Travel With Your Dog

Travel by Air:

If you are going to travel with your dog by air, contact the airline at least two weeks in advance to check their dog travel policy and make arrangements for your dog to travel. Many airlines will not allow brachycephalic breeds like the Boston Terrier to travel in the cargo compartments.

Based upon the weight of your dog, it may or may not be able to travel in the cabin in a soft sided carrier. Be sure to tell the airline that you have a Boston Terrier so you get very specific dog travel information and don't end up with a surprise on the day of your trip.

You may also need to get a health certificate, which usually needs to be issued within 10 days of your departure. Your Boston will need to travel in a carrier that is airline-approved. Most pet supply stores carry them. If your BT is not used to being in a crate, spend some time before the trip getting him accustomed to it.

Try to get the most direct flight possible. If you will be flying on a commuter plane during the trip, call them to confirm that they will carry dogs (some do not). On the day of travel, you will want to withhold food for about 12 hours prior to departure and water about 1 hour ahead.

Make sure your Boston is wearing identification including your name, phone number and city. You may also want to carry emergency instructions with the name and phone number of a friend or relative, your veterinarian's name and contact information and any notable medical information. And, don't forget his first-aid kit.

Foreign Travel With Your Dog:

If you will be traveling outside the country, contact the consulate or agricultural department of the country you will be visiting for vaccination requirements. Some countries have quarantines as long as six months and their rabies vaccination requirements may differ. Sometimes, a rabies vaccination will be required at least 30 days prior to travel.

Boarding Kennels:

An alternative to having travel with your dog is to board him. Your veterinarian may be able to recommend a good facility, or even a pet-sitter. Some larger pet clinics offer boarding, or have technicians that will pet-sit or board canine patients in their homes.

Boarding kennels will ask for proof of vaccination for DHLPP, rabies and bordetella. The bordetella vaccine should be given within six months of boarding. This is for your dog's protection! If the kennel doesn't ask for proof of vaccination, you may want to consider another kennel. Ask about flea control as well. This can become an issue for dogs that suffer from fleabite allergies.

Pet Sitting:

An arrangement that has worked well for us in the past is trading pet-sitting services with a friend or relative. My mom has four pomeranians that we take care of when they travel. In return, she watches our Bostons for us if we go out of town.

If you decide on a reciprocal pet sitting arrangement, make sure the human relationship can stand it. It can be stressful caring for someone else's pet, and you want to make sure that one person isn't always the sitter without getting sitting services in return. Also, make sure the animals all get along and that your Boston is comfortable with the person that will be taking care of him. In most cities, you can find pet sitters available for hire. If you are planning on hiring a pet sitter, ask your veterinarian, friends and family members for recommendations.