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Traveling
with your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Cavalier King Charles
Spaniels are great travelers! They heartily resist being left behind,
so why not take them with you? Whether you are just running up to the
grocery store, or taking off for a family vacation, here are some ideas
and tips for traveling with your Cavalier.
Tips for Car
& Airline Travel
Traveling with your
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel can be fun and easy, but a few practical
considerations apply, especially if your Cavalier is still a puppy.
Car
Travel with your Cavalier
Bentley,
like most dogs, loves to ride in the car. But his first inclination was
to stand in my lap as I was driving with his paws up on the window
ledge so he could see the world go by.
Needless to say, that position was neither the most comfortable for me
or the safest way for Bentley to enjoy a ride in the car.
The
solution was to put a booster seat in the back for Bentley. The model
we chose was high enough to allow Bentley to watch the world go by
without standing up against the car window. Now, I can give my
driving my full
attention and I no longer worry about Bentley riding in the front seat
where he could potentially be injured if the air bags deployed.
The seat belt fits
into the slots in Bentley's booster seat to hold it securely in place.
It also comes with a strap that can be attached to the seat belt to
restrain your pet, if necessary. There's a handy drawer in the base of
the booster seat - a great place to keep treats, a bottle of water, an
extra leash, or other travel essentials.
Driver's Ed: Tips for
Pet Travels:
-
Let new pets become
accustomed to the car gradually. Start by putting your Cavalier Spaniel
in the car with the motor off.
Let him wander around and get familiar with all those "car
smells." Next time, let your pet get used to being in the car
with the motor running. Work up slowly to actually driving down with
street with your Cavalier by your side.
-
Always keep your
dog's collar and ID tags on him when riding in the car.
Particularly until you've fully trained your Cavalier King Charles
Spaniel on how to behave in the car, there's always a chance you might
be separated in an unfamiliar neighborhood.
-
Pack a "Pet Emergency
Travel Kit". Include a bottle of water,perhaps a water dish, some
treats (in case your dog gets loose, you may need to lure him back to
the car), and an extra leash.
-
Never leave your best
friend in a parked car! Even with the windows slightly open, it's
amazing how quickly a parked
car can heat up to the point where it can be fatal to a small dog.
- On long trips, try
not to feed your pet for several hours before traveling to avoid upset
stomaches. Bring ice cubes to quench your pet's thirst. Consider adding
sun shades to your car windows to keep your dog cool and comfortable
while traveling. Bring a copy of your pet's Health
Record in case you need to seek veterinary assistance out of town.
Consider adding a temporary ID tag to your pet's collar with the phone
number where you can be reached at your destination.
Airline Travel
Naturally,
you'll need to research the particular regulations and fees imposed by
your chosen airline. Here are a few links to the pet policy
sections of major airlines for your convenience:
Here are also some general guidelines for air travel.
-
Your Cavalier King
Charles Spaniel will need to
be at least 8 weeks old and weaned before travelling by air.
-
A health
certificate is generally required from a licensed veterinarian within
10 days of travel. So, if your vacation will last more than 10 days,
you may need to arrange for another vet exam prior to your return.
-
Taking
your Cavalier on board and stowing him under the seat in front of you
in the main cabin is the only acceptable arrangement. We don't recommend allowing
your pet to be put in the plane's cargo hold as it has been reported
that thousands of animals have been lost, injured or killed while being
transported in the cargo holds of commercial airlines. So take whatever
time and effort is necessary to ensure that your pet's crate or
soft-sided carrier will meet the airlines requirements and will fit
under the seat.
-
Request a middle seat
for yourself as aisle
and window seats have less room under the seats.
-
If at all possible,
take a direct flight to your destination. This will minimize the time
your pet is restrained in his crate or carrier and avoids possible
trouble caused by missed connections.
-
Make sure your
Cavalier King
Charles Spaniel is wearing his ID tags. Consider adding a temporary tag
to his collar with a phone number where you can be reached at your
destination. Write your name, home address and
phone number on his crate or carrier as well as your destination and
how you can be contacted there. Carry a photograph
of your pet in case your pet gets loose and becomes lost while
traveling.
-
If possible,
introduce your pet to air travel gradually. Start out by taking short,
direct flights. If your Cavalier tolerates the experience well, then
considering booking longer flights and eventually, connecting flights.
- Don't sedate your pet
without the guidance of your veterinarian.
As
of June 15, 2005, the new Safe Air Transport for Animals Act in the
United States will
require US commerical airlines to report incidents of pets lost,
injured or killed
while flying in the cargo hold. As a result of these new
regulations, in the future, we will be able to check the airline's
track record on transporting pets by air. In the meantime, take every
precaution to ensure your pet arrives at your destination safely.
If you are interested in reading the U.S. Department of
Transportation's monthly Air Travel Consumer Report, you can access it here.
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