Going on vacation with your dog? This is actually possible more often than some dog owners think. However, to ensure that the vacation is relaxing for everyone involved, no bureaucratic hurdles get in the way or something important is suddenly missing, it is important to plan your vacation with your dog properly!
Our blog post tells you what to look out for and even offers you a practical checklist for packing for a vacation with your dog!
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TRAVEL PLANNING WITH DOGS
June, July and August are the most popular months for summer vacations in Germany. However, this also means that these are the busiest months at many destinations, accommodation is booked up quickly and seasonal rules and regulations may apply. As a dog owner, you should therefore ask yourself the question early on: Going on vacation with your dog - yes or no?
No matter what you decide, you should definitely read on now and start planning your vacation with your dog well informed!
WHAT DO YOU DO WITH YOUR DOG ON VACATION?
As a dog owner, you have two options when it comes to planning your vacation: Go on vacation with your dog or look for care for your dog while on vacation - either privately or professionally.
If you decide to take your dog with you, this changes the options for travel destinations and accommodation. To ensure that your vacation with your dog is a success, the right planning is essential.
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Where can you go on vacation with your dog?
When looking for a country or region to go on vacation with your dog, you are spoilt for choice, especially in Europe. Countries such as Denmark, France and Germany are considered to be particularly dog-friendly. But you can also often find regions in other countries that are particularly dog-friendly. Find out about the culture and customs beforehand - especially if your dog has difficulty staying alone and you plan to take it with you to restaurants or stores.
Depending on the starting point and destination of your trip, the travel route, travel options, entry requirements for your dog and country-specific rules and laws for dogs may vary - find out more before you book your vacation with your dog.
Please note: For some dog breeds, such as list dogs, special caution is now required when traveling to other EU and non-EU countries, as these breeds are subject to strict rules or bans there!
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Vacation with dog entry requirements
The basic rule here is: Before you leave, make sure you find out about the country-specific requirements for entering and leaving the country with your dog while you are planning your vacation.
In most cases, you can already anticipate the following: vaccination against rabies in good time before the trip. If you are traveling with your dog within the EU, your dog needs an EU pet passport.
When returning with your dog from a non-EU country back to Germany, you may have to provide proof of antibodies for rabies.
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Where to travel with your dog in Germany?
You'd rather stay in Germany? No problem!
Not only do you often have a shorter journey with your dog, but you also don't have to deal with entry and exit regulations for your dog.
The most popular travel destinations in Germany with dogs include:
The Baltic Sea and North Sea
The Bavarian Forest
Lake Constance
The Moselle
Harz Mountains
Thuringian Forest
Allgäu
TRAVELING WITH YOUR DOG: CAR, TRAIN OR PLANE?
The decision has been made: The dog is coming along on vacation and the destination has already been decided. Now there's just one question left - what's the best way to travel there with my dog?
There are usually three possible ways to travel with your dog to your vacation destination: by car, train or plane. We'll tell you here how much stress you and your dog will experience with which mode of transport!
GOING ON VACATION WITH YOUR DOG BY CAR
For many dog owners, the easiest and most convenient way to travel with a dog is by car. Dogs are often already used to traveling by car from everyday life and shorter distances, so they are less stressed on long journeys. One thing is important to note when traveling on vacation with your dog: Regardless of whether you have your own car, van, caravan or rental car, you must secure your dog in the car with a transport box, a built-in luggage net or a seat belt with a suitable harness. This obligation arises from § 23 of the Road Traffic Act. If you fail to do so, you are endangering yourself and other road users in the event of an accident and may be subject to penalties.
In addition to securing your dog, it is also important to pack correctly when traveling by car with your dog. Make sure that everything you and your dog might need is stowed in such a way that you can reach it at any time and don't have to unpack half the car in the parking lot. Think about when, where and how you can plan your breaks and make them as stress-free as possible for your dog.
GOING ON VACATION WITH YOUR DOG BY TRAIN
If you want to travel in a particularly environmentally friendly way and perhaps don't have that far to travel, you can use the train to go on vacation. In principle, this is also an option for a vacation with your dog, as many train companies allow dogs to travel with you. The big disadvantage is that you are tied to the train's journey times, may have to change trains and may have little time for outdoor breaks with your dog, especially if there are delays. To ensure that this stress does not become too much for your dog, it is important to get him used to cramped seats, lots of people and loud noises. You should also prepare yourself accordingly and practise how to supervise, stow and transport your dog and luggage at the same time.
There are often clear regulations for taking dogs on trains. Find out in advance about available seats, tickets and whether a muzzle is compulsory, for example!
FLYING WITH YOUR DOG ON VACATION
Most dog owners are reluctant to use airplanes as a means of transport for their dogs - and for good reason! For most dogs, this is the most stressful way to travel. Not only are they exposed to a strange and noisy environment, but they usually have to travel in the baggage hold and are therefore separated from their humans. Some airlines allow small dogs in the cabin as long as they (like the dogs in the baggage hold) are placed in an appropriate transport box. However, as the regulations vary from airline to airline and some do not even offer the transport of animals, you should find out exactly before booking your vacation!
You will also have to pay for the dog's flight ticket. Dog owners often only consider air travel for trips to distant countries. It is therefore all the more important to find out about the applicable entry and exit regulations for dogs - including for countries where you may be making a stopover!
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THE RIGHT EQUIPMENT FOR YOUR VACATION WITH YOUR DOG
Our vacation with dog checklist tells you what you absolutely must take with you on every trip. But there are also other things that, depending on the type of vacation, will make it even more relaxing and fun for you and your dog. We'll tell you what these are for beach vacations with dogs, hiking vacations with dogs and camping vacations with dogs and how you can save money with us!
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BEACH VACATION WITH DOG
Summer, sun, beach vacation with your dog!
We have put together our absolute must-haves for a beach vacation with your dog in our dog beach vacation bundle:
Our chain collar, adjustable - with SPRENGER hook - stainless steel, 3.0 mm is a real all-rounder and is seawater-resistant and durable thanks to the high-quality material. In addition, the airy links are practical and comfortable, as no heat or moisture can accumulate unpleasantly under them!
What else is a must for every playful dog? A floating toy, of course! Our favorite here is our Dog Toy Soft Bite Tug M. Equipped with a hand strap, it is easy to throw and the softer material makes it easy for your dog to grab when it is floating or wet.
Fun and games on the beach and in the sea always mean one thing: dirt. To make sure you don't find sand everywhere weeks later, our dog beach vacation bundle includes our Dog Brush, oval - polypropylene and brass bristles. The strong bristles are suitable for many coat types and help you to gently remove sand and dried dirt.
Planning your first beach vacation with your dog? Then be sure to check out our other blog post about beach vacations with dogs to be perfectly prepared!
HIKING VACATION WITH DOG
Looking for an active vacation with your dog? Then put on your hiking boots and set off. Hiking vacations are a great way for every dog and human to spend a different kind of vacation and have lots of time together. With the right research, you can find hikes in every vacation destination and suitable for every fitness level. To make sure you don't realize just before you set off or after the first few kilometers what you should have brought with you, you can find our recommendations in our hiking with dog bundles:
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HIKING WITH DOG BUNDLE BLACK
Our must-have for every dog on hikes is a well-fitting Dog Harness - Y-harness, black. This is not only comfortable for the dog, but also helps you to be able to grab or lift the dog in an emergency and to support it on particularly challenging passages.
You also have the option of attaching our 7.5 m black drag line to the harness. Even if you let your dog pull the lead, this allows you to react quickly in unfamiliar surroundings, with strange dogs and other scary encounters and still give your dog freedom of movement. Make sure you find out about the applicable rules on compulsory leash laws before your hike!
Above all, you and your dog should have fun on your hike and enjoy the moment. This also means taking enough breaks. This is particularly important for young dogs, older dogs or dogs that are not yet in good shape. To keep your dog comfortable and dry, whatever the weather, we recommend our Dog Mat L. The mat is dirt and water repellent, lightweight and folds up quickly - meaning it fits in any hiking rucksack!
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HIKING WITH DOG BUNDLE NEON ORANGE
Are you on the hunt for the most beautiful sunsets and sunrises during your hikes? Then visibility in low light is particularly important. We have put together our hiking with dog bundle neon orange for exactly this purpose (and for extra fun):
In this bundle, your dog is equipped with a high-quality Dog Harness - Y-harness, orange. Not only do you benefit from the all-round reflective strips for increased safety and visibility, but also from a color that is a real eye-catcher and stands out on any coat color and in any environment.
The matching 7.5 m neon orange drag line is also included. The woven in reflector strips make it easier for you to see even in low light. In addition, the rubber coating offers you optimum grip even in rain or dew in the early morning and the easy-care nylon is water-repellent and quick-drying.
To round off the bundle and your equipment, we have also added our Fun ball. This allows you to give your dog a good workout so that you can both fall back into bed exhausted after your hike - no matter what time it is. The rope attached to the ball makes it even easier to throw and the floating material and orange color make the ball the perfect, easy-to-find dog toy for hikes in any environment!
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CAMPING VACATION WITH YOUR DOG
Whether by car with a roof tent, a van or a classic tent - camping with your dog is even more enjoyable and promises plenty of fresh air, freedom of movement and space to relax. You also don't have to worry about what your dog is allowed to do in the rented accommodation, whether the dog will incur a high cleaning fee for the vacation home or whether the house and garden are dog-safe. Depending on the country, there are various options and many campsites that allow well-behaved dogs. You can find out what we think you should definitely have with you in our camping with dog bundle:
Relaxing in the sun outside your tent or van and listening to the birds - sounds perfect! To ensure that you don't have to worry about your dog going off on his very own adventures, we think our Run-Block - stainless steel, 16" should be part of every basic camping kit. With its 360° turntable with welded eyelet as a tethering point and the even stability provided by three additional Ø 10 mm fixing rods, it is not only suitable for various surfaces, but also for large and strong dogs as a short-term tethering point.
We also recommend our 5 m drag line, black and our Dog Mat L to keep your dog safely and comfortably leashed. The rubberized leash provides extra grip and support, while our dog mat is easy to clean, dirt and water-repellent, scratch-resistant and can be folded up quickly and stowed away easily - simply perfect for camping!
CHECKLIST FOR VACATIONS WITH YOUR DOG
To make sure your dog feels right at home on your vacation and that you don't forget anything, we have put together a small checklist for your vacation with your dog:
Dog collar/chain collar and dog leash, spare collar and spare leash
Dog tag with your contact details and, if applicable, the address of your vacation accommodation
Food bowl and water bowl, dog water bottle
Dog food, chews and dog treats
Dog mat and dog bed
Dog toys - floating dog toys and activity toys
First aid kit for dogs
Dog brushes and dog towel
Depending on the vacation, a dog life jacket
EU pet passport, proof of vaccination and proof of insurance
Transport box or seat belt for dogs for the car
Muzzle
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