of you or, when permitted, on your lap inside an approved case. Soft-sided carriers with padded interiors and breathable mesh on multiple sides tend to be comfortable and meet most airlines’ requirements. From takeoff to landing, many calm dogs will sleep through the flight; Burger typically naps the whole time, which makes flying much easier for everyone around him.
International travel with pets is more complicated. Traveling across borders often requires additional paperwork, vaccinations, and sometimes quarantine periods depending on the destination. For now, we stick mainly to trips within the United States and Canada, where rules are generally more predictable for us and less stressful for Burger. If you plan to travel abroad with your dog, research destination rules thoroughly and allow plenty of time to meet all requirements.
Above all, consider your pet’s well-being when planning trips. With gradual exposure, consistent routines, and careful preparation, many dogs can become comfortable traveling by car or plane. We hope these tips help you and your pup enjoy more adventures together—happy travels!