Traveling with Your Dog: The Ultimate Guide

There are many scenarios where you may be thinking about traveling with your dog. Maybe you’re going on vacation and don’t want to leave your dog alone.

Your adorable pup is part of the family and the last thing you want to do is leave them with an expensive dog hotel where they may be confused and uncomfortable. Another alternative is hiring a trusted pet sitter or asking a family member to watch your dog. But what if those options aren’t available?

Another alternative is to hire a dog transport service to take care of those needs. Let’s take a look at the ultimate guide to traveling with your dog. We will also include other alternatives you can take.

Is Traveling with Your Dog Possible?

We can drone on about so many things here, but let’s just get to the point. The simple answer is yes! You can definitely travel with your dog and the best part is there are several ways you can do that. Here are some great options.

Air Travel

Air travel is the fastest way to travel with your pet. However, it can be pricey, and there are a limited number of spots available for dogs, so you’ll have to plan well in advance.

And, you have to remember that airlines pose requirements to which you’ll have to adhere:

• Dogs over a certain weight can only fly in the cargo area.
• Snub-nosed breeds cannot fly in the cargo area.
• If you have a large snub-nosed breed dog, it won’t be able to fly.

Plus, flying in the cargo area isn’t a pleasant experience for most dogs. Ground transportation — which we will discuss next — is a more humane way to transport a dog.

Train Travel

There’s good news when it comes to train travel. Amtrak allows pet transportation, but just like airlines, only cats and small dogs are allowed.

• Having a pet on board the train only costs $25, but they have to fit in a carrier underneath the seat in front of you.
• The dog must remain in its carrier for the entire trip.

Unfortunately, train travel isn’t a good option if you own a large breed of dog. Another downside of train travel is the limited number of routes in the United States.

Driving Yourself

The third option is the do-it-yourself approach. You can simply grab your car and drive with your furry friend to your vacation spot. It’ll be an adventure reminiscent of John Steinbeck’s novel, Travels with Charley.

However, transporting a dog by yourself over long distances isn’t as easy as it sounds. And, if you’re on a tight schedule, it can be extremely time-consuming. Remember, dogs need a potty break every four hours or so.

And while it may seem like a more affordable option, traveling with your dog might be more expensive than you realize. If it’s a multi-day trip, you have to consider the cost of pet-friendly lodging, wear-and-tear on your vehicle, and other expenses.

Why Ground Transportation is a Great Option for Traveling with Your Dog

The bottom line is that ground transportation is more reliable than air travel. That’s just the plain truth.

If you don’t want to transport the dog yourself, you can hire a ground transportation company to deliver your pup to its destination.

1. There is a prohibition on pets other than cats and dogs. Furthermore, if you have a large dog, they will have to go in the cargo hold.
2. Flying can stress your dog, especially if they are in the cargo hold.
3. With the flight cancellations over the holidays, flying can be unreliable because of weather and other factors.
4. If you hire a company, ground travel logistics are easier and can offer door-to-door delivery, which is impossible with air travel.

Using Ground Transport To Deliver Your Dog

Using ground transport companies is an easy alternative to traveling with your precious pup. There are many ground transport pet companies, each providing different benefits and drawbacks.

Ensure all pet transport services adhere to the USDA’s rules and regulations in pet handling, too. You can go to IPATA for informative articles about recommended pet transporters, puppy scammers, fake scamming companies, and more pet-related stuff.

Ground Transport Cost Factors

The total cost of transporting your dog will vary based on various factors. Let’s take a look at them briefly.

• Moving Distance: If your final destination is a few hundred miles away, it’s safe to assume that the costs will not be as high. It’s less time the driver is on the clock, less vehicle usage and fewer fuel charges. However, sometimes ground transport companies transport multiple dogs at a time, you may save money the further the distance. They will charge per mile and the farther distance ends up being less than the closer one. Pay attention to this factor when choosing the best ground transportation for dogs.
• Pet Size: Ground transportation companies have different rules regarding dogs. If they’re smaller, they’re going to be placed in a carrier and transported more easily. If you have a larger dog, things will be more expensive. A good thing to consider is that if you do have multiple dogs, you may be able to get a package deal.
• Health Documentation: There are rules and regulations regarding health documents that you need in your destination state. Check online to see what requirements are needed. Most states and dog transportation companies will require your pet’s vaccination documents and a health certificate filled out by a veterinarian.
• Equipment: The pet transport service may require a carrier or crate for traveling, especially if they are traveling with other pets. There are soft carriers that are mostly used for small dogs. There are also hard carriers for larger dogs. We recommend a sturdy, more expensive hard carrier because it won’t run the risk of breaking during the journey.
• Time of Year: Like other sectors of the transportation industry, seasonality has an effect on the cost of transporting your dog. Summer and around holidays are a popular time for pet transportation, driving up demand and cost.

CitizenShipper Makes it Easy to Find a Pet Transportation Professional

Most people don’t have the time or experience to drive cross country with a dog. After looking at all the logistics it entails, you’ll want to pull your hair out. It’s just plain overwhelming and stressful. And furthermore, the option of hiring a traditional pet transportation company can become too expensive.

Using a two-way marketplace like CitizenShipper to find an independent pet transporter is a great solution. You can save money on transportation costs because drivers bid for your business, most often saving up to 60%-70% compared to a traditional pet transportation company.

Using CitizenShipper is Easy!

• Once you post a free listing on our marketplace, a fleet of vetted and screened, USDA-registered drivers will send you quotes, usually within minutes.
• You can compare bids and instantly chat with drivers across our network. Because drivers compete for your business, you’ll be able to select a quote that fits your budget.
• Once you choose the driver you like best, you’re ready to book your trip!
• Payment is received before or after delivery, an option usually decided by the driver and agreed upon by you.

The bottom line is your beloved pet will be in good hands with CitizenShipper’s qualified drivers, who are animal lovers who will treat your pet like he’s a part of their family. We also work hard to ensure your peace of mind throughout the entire transaction. CitizenShipper provides some added benefits for you — up to $1,000 Pet Protection guarantee, a messaging system where you can communicate directly with the driver and 24/7 TeleVet access through our partner Vetster.

Bottom Line

Although there are many options for dog transportation, there are really two main ways to travel with a pet — either air travel or ground transport. Those are the easiest with the most abundant of possibilities. The deciding factor to consider in choosing which dog transport service is right for you can be the cost. The honest truth is that it’s tricky. The dog transport cost can either make you or break you.

The drivers on CItizenShipper will take great care of your precious dog along the journey, saving you the stress and work of doing it yourself. Post your pet’s transport now, and get free quotes in a jiffy!