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Student Travel 101: Travelling with Your Dog without the Fur-Pulling Stress

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(Image from Pixabay)

Are you planning to take time off from school and travel with your dog?

Nothing could be more exciting than exploring the world with your lovable pet for company. Travelling with dogs and other pets, however, is not as easy as when you’re traveling all by yourself.

Many countries treat them like they are another passenger, just with more fur and fuss than necessary. And you’ll understand why as we discuss this further.

Travel choice for students

There are different reasons for students to travel locally or internationally. Two of these is to make the most of their gap year and to explore their options for international studies.

If you’re leaning towards these reasons, you could do both at the same time. Choose locations that offer opportunities for students to work or volunteer during the gap year and have the best universities for international students.

Australia, for instance, offers working holiday for anyone interested and qualified for the visa. It is also home to some of the best universities in the world.
Taking your pet with you to this country, however, can be exhaustive.

Best pet travel tips for students

Stay or Go?

Not to discourage you to travel with your dog, but you have to face the facts that there are situations when they are best left behind.

  • Your pet is pregnant, sick, or injured.
  • Your dog suffers from motion sickness and dislikes their routine being disrupted.
  • They get overstimulated easily.
  • The trip you have in mind is not fun for your dog’s point of view.
  • Their size does not meet airline requirements.

In these situations, it is best to leave them behind where they can be comfortable and safe.
If none of these apply to your dog, let the travel planning begin.

Travel Requirements for Pets

The first thing you need to do is research on pet travel requirements in the country you wish to visit.
Travel regulations for animals are a lot easier than they were before. Because different countries have their own regulations regarding live imports, compliance can be challenging.

European Union member countries require that pet dogs, cats, and ferrets must receive their rabies vaccination after implantation of a microchip, not before. If done backward, it has to be redone.

The United Kingdom requires pets to have their rabies vaccination 3 months before the scheduled trip (similar to that of the EU countries), and a blood test to check for any signs of disease.

New Zealand only allows certain breeds of dogs to enter the country and denies entry to Dogo Argentino, Japanese Tosa, American Pitbull Terrier, and Brazilian Fila. You need to obtain a permit unless you’re coming in from Australia. Upon arrival, your dog will be quarantined for a minimum of 10 days.

Australia only allows dogs and pets coming from approved countries, including New Zealand, American Samoa, Japan, and Vanuatu. If you come from non-approved countries, acquiring a valid import permit would involve moving your pet to an approved country and staying there for at least 6 months, among other things.

Armed with this information, it will be easier to decide to push through travelling with dogs for your gap year or when searching for an international school.

Preparing for Your Trip

Visit your veterinarian
Have your dog microchipped if they have yet to have it. This should be done in compliance with the travel requirements of the country you will be visiting.
Submit your dog for a checkup and have your vet issue a health certificate that outlines all the necessary vaccinations done and other information that will help smooth out the entry process.

Flying with your dog
Check airline requirements for flying with your pet, especially the approved carrier and whether they will be placed in the cargo hold.
It is best to have your dog fly with you in the cabin since flying in the cargo hold is stressful. However, not all airlines allow this. You might need to obtain a pet passport and comply with other regulations.

Search for pet-friendly accommodation
With more people travelling with their pets, the number of pet-friendly hotels, apartments, and other accommodation has increased. Some holiday packages are even designed around pets and their guardians.
Check out some of your options here:

  • HomeAway
  • TravelOnline
  • Wotif

In Australia, you’ll find plenty of animal-friendly hotels, campgrounds, beaches, and other places. Find one through Holidaying with Dogs.

You will also find several animal-friendly student accommodations.
Student One in Brisbane, for example, allows guide, hearing, or assistance dogs on the premises. The tenancy agreement specifies that details on the type of pet and the number of pets that will be kept must be ironed out beforehand. No changes will be accepted after the contract has been signed.
This also means your dog can tag along as you do an ocular inspection of the student accommodation offered.

 

Search for pet-friendly universities
If the purpose of your trip is to find international schools to enroll in, look for animal-friendly universities, especially if you plan to have your pet live with you in dorms.

Some schools don’t allow pets on the premises. This means you’ll need to leave your dog behind while you check out a school. Do you have provisions in place for such an event?

Plan activities with your dog in mind
It’s wasted effort if you go through all the trouble of acquiring permits to travel with your dog only to leave them cooped up in the hotel room while you go sightseeing or swimming at the beach. Plan activities around your pet or with them in mind.

This means searching beforehand for attractions, landmarks, and other sites that allow pets. In the event that you need to visit an establishment where pets are not allowed, find a kennel for temporary boarding or search for information for pet sitters for hire.

Pack for your dog
PETA recommends following your dog’s routines even when you’re in a different country. Pets thrive on healthy routines, after all.

This means packing their food, treats, and toys, along with companion-animal travel gear. If your plan includes a boat ride, bring a canine flotation vest.

Make travelling with dogs fun and convenient

Follow the pet travel tips above and your holiday with your furry companion will be exciting and fun-filled. Take care of the pet travel permits first and everything else will be easier.

For more information on anything and everything dogs, browse the rest of DoggieBlog.

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