So, you’ve decided to take your best friend on your next trip abroad. You imagine the two of you, hand in leash loop, promenading down the Croisette in Cannes, hiking up the Matterhorn or splitting a gelato in Florence. You start thinking of Instagram account names in anticipation of your #howlingholiday.
However, before you book a plane ticket for your canine companion, you need to understand the challenges of international pet travel.
“Planning and preparation are essential for a successful vacation with your pet,” Julie Castle, chief executive of Best Friends Animal Society, a nonprofit rescue organization, said by email. “The decision about whether to include your pet in your travel plans may vary depending on the mode of travel and your destination.”
Bringing your pup will require more advance prep work than if just the bipeds were traveling. But follow these guidelines and your vacation could become the talk of the dog park.
Decide if your dog is fit for travel
The first step: Consult with your vet about whether your dog is fit for an overseas adventure.
Animals with serious medical or behavioral issues should stay at home. The same goes for senior dogs and puppies still nursing or not fully vaccinated. The USDA requires dogs to be at least eight weeks old. Airlines also have varying minimum-age requirements. For example, Delta accepts carry-on pups that are at least 15 weeks old for travel to the European Union and at least 16 weeks old for other destinations.
Also ask yourself if your dog has the temperament for travel.
“People who go through the effort and expense of bringing their animals should know that their animal is confident enough to be able to handle this kind of transition,” said Lindsay Hamrick, director of shelter outreach and engagement at the Humane Society of the United States.
Breeds can also be a dealbreaker. Some countries ban certain breeds, typically the ones stereotyped as aggressive. England and Australia prohibit bull terriers, American Staffordshires, Japanese Tosas, dogo Argentino and fila Brasileiro. Denmark’s list includes cane corsos, bull mastiffs, Rottweilers and Thai ridgebacks. Local governments may also draft their own rules. In Switzerland, breed bans vary by district.
Even if the country welcomes your pet’s breed, the airlines might not. According to Transportation Department statistics from 2010, short-nosed breeds are more likely to die on planes than other types of dogs. To avoid a tragedy, some carriers will not transport brachycephalic breeds, such as pugs, boxers and Boston terriers; others will only fly them during cooler seasons. The policy applies to pets in the cargo hold, not the cabin.
“The brachycephalic breeds are banned by most airlines because of their difficulty with breathing,” said Angela Passman, owner and president of World Pet Travel, a pet transport provider. “If you’ve got an old English bulldog that is overweight, he would not be a good one to travel by air.”
