The compact PERRO checklist for a relaxed journey
Travelling with a dog
Travelling with a dog requires good preparation so that the holiday starts in a relaxed manner for both humans and animals. Whether it's a short car journey, a longer holiday or a holiday with your dog by the sea - safety, familiar routines and the right equipment help to avoid stress. Safe transport solutions, sufficient water, rest breaks and products that support the dog while travelling are particularly important. If you plan to travel regularly by car with your dog, you should get your dog used to travelling early on and always transport it safely.
Making the right preparations for travelling with a dog is half the battle
Being well prepared minimises stress for you and your dog:
- Check the legal entry requirements of the holiday destination
- Muzzle requirement: Clarify in advance where you are allowed to take dogs, whether there is a muzzle requirement and whether so-called "listed dogs" are allowed to enter the country at all. Are you new to muzzling your dog? Our guide will show you how to find the right muzzle.
- Season: Midsummer and high temperatures are stressful for most dogs. The low season of spring or autumn is usually very suitable for holidays with your dog.
- Means of transport: The car is the first choice for most people, as it is the most flexible way of travelling and the easiest way to adapt your schedule to your dog.
- Dog-friendly accommodation: Are dogs allowed in your accommodation or does it even offer practical and dog-friendly facilities? It is worth checking in advance whether and what facilities are available.
Important points before travelling
Before travelling, you should check whether your dog is in good health. Important points before travelling:
- Vet check before long journeys
- Check vaccination status
- Carry an EU pet passport
- Check the entry requirements of the holiday destination
- Make a note of the address of a local vet
- Plan travelling times outside of extreme heat if possible
Veterinary advice: Dogs with circulatory problems, older dogs or sensitive animals often react more strongly to heat and stress when travelling. Feeding also plays a role, so it is better to feed only small amounts immediately before departure.
Basic travel equipment from PERRO
- Freshness clip for feed bags
- hygienic closure
- universally applicable
- made of sturdy plastic
- Clever foldable design – can be stowed away to save space in a bag, rucksack or travel bag
- Ready to use straight away – unfolds quickly for food or water on the go
- Food-grade silicone – a safe and flexible choice of material for everyday use
- Stable base – practical and comfortable to use even when out and about
- Easy to care for in everyday use – quick to clean and dishwasher-safe
- Ideal for travel & outings – a practical solution for active dog owners
- foldable drinking bowl
- fits in any bag
- ideal for water
- assorted colours
- perfect for travelling
- for hiking & walking
- foldable travel bowl
- made of silicone
- 3 sizes
- sturdy polypropylene ring
- Can lids for food cans
- e.g. suitable for 400 & 410g cans
- food-safe & dishwasher-safe
- Polypropylene & rubber
- non-slip underlay
- high pile
- moisture and air permeable
- heat insulating
- cosy
- machine washable
- Snack container
- transparent
- Lid with animal motifs
- stackable & airtight sealable
- white / taupe
- practical for storing food
- different sizes
- light & practical
- Snap lock & freshness protection lid
- ideal for storing dry food
- padded dog mat
- ideal for car boxes
- with dimensionally stable foam
- machine washable
- Travel bowl set for on the go
- 2 bowls & 1 mat
- food-safe silicone
- small pack size
Safe & stress-free travelling
Avoid stress when travelling
Please note: Not every dog is automatically relaxed when travelling. To take the stress out of the situation, the following measures can help in advance:
- Train car journeys before going on holiday
- sufficient exercise before departure
- don't rush when getting in the car
- take regular breaks
When Transporting dogs in the car the following applies: A dog should never travel unsecured.
At PERRO you will find safe solutions for your future car journeys and holidays, such as the Hurtta Travel Harness ECO car harness, which has been tested in official crash tests and can be connected directly to the seat belt. The dog can sit, lie down and turn round.
For larger dogs in the boot, the aluminium transport box offers a stable solution with a non-slip mat and a secure stand. The plastic Gulliver Deluxe 3 TOP FREE transport box is practical for small to medium-sized dogs , especially thanks to the additional top opening.
The car seat covers with integrated openings for safety harnesses are suitable for protecting the seats.
Travel checklist for holidays with a dog
A good packing list for your next holiday with your dog will make your trip much easier. We have created a checklist for you so that nothing is left at home:
- Usual dog food
- Travel bowl
- Water bottle & water bowl for travelling
- Leash & spare leash
- Collar or safety harness
- Dog blanket & dog bed
- Toys
- Treats
- Transport box
- Poo bag
- Muzzle (depending on holiday region)
- Grooming tools (brush, comb, curry comb,...)
- Depending on the holiday destination and planned activities: life jacket, towel, dog coat or jumper
- First aid kit
- If necessary: Medication
Foldable crates are suitable for longer holidays. They give the dog a familiar place to rest while travelling.
Practical tip: Address of the accommodation
It also makes sense to attach an additional dog tag with the address of the accommodation to the dog's collar during the holiday. If the dog gets lost, you can find the owners much more quickly.
Water toys & co. for dogs
- Water toy
- made of sturdy natural rubber
- floatable
- highly visible colour
- long throws due to long rope
- Bone shape with bulbous ends - perfect for chewing and retrieving
- Sustainable Seaflex™ material - 12% recycled marine plastic, 88% Zogoflex®
- Environmentally friendly tested - with Oceanworks® guarantee for origin and standards
- Robust and durable - designed for medium chewers
- Floatable - ensures fun in the water and on the beach
- Safe and non-toxic - BPA, phthalate and latex free and FDA compliant
- Even lighter and more flexible than the previous model – comfortable in the water and on land
- Adjustable around the chest too – a perfect fit for both sturdy and slender dogs
- Secure fit thanks to Velcro fastenings and snap buckles – easy to put on and take off
- Sturdy handle with O-ring – dog can be pulled up or secured with a lead
- Reflectors and bright colours – ensure optimum visibility in the water
- Made from 80–100% recycled material – sustainable and environmentally friendly
- Für Hundesalon und Zuhause – vielseitig im professionellen und privaten Einsatz
- Aus Bambus- und Baumwollfasern – nachhaltige und hautfreundliche Materialien
- Besonders saugstark – nimmt Feuchtigkeit zuverlässig auf
- Waschbar und wiederverwendbar – spart Ressourcen und ist langlebig
- Umweltfreundliche Alternative – reduziert Einwegprodukte im Alltag
- Angenehm in der Anwendung – sanft zu Haut und Fell deines Hundes
- Can be filled - ideal for treats, pastes or wet food and also suitable for freezing
- Gentle on teeth and gums - soft but extremely durable material
- Activity & reward - provides mental exercise and long-lasting playtime fun
- Versatile - can be used as a chew toy, snack dispenser or safe throwing toy
- Floatable and robust - perfect for water play and durable in use
- Variety of colours - available in standard and limited edition colours
- Dog and cat fleece blanket
- light & cosy
- 4 colours
- for at home and on the go
- Dog bathrobe
- makes the coat clean & dry
- can also be used for cooling
SILVERPLUS® treated for more hygiene
- light, warm and washable
- non-slip, tear and abrasion resistant
- for on the road and at home
- multifunctional dog blanket
- Floatable - perfect for fetch games in the water
- Made of robust natural rubber - durable and resistant during play
- With rounded ends - ensures a comfortable and secure grip
- Suitable for tugging games - enables joint, close-to-body activity
- Versatile use - retrieving, tugging and motivational training in one
- Developed by Prof Ekard Lind - practical toy with training benefits
- Microfibre cleaning glove
- for deep cleaning and massage
- gentle on paws and skin
- for left and right-handers
- machine washable at 30°C
Documents for the dog abroad
Certain documents must always be carried.
Here is an overview of the most important documents for travelling.
| Document | Details |
| EU pet passport | Dogs require an EU pet passport when travelling abroad (in EU and non-EU countries). This can be obtained from your vet. |
| Rabies & titre determination | To be able to enter the country, the passport must contain a:
Other vaccinations that may be relevant for the holiday destination are also noted in the "blue passport". When travelling to some countries from the EU or entering the EU from certain third countries, a rabies titer test may be necessary. This requires a little more planning and lead time. Therefore, inform yourself in good time before travelling. You can find more information here |
| Various vaccinations / worming | Find out about the vaccination requirements in your holiday destination well in advance. For Great Britain, Ireland & Northern Ireland, Malta, Finland and Norway, a tapeworm treatment by the vet including entry in the pet passport is required. Five days to 24 hours before travelling at the latest. |
| Forms | In certain countries or for special circumstances, certain forms are required in addition to the EU pet passport, e.g. for animals under 12 weeks of age or with a rabies vaccination that is not yet valid. You can find more information here |
| Insurance | It makes sense to carry insurance documents with you, as you can react quickly in the event of a claim |
Holiday by the water with a dog
A holiday with your dog by the sea or lake is ideal if you pay attention to safety.
- Avoid direct midday sun.
- Shower your dog after bathing in salt water.
- Provide plenty of water to drink.
- Be aware of currents.
- Do not leave your dog swimming unattended.
For active dogs in the water, we recommend toys that float and remain easily visible. Cooling down after bathing also helps, especially on hot days.Heat is often the biggest burden when travelling. We have compiled a list of helpful products for you to cool your dog down while travelling:
- Cooling mats for dogs
- Drinking water in water bottles for travelling
- Shady areas / shade sails
- Cooling waistcoats for dogs
Our tip for hot days: Motivate dogs to drink! Not every dog drinks enough when travelling - especially when travelling, in the heat or in unfamiliar surroundings. However, this is when a good fluid intake is particularly important to avoid circulatory problems.Here's how you can help dogs that are lazy to drink:
- Offer water regularly in small portions
- use a familiar bowl
- Actively incorporate drinking breaks
- Cool the water slightly
Our tip: some PERRO bone broth into the water Bone broth can help to make water more flavourful and is readily accepted by many dogs. It is particularly suitable on warm days, when travelling or after long walks.
Dog in a hotel or holiday home
New environments can be unsettling for dogs at first. This will help your dog feel safe more quickly:
- take a familiar blanket with you
- create a fixed resting place
- maintain the usual feeding times
- Offer chew toys
A familiar blanket or crate significantly reduces stress. Keeping active dogs busy is also important to help them switch off in new surroundings.
First-aid kit for your dog
Even if you hope for the best - it is important to be well prepared for emergencies:
- Disinfectant
- Clinical thermometer (normal dog temperature: 38-39°C)
- Wound ointment or spray
- Tick forceps and tweezers
- Sunscreen
- Diarrhoea remedy e.g. charcoal tablets
- Electrolyte powder
- Mild ear cleaner
- Sterile saline solution for rinsing
- First aid kit (bandages, scissors, bandages, fixation plasters, etc.)
- Cool packs
- Remedy for travel sickness
- Emergency numbers of vets at the holiday destination
