Morning,
I've had a pretty good opportunity to contract abroad for 4 months every year (beginning April '24) for a 4 year stint although likely to be extended in perpetuity. This comes at the same time that my wife, who has never had a dog, has relented and agreed to get a dog; in fact has become quite attached to the idea.
My question is this; does anyone travel abroad with a medium sized dog (think Cavapoo) frequently? It seems like it is one or the other but I'm the type that likes to have my cake and eat it.
If so, what are the logistics? flight times would be circa 7 hours but I would travel over several days to break that flight time up if it gives better options.
For the avoidance of doubt, we have not yet acquired said dog so I am unable to offer dog pics to placate the masses.
Logistics are one thing, but I'd think carefully about the welfare of the dog as well. Dogs generally like their routines and such significant disruption twice a year could be bad for some dogs - some would be absolutely fine, but others could become an anxious mess. We have a Cavapoo, and while he'd probably be fine with being in different locations, he'd really struggle with airports and flying.
Pets have to travel as cargo in and out of the UK on flights, and on approved routes (for vet checks). The better option if you are in Europe is to drive using the Eurotunnel as it's far less stressful for the dog. You say 7 hrs, so I presume your only sensible option is flight and that would be my primary concern, some breeds of dog and some individuals really don't do well travelling in the hold. Other options can be to pay for the dog to fly in cabin to say Paris and then taxi with a pet transfer service on the ferry.
Where abroad? So many variables in terms of travel time and method, and vaccination, quarantine etc arrangements.
I looked at taking a cat back to NZ - it would have cost about the same as a first class airplane ticket for a human to get her over there including the fees for the 3 month quarantine, but less all the injections for rabies et needed repeatedly at intervals with follow-up tests before departure. And really unfair and miserable for her so was a non starter.
IMO - it's no life for a dog.
And 7hr flight suggests not within Europe either, so I bet driving isn't possible.
Is the job in a much hotter climate than the UK too? Most UK dogs car barely cope with a hot UK summer let alone possible extremes (traveling from cold UK to hot country).
And on a personal note - my niece has a Cavapoo - it's the grumpiest, most needy dog I've ever known. Bloody hateful thing!
Getting a dog is a commitment and work, it sounds like you'd have a far easier life without this dog. I say that as a dog owner of a dog, she limits our ability to travel even though she has a European passport that we don't have!
We moved abroad and took the dog, my wife and daughter go back to the UK over the summer and Christmas period for most of US school holidays leaving me with the dog. Our dog was pretty traumatised doing the flight in cargo so we won't put her through it again until we go back for good. One person we know here goes back via France as Air France allow small dogs on board and then Eurostars it to London.
can't add pics
In a car I wouldn't think twice. It's basic common sense so stop often, travel overnight if it's hot, take them for a long walk before you travel etc
This was Socks, quite possibly the most well travelled boxer dog
Theres just no way I'd put my doggo in a cargo crate/plane hold.
24hours in our large estate car with frequent pee and sniff stops and an overnight hotel and he's fine.
Chunnel only - I wouldn't do a ferry
Chunnel only – I wouldn’t do a ferry
Dover/Calais, P&O, has a great pet lounge now and isn't much extra. £5pp i think, but you get free tea, coffee and soft drinks. Wouldn't do an over night ferry though.
Pretty much exactly how I expected it go; I know it isn't fair but was hoping someone would tell me tales (pun absolutely intended) of how easy it is to wander on to a plane with your furry best mate (paperwork permitting).
The contract isn't something I'll be turning down so I guess the wife has the option to come along or stay home and dogsit.
Lol at some of the responses.
How many people drag their kids all over the world to follow their careers! 😜
My dad and American step mum spent 3 to 5 months in America every winter for the last 5 years or so. They would take their dog and it was a bit of pain to be honest. Needed to buy a special crate, needed a big car to fit the crate in and it was expensive and he found it stressful. They also got stranded in America during the pandemic as no animals were allowed to be moved at that time. He has passed away now and they have got a new rescue who has separation anxiety and they aren't going to put him through it. What would you do with the dog if it turned out not to travel well as you wouldn't know until it was too late?
We drive to Austria around 4 times a year. Our Cockerpoo knows when we are on a long journey and just lies down between the 2 front seats. We need to stop for breaks more than he does.
P&O Dover ferries have the pet lounge now but to be honest, he’s fine chilling in the car for the 1.5 hr crossing too.
We sometimes do the overnight ferry from Hull. There are 3 dog friendly cabins you can book so we normally do that. He’s only once had to go in the kennels on it and he wasn’t impressed, was sullen the whole next day. I think other dogs were barking all night.
The animal health certificate would be a massive pain, our boy is now an Austrian citizen so has more rights than us.
Logistics could be a nightmare. Within Europe there is no longer a Pet Passport for Uk animals and they have to have an Animal Health certificate for each visit to the EU which is only valid for 4 months anyway. Different countries have hugely different requirements for entry into them and then for re-entry into the UK and avoiding need for quarantine etc.Some will not allows re-entry to the UK without quarantine. Then various requirements for rabies and other vaccinations and treatment for Heartworm etc which are not needed in the UK.
7 hour flight time doesn't sound like its Europe based and again travel costs (unless the company is paying them for you) will likely be prohibitive before you get to the most important point of it being likely pretty stressful for the dog flying in cargo. Known a lot of people to fly with their pets. Most would only do it when emigrating or returning to a country and otherwise rely on dog sitters or kennels.
The only ones that do it regularly fly privately with the pets in the cabin
MIddle East I'd assume from the distance?
We used to travel with our dog from UK to various eu destinations. But always overland/ferries/trains
A lot depends on your dog, luckily ours was very chilled and an experienced traveler. But it is for many pups very stressful. An example would be the harwich ferry where a dogs get there own kennel space, you can visit to toilet etc and you can watch them on CCTV in your cabin. Ours would jump in, get a nice cuddle and go to sleep with my jacket for a bed. Meanwhile the neighboring dogs are going absolutely batshit mental for the whole time because they are scared and stressed. So it's not something that you can be sure will be 'ok'
For a once in a lifetime journey, then yes I would consider flying a dog, but not something regular.
Sadly we are sans pooch just now, we will get another but we are currently doing all the things we want to do that a dog can't join us on.
Everyone is different but I find it easier to make the dog the centre and work around that. It sounds limiting but isn't - because of the dog I have done many things and experienced alsorts of adventures that I would never have considered before him
A friend of mine regularly travels Spain to Scotland with dogs - but she drives because flying is far too stressful for the dogs. Even that is a real hassle because of brexit and paperwork - last time she had to wait 24 hours for UK entry because of a paperwork muck up
We took a dog to Canada and back a couple of years ago for a 2 year job. Glad to have taken him with us but not something I'd recommend doing regularly. I don't think he particularly enjoyed 12 hours in a cage! Would have been even worse if there was a delay, and we flew in autumn fir moderate temperatures when waiting on the runway.
Flying wasn't actually that expensive, but we did cime back via France to avoid the handling fees which are basically a scam. Cargo fees themselves are only a couple of hundred.
If flying to certain countries, service dogs can go in the cabin. Otherwise many airlines incl air france also let you take cat-sized dogs in boxes in the cabin that fit under your seat.
Yeah, it’s doable, but routine matters more than the flight time. If your wife’s never had a dog, I’d test it with smaller trips first because some dogs are fine and some get super stressed in airports.
Also you end up running into the whole rules thing constantly while traveling, quick stops, stores, lobbies, etc. Pets are still pets, service animals are a separate category, so you plan your errands around that. Wellness Wag has this clear breakdown of the service animal vs ESA vs pet rules if you want to read it in one place.
The contract isn't something I'll be turning down so I guess the wife has the option to come along or stay home and dogsit.Was your wife's newfound enthusiasm for the dog actually because she assumed you were going and the dog would be staying "to keep her company"?
It's doable but awkward and expensive, and not ideal for the dog. A 7 hour flight means minimum 12 hours in a cage with no water assuming no delays or connections. Some of that time will be outside, possibly very hot or very cold. The dog needs to be robust.
I've done a 2 year stint in Canada with a dog in tow. He went as hold luggage in the plane and I wouldn't want to do it regularly. He was fine, somehow didn't wet himself, but definitely not the best days of his life and I wouldn't want to plan on it. After landing he was left alone for 4 hours in his box by the baggage carousel while I got my visa looked at. It was worth doing it once for his chasing wild turkeys and ski touring once we were there.
Logistically it's not easy returning the UK. You have to use an authorised animal carrier to accept them at a UK airport which is basically a racket and costs thousands for no actual service. We returned via France instead which was much easier (pre-Brexit pet passports were a thing but they didn't even bother checking).
Also looked at the QE2 - that locks the dog in a cage for 2 weeks so not a better option.
If your dog identifies as a cat/rat it can go under your seat on some carriers like Air France.
Stopping off in various countries along the way would be an expensive paperwork nightmare, probably involving a vet visit and at least a worming treatment in each one.
7 hrs flight....Saudi ?
Some years back we looked at moving to my Employer's place in Oz for 4 years. One of the biggest concerns was the fella being cooped up for ages on a flight (well 2 flights with a break) then months of quarantine. How shit a life to be away from their owner in a concrete pound for 3 months.
Then how old and / or healthy will they be on the return ? Ours would have been something like 11 or 12.
We decided to stay in Blighty. The dog is part of the family and I wasn't going to put him through any such shit ordeal.
Again, this is a thread from 2023 that’s been randomly been resurrected. I really wouldn’t waste your time replying, you’re just shouting into the abyss.