Traveling With Your Norwich

Everyone who has a Norwich Terrier knows how much fun they are to live with and how much they love to be with their people. One of the most exciting bonding experiences you can have with your Norwich is to travel with him or her. When you are out with a cute, friendly little dog like the Norwich Terrier, people just gravitate toward you and conversations with complete strangers start right up. Of course, the reason for the approach and the conversation is your Norwich, but that’s okay – they don’t mind being ambassadors for their humans! The Norwich Terrier is small enough to be welcomed by any dog-friendly hotel, and is usually small enough to fit in an airline approved travel bag so he or she can ride in cabin with you, leaving you with several travel options.

In this article we’ll discuss:

Is my pet a good candidate for travel?
Where are we going?
How do I prepare?
Traveling by car
Traveling by plane
Pettiquette

IS MY DOG A GOOD CANDIDATE FOR TRAVEL?

There are two things to consider – (1) Your dog’s health; (2) Your dog’s temperament.

If your dog’s general health is good, there is no reason why he or she cannot safely travel with you. I recommend a pre-trip vet visit for a thorough check-up. If you are flying with your dog, you will need to get a health certificate from your vet dated within 10 days of your outbound flight.

The other thing to consider is your dog’s temperament. Some dogs are homebodies and that’s that. They are calm at home but get nervous going to different places outside of their neighborhood or familiar surroundings. Some dogs get nervous and may even suffer from motion sickness while in a moving vehicle. This dog is not a good candidate for travel. He’ll be miserable and so will you. There’s nothing wrong with the homebody dog – he just loves his home and prefers it. Some homebodies can be reformed with a lot of patience and understanding. Nigel is a reformed homebody. Over time, we’ve worked with him, starting out with short day trips and now he’s turning into a seasoned traveler. He absolutely loves to ride in the car and will snooze quietly for hours but is not in my opinion, a good candidate for air travel because of his willingness to vocalize his displeasure about a particular situation and most importantly, he could not comfortably fit in a travel bag under an airplane seat. Divot, due to her small size and laid back, I’ll-do-whatever-you-want personality, has flown with me before and did great.

WHERE ARE WE GOING?

When you are traveling with a dog, you need to put a little more thought and research into your travel plans. You need to make sure that your dog is permitted in the places you want to visit and you need to make sure that he will be safe doing the activities you plan to participate in. For example, many National Parks have only a few specific areas that permit dogs. Some will have only certain hiking trails that permit dogs and others limit your dog to parking lots only. This is not only an issue of protecting the park’s wildlife but it’s also an issue of safety for your dog. Many of the National Parks are home to large, predatory animals. (I am not an advocate for leaving a dog unattended in a vehicle – anywhere!) Include in your research, any potential health problems the area you are going may experience. For example, if you live in a hot, dry climate, you probably don’t need to have your dog on heartworm medication year round but if you are traveling to a warm, humid climate, you’ll want to have a heartworm test performed by your vet and consider putting your dog on heartworm medication prior to departure. The same thing applies to ticks. If they are not a problem where you live, they very well could be a concern at your destination. Be prepared by doing your research and taking precautions just in case.

If you plan to fly, consider the time of year you are planning to travel and the climate from which you are going to and departing from. For example in Phoenix and other areas of the desert southwest, there are black-out dates for flying a dog in cargo due to the extreme temperatures. Also think about how warm it can be in the cabin when it’s 110° outside.

If you are flying, make your reservations early. There are a limited number of dogs allowed on a plane per seating class. There will be an extra fee for your dog and that’s usually paid for at the time of check-in. Be sure to read your airline’s pet policy thoroughly. If you have questions, call and speak to a representative.

Divot checks out Muir Beach in Northern California

Finding the best destination and activities to accommodate you and your dog does take added effort but what could be more fun than a vacation in which all family members get to go? At the end of this article, you will find some suggestions to help you with your research.

WE’RE GOING ON A TRIP!

How are we getting there and how to I begin to prepare?

So your dog has received a clean bill of health, he’s a good candidate to travel, and you’ve chosen a destination and activities that accommodate him. Let the adventure begin! Traveling with your dog does take a lot more preparation than just the vet visit. In addition to planning, you’ll need to pack for him as well as for the rest of your pack.

If you’re traveling by car:

In addition to the essentials of food, waste pick-up bags, etc., (we’ll get to that list in a moment) you’ll need to bring his travel crate or travel seat w/harness.

If you’re traveling by plane:

In addition to the essentials of food, waste pick-up bags, etc. you’ll need to purchase an airline approved travel bag and get him acclimated to it. You might also want to bring his travel crate or travel seat w/harness as well for any car travel.
Most airline’s policy is that the maximum combined weight of dog and carrier is not to exceed 15 pounds but be sure to check with your airline for their specific guidelines.

Introducing Your Dog To The New Carrier

When you find the right travel bag for your dog, begin acclimating him to it immediately. About one month prior to our trip I placed Divot’s travel bag on the floor with a familiar scented towel from her crate as well as an absorbent pad (that I would be leaving in there for actual travel) inside. I then encouraged her to investigate the bag by putting some treats inside. Sure enough, like a good little Norwich, she went in immediately. It was only after she was at ease going into the bag, did I close it with her in it and that was only for a minute. I then increased that time over the next few days. The next step was for me to carry her around in the bag and she was quite comfortable with that. Finally we began taking short drives in the car with her in the travel bag, and we would stop at places like the pet supply store and I would carry her around in the bag there. It didn’t take her long to get comfortable with the bag and enjoy it!

Divot sitting on her flap of her new travel bag. Yep, looks like she's ready to go!

Where to Stay

Pet friendly accommodations are becoming the norm, which is good news for those of us who love to travel with our dogs! See the resources I’ve listed below for ideas on finding accommodations. Some places “accept pets” but some “welcome pets.” There is a difference! Most hotels, motels, inns, and B&B’s that allow pets have a strict policy that a dog cannot be left alone in a room and I advise adherence to that. Be a good ambassador for people who travel with their pets.

Travel with a dog takes some practice, trial and error, and if you have a homebody that you’re trying to turn into a traveling dog, there will be extra trials along the way, but it’s a rewarding experience when you get it figured out. Case in point. Nigel, a reformed homebody (he still loves his home and familiar surroundings first and foremost however) tends to require more thought and creativity if we’re to make him comfortable. For example, we noticed that in some hotel rooms, he would get quite anxious. Even after long tiring day of travel and adventure, he would still be anxious, pacing around the room, going to the door wanting out while the rest of us were exhausted. We soon realized that if the room is too small he gets nervous. So, in order to make Nigel comfortable and keep the rest of us sane, we reserve a suite!

Many boutique hotels like the Hotel Columbia in Telluride, CO
warmly welcome four legged guests

What you’ll need

I’ve created a checklist of things you’ll need to bring on your trip. You may find you need more or less.

For a car trip

Travel crate or travel seat
Dog’s bed (if he prefers it to sleeping in his crate)
Leash and collar with tags. Even if your dog wears a walking harness, keep his collar w/tags on him at all times while you are traveling. In addition to the usual information be sure that your tags contain your cell phone number, and his microchip information.
Food. Always bring more than you need in case you are delayed.
Water. Pack a small cooler with several bottles of water so they can drink as needed.
Bowls for food and water. The plastic disposable bowls are best for travel. They can also be used several times.
Any medications or supplements he takes
Treats and toys. Also something like a Bully Stick may help relieve any anxiety your pet may have.
Pet toothbrush and paste
Brush
Pet wipes. Nature’s Miracle makes one that is great for wiping paws and freshening other pet parts.
Large and small plastic zip bags
Roll of paper towels
Towel
Pet waste bags
Tick remover
Window screens are beneficial when traveling in warm weather

For a plane trip

These items are in addition to the items listed above.

Health certificate from your vet dated within 10 days of your departure.
Airline approved pet carrier with an absorbent pad inside
Gallon size zipper bag tucked into the pocket of travel carrier (more on that later)

Road Trip!

Before we begin a road trip with Nigel and Divot, we always take them for a walk to make sure that they’ve had an opportunity to eliminate and to burn off excess energy. Once on the road, we usually stop about every 3 hours to allow them to stretch, have some fresh air, a little walk, and a potty break. I try not to stop at most dedicated “rest areas” as they host hundreds if not thousands of dogs every week and one never knows what potential illnesses have visited there.

If you are traveling with your dog, having a meal on the road to your destination is going to take some creativity, especially if you are traveling in the summer or in any warm, sunny climate. As I stated above, I am not an advocate of leaving a dog unattended in a vehicle. Where I live it’s usually sunny and even at 50 – 55 º a vehicle still heats up to a dangerously hot temperature. We either pack some food for the first day out or we find a place to get a sandwich or salad and eat in the vehicle or find a place to picnic. It’s not the same as a restaurant with good service and nice ambiance but then again, a picnic, even in a vehicle with my loved ones is a simple pleasure that I happen to enjoy.

Look At Me – I’m Flying!

As with a road trip you’re going to want to exercise your dog before the trip to burn off some excess energy (especially if you have a young dog) and allow him to empty his bladder and bowels. I suggest doing this prior to leaving home and then again when you arrive at the airport before you check in.

Checking-in at the airport

When you check in with your exercised and empty dog, he will be in his carrier. Have your health certificate ready to show the airline representative. Nobody I know has ever actually been asked for it nor has the dog in carrier been weighed, but better to be safe than sorry.

Security

When you go through security you’ll need to remove your dog from his travel carrier. Put his collar and leash inside the carrier, which will go through X-ray along with your other carry-on bags. You will carry your dog through the security gate and then once through, immediately put his collar back on and place him back in the carrier. (I do not leave the leash on the dog in the carrier.) FAA regulations state that your dog must stay in his carrier in the terminal but if he is a seasoned traveler and a friendly, calm dog, as long as you’re not flaunting it and nobody complains, you might be able to take him out discreetly and hold him on your lap.

Hitting the Runway

FAA regulations state that your dog must remain in his carrier, under the seat in front of you for the duration of the flight. Upon take-off some dogs can become frightened and because we do not know if they experience any inner ear pressure, it might be a good idea to feed him some treats that he can chew just in case. I will add here that trying to feed a dog that is in a carrier beneath the seat in front of you, during take off is a terribly uncomfortable procedure, especially in a cramped coach seat. Some dogs will benefit from your distracting hand while the more seasoned traveler won’t find it necessary. Whenever you put your hand in his carrier to give him a treat or simply to reassure him, be very careful that he does not use this as an opportunity to escape! There are times when a dog-loving flight attendant might let you hold a well-behaved dog on your lap for a time but this is not often the case.

One extra tip I have for warm weather travel has to do with that gallon size zipper bag I suggested above. When I flew home from San Francisco to Michigan with Divot, it seemed rather warm in the terminal so I took out my gallon size zipper bag, went to the nearest bar (where Divot was an instant hit with the patrons!) and asked the nice bartender if she could fill it with ice and she kindly obliged. I tucked the bag of ice in the end pocket of Divot’s carrier and the ice radiated coolness into her bag for a little added comfort!

Petiquette

Whether or not you are on a vacation or simply enjoying an afternoon out with your dog, please be considerate of other people. Be sure that your dog is behaving properly in public so as not to be a nuisance, and a danger to himself or other people. If he is being naughty you must remove him from the situation. Be sure to keep your dog on a leash that is no longer than 6 feet. When in a crowd he should be as close to you as possible. In some situations he’s safer with you carrying him. When dining out with your dog, bring a water dish for him – do not expect wait staff to wait on your dog too. Some wait staff love dogs and will ask or simply bring your dog a bowl of water and that person deserves a big tip!

Traveling with your dog can be a rewarding, fun bonding experience. Because you are in unfamiliar territory and it’s likely that you’ll be together 24/7, you’ll need to be prepared for just about anything. Bring lots of patience and creativity and fond memories lie ahead.

Some helpful travel resources

AAA Traveling With Your Pet – The AAA PetBook®
Available at AAA Branch offices, Barnes & Noble, or Amazon.com. This book gives you information on destinations, lodging, meals and entertainment. Also has AAA’s hotel ratings.
DogFriendly.com’s Travel Guide
Available at dogfriendly.com, and Amazon.com. This has national as well as regional and specialty books. This book gives you information on destinations, lodging, meals, entertainment and pet etiquette. Also has a companion website: http://www.dogfriendly.com
Fido Friendly Magazine
This is a national magazine dedicated to those who love to travel with their dog. This bi-monthly publication can be found in pet stores, pet friendly hotels or obtained by subscription. This magazine gives you information and suggestions on dog-friendly lodging, meals, and entertainment.
BringFido.com
This website offers top destinations for dog owners and lists pet friendly lodging.