{"id":175571,"date":"2019-07-18T09:00:36","date_gmt":"2019-07-18T13:00:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nomadicmatt.com\/?p=175571"},"modified":"2025-10-17T06:40:03","modified_gmt":"2025-10-17T10:40:03","slug":"dog-travel-tips","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nomadicmatt.com\/travel-blogs\/dog-travel-tips\/","title":{"rendered":"12 Things Every Person Who Wants to Travel with Their Dog Should Know"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Boogie<\/p>\n

This is a guest post from Candy Pilar Godoy, who blogs about pet travel at Boogie The Pug<\/a>. She travels the world with her pug, Boogie, and her tiny chihuahua, Marcelo. She’s here to tell you how you can do the same with your dog!<\/em><\/p>\n

Many people assume that it\u2019s supremely difficult \u2014 if not impossible \u2014 to travel with dogs. So most assume that they\u2019ll need to fork over a truckload of cash to cover the dog-sitting costs of leaving their pooches behind while they travel.<\/p>\n

However, I learned that, with research and a little extra planning, you can take your furry friends along with you on most travel adventures \u2014 and it\u2019s not as difficult as you might think. <\/p>\n

According to the 2017\u20132018 National Pet Owners Survey<\/a>, 68% of US households own a pet. That\u2019s 89 million dogs, an increase of 56% since 1988. <\/p>\n

And of that number, about 37% of pet owners actually travel with their pets every year, up from just 19% a decade ago. The International Pet and Animal Transportation Association<\/a> reported that, worldwide, more than four million live animals are transported on planes every year. <\/p>\n

The travel industry has had to adapt to this growing demand, and today, traveling with your dog is easier than ever. <\/p>\n

As someone who is extremely passionate about traveling AND dogs, I wanted to share what I\u2019ve learned on the road about this emerging trend. <\/p>\n

1. Don\u2019t assume it\u2019s a no<\/h3>\n

\"Boogie
\nTravel with animals increases every year, and it\u2019s taken establishments time to catch up, meaning lots of places don\u2019t have dog policies in place just yet (or their policies have yet to be thoroughly fleshed out). I\u2019ve heard plenty of stories of restaurants and hotels whose websites and\/or social media have listed themselves as dog friendly, when in reality they\u2019re not. It happens. <\/p>\n

When in doubt, always ask. Never assume that dogs are or<\/em> are not allowed. It\u2019s great to look for a \u201cNo Pets Allowed\u201d sign or a \u201cPet Friendly\u201d notice, but whether a place has one or not, it\u2019s always best to double-check. A quick email or phone call can save you a lot of time, confusion, and frustration. For example, I\u2019ve been pleasantly surprised to learn that dogs are welcome in most shopping malls in Rio de Janeiro<\/a>. Who knew?<\/p>\n

2. Make copies of pet-related documents<\/h3>\n

\"Boogie
\nIf you\u2019re planning to cross borders or travel internationally, you\u2019ll need your dog\u2019s health records on hand (sort of like us humans and our passports). These are necessary to prove that your dog is healthy and vaccinated. Officials ask to see them, and depending on who you deal with, they\u2019ll either keep the originals or make a copy. Additionally, if you need to visit a new vet abroad, you\u2019ll be able to provide them with your furry friend\u2019s medical history. <\/p>\n

For these reasons, I like to keep multiple copies of my dogs\u2019 medical records and vet information on us at all times. This includes both a virtual copy on my phone and printed copies in my day bag. <\/p>\n

3. Use dog-friendly apps<\/h3>\n

\"Boogie
\nThere are plenty of apps that can help when on the road with your pup. It\u2019s become a lot easier than when I used to travel the world sans iPhone. My favorites include:<\/p>\n