If you have to take travel by plane and need to take your dog you may be worried about what to expect. All airlines will require your pet to have advanced reservations and separate tickets. Taking your pet on the plane will more than likely mean storing them in the cargo area, as only very small dogs are allowed onboard. Tickets for pets can cost more than seats for humans, even if they are onboard and going under the seat. Either way, your dog will need to remain kenneled the entire time they are on the flight.

Before your dog flies you will need to have him or her checked out by a Veterinarian, and will need records of their vaccinations, often referred to as a health certificate. They can’t fly without it. You will also want to make sure that you have enough time between flights to let your dog go potty.

If you’re worried that your pet will need to use the potty during a long flight pee pads or a doggie diaper may be in order. Make sure your pet is in a hard sided travel carrier, and that they’re comfortable and have a toy or two to entertain them. Save feeding until after they’ve departed the plane. You will want to talk to your vet about the safety concerns surrounding your dog’s flight. For some dogs Dramamine or a sedative may be desirable, for others sedation may increase a risk of liver, kidney, or heart failure due to the stress of flight.

When you’re parting from your pet make sure to not make a scene. If you treat the departure and experience as commonplace your pet is less likely to get anxious. Always tip the baggage handler who takes your pet to the hold. Tell baggage handler which flight your pet’s going on, and even your pooch’s name. A tipped attendant is more likely to give your pet the care you’d like. When you finally board your flight tell the flight attendant that you are traveling with your pet, and politely ask them to check on the temperature in the hold. This will let them know that your pet is aboard and that you are concerned. Likely the attendant will return to tell you that they’ve physically checked in on your dog.

If your dog is in the hold he or she will come off the plane first. This will give you plenty of time to pick up your luggage before going to the oversized baggage area, which is where you’ll find your pet. Just like when you’re waiting for your suitcase to come off the plane, wondering if it arrived all right, you may feel nervous as you wait for your dog’s arrival. Don’t be afraid to ask a baggage attendant about the whereabouts of your pet. Even if they don’t know or aren’t sure where your pet is, be patient, because your pet is likely to be unloaded last.

The decision to let your dog travel in your recreational vehicle while you vacation or retire may seem like a no-brainer. It’s your home away for home and no one would dream of leaving man’s best friend behind.

While it may seem a simple choice, taking Fido along in your RV can pose a lot of travel problems. The biggest, and possibly most surprising difficulty, is that there are a large number of campgrounds and rv resorts that have strict regulations about dogs. While a majority of parks, including state and national parks, are dog friendly some rv resorts and campgrounds restrict the size or breed of dogs they will allow you to bring. Dog breeds who are popularly seen as ‘dangerous’ like Pit Bulls or Rottweilers, or dog breeds who are factually known for their feisty behavior may not be allowed. Large breeds and giant sized dogs are often discouraged at RV parks, from Golden Retrievers to Great Danes. Always check with the RV resort or campground you are traveling to in order to ensure that they are dog-friendly and will allow your pet to stay. Don’t try and argue if they hold a prejudice against your pet’s breed or size. Most campgrounds have likely heard your argument a hundred times and already rejected it. And even if you do convince them that your dog will be no problem you can be sure that they’ll watch you like a hawk, which means more stress and less fun for you and your family. Instead, just find a different place to camp. The chances are the amenities will be the same and you’ll all enjoy the experience more knowing that everyone in your family is welcome.

All campgrounds and resorts will require that your pet to be leashed at all times when they are outside of your vehicle. While some campgrounds will allow you to leave your dog outside on a short run on cool days, or to set up a dog house or play yard for your pet, most will not. Other rules that campgrounds may impose are no barking dogs after a certain time in the evening. If your dog’s a barker and you’re staying for more than one night this can become a real headache. Frequent campers with bark prone dogs often invest in a bark deterrent collar. This investment can save you from a lot of complaints or being asked to leave the campground due to a ‘mouthy’ pet. A few RV resorts, especially those in the south where temperatures can get quite high, have rules that restrict owners from leaving their pets in their RV while the owner is away. Even if you’ve left the air conditioning on these resorts see it as leaving your pet in a vehicle on the grounds that, should something go wrong with the cooling system, your pet could easily die of heatstroke. Always make sure you ask any campground or resort to which you are traveling what their rules are for both your specific dog’s breed and their rules for pets in general.

The actual traveling with your dog in an RV can pose other, often unconsidered of, issues. Recreational Vehicles are large and unwieldy to maneuver so emergency stops for a doggy potty break can be hard to make. Be sure to walk your dog every time you take a break to stretch your legs or get out of the vehicle. Dogs may also become nervous in a new place, so it’s a good idea to bring a kennel that you can put your pet in should they become agitated. Another, larger, problem is that of leaving your pet in the RV alone. While a recreational vehicle is a home away from home it is still a vehicle and it is illegal in most states to leave your pet in your vehicle, even if you have a generator to run your air conditioning. When traveling try, as much as possible, to find places that are dog friendly for you to eat, shop, swim, or sightsee at. Planning your route in advance, as well as the things you want to see, will help you to ensure that you don’t break the law. If you need to do something you can’t do with your dog, do some research in advance to find a boarding kennel so you can still enjoy yourself without endangering your pet.

Your pet’s health is another thing you must plan in advance. While camping your dog may come into contact with another animal – most often squirrels, chipmunks, and raccoons – that can carry rabies. Some states have heavy tick and flea populations, which can endanger your pet’s health with lyme disease or infections. Worms may also be a problem, as dogs are sure to run afoul of other animal’s feces so make sure your dog is on a preventative for all three parasites. Depending on your vacation destination biting flies and mosquitoes may present another health hazard. Make sure to bring a pet-safe bug spray, just in case biting insects bother them. As always when you travel away from home bring your pet’s medical and shot records. You may need them if your pet is injured or if you need to kennel your dog.

The Recreational Vehicle itself may pose a hazard to your pet if you aren’t prepared. For all animals filling the propane tanks can be a danger, and you should always remove all pets from the vehicle when your tanks are filled. This is due to the small possibility that heat could ignite fumes from the filling tank and the RV could explode. For small dogs the smaller space means a higher risk of bone fractures and breaks from being stepped on. If you have a small dog, make sure to shuffle your feet instead of picking them up to walk to avoid accidentally damaging your dog’s tiny bones. Another injury risk, especially for small dogs, is entering or exiting the recreational vehicle. Try to place a mat or cushioning of some kind at the base of your RV’s stairs so that your dog will not injure himself when jumping.

While taking your dog with you while you travel in your RV may mean more planning, having your four-legged friend at your side to enjoy the natural settings of campgrounds or take walks down meandering trails can enrich your vacation.