With the whole issue of the weight of the dogs in the cabin, and the limitations that this entails, our great partner is the car. We are very lucky because Snow loves going in the car and doesn't get nervous, but it is also because we have got him used to it from day 1, and we have done a lot of positive reinforcement so that he associates the car with something good. In this post, we will tell you what tips you should follow to keep your pet happy and calm when travelling in the car.
Just like us, our pets also need special pet insurance to protect them against risks that may arise during a trip, whether nationally or internationally.
In order to be able to travel with our pets, the following requirements must be met:
- Your pet must have at least 3 months.
- The maximum number of pets you can travel with is 5.
- Have a microhchip (only for dogs, cats and ferrets). A practical tip is that, in addition to the microchip, you should also carry a tag with your name and a contact number so that, in case of loss, the person who finds it can locate you.
- To travel outside Spain, you must carry the updated passport with all the vaccines and deworming treatments. In the case of the rabies vaccine, the ticket must have been placed 21 days before the trip.
- In case you do not have a passport because you are from outside the European Union, your veterinarian will have to issue you with a health certificate, which will have to be issued 2 weeks prior to travel.
- My recommendation is always to check on the website of every Ministry what are the exact requirements you need to travel with your pet, as the requirements might change.
WHAT THE LAW SAYS
The Directorate-General for Traffic in Spain, states that the dog must be tethered at all times and allow the driver full freedom of movement, but also does not explain in detail how the dog has to be tethered or how to proceed. However, they do propose several solutions:l
- Strap with a hookThis is the most typical and cheapest. All you have to do is attach the leash to the belt, tighten it, and it will prevent your dog from running off. At the moment this is the one we use with Snow, as he is a small dog who doesn't move around in the car, so when braking it does its job properly. But it is true that for long journeys on the motorway we are not sure that it is the best option.
- Harness: is placed on the animal's body but, unlike a conventional harness, it is padded in the sternal area. The material of the safety harness is usually robust, similar to the fabric of a seat belt. It is passed over the belt and the dog is strapped in. We are also not sure if it is really a better option than the latching lead, as they are very similar methods.
- Carrier: the carrier is usually placed on the floor, just behind the front seats in the case of small dogs and in the case of large dogs the carrier should be placed as close as possible to the backrest and in a transverse position with respect to the direction of travel. Snow has been in it several times, but we don't see it for journeys of more than 4–5 hours because there would come a time when she would want to get out and start crying and moving around.
- Dividing gridis placed between the pillars of the car's structure, separating the cabin from the luggage compartment. The RACEReal Automóvil Club de España) recommends placing the grid from the roof of the vehicle to the luggage compartment floor and comply with DIN 75410-2.
As you can see, there are many options, it's just a matter of trying out which one suits your pet best. What you must NEVER never do is to take your dog loose, even on short journeys. Because on a short journey there can also be an accident, and even if it is in the city it can be fatal for your pet because it can still be thrown out of the car.
7 ESSENTIAL TIPS TO TRAVEL WITH A PET BY CAR
Here are our 7 essential guidelines to ensure that your trip together runs as smoothly as possible:
- Many animals suffer from stress when you change their environment, and when travelling, they may become very nervous or not get used to it. For this reason, our advice is to ALWAYS go to your vet and ask what kind of medicines they can take to help them with stress.
- It's not recommendable to feed your dog before travelling. Some animals get carsick, and having a full stomach will guarantee misfortune.
- We always recommend that you take your pets out for a walk before travelling . Normally after a walk they are more relaxed and sleepy, so they will be calm for the journey.
- Few things cause more stress than loading the car before a journey. And for our pets it is no less so. Try to make sure your pet is the last to take its place in the car, to avoid unnecessary nervousness.
- If it is a long journey, it is advisable to bring some water and to stop frequently to drink, pee and go for a small walk.
- NEVER leave the dog alone in the car. We don't know why, but there is an increasing tendency to leave dogs alone in dangerous places: at the door of the supermarket, at the door of a shop, in the car, etc. Our advice is that if you are two people, one stays in the car and the other does what he/she has to do and that you take turns. Because while you leave your pet "for a little while" it can be stolen, and you may never see it again.
- On long journeys, we have Sara ride with Snow in the back for some of the journey.
TRAVEL SAFELY WITH A PET BY CAR
As with any trip you make with your pet, it is also important to take out insurance for you and your pet, even when travelling by car. In this post about which insurance is best for you, we analyse various insurances and the coverage offered by each one of them. We chose IATIas it has a special package called Escapadas in which you pay a little bit more, but it covers you for almost any problem that may arise during a trip. Remember that you have a 5% discount on IATI just for reading us.
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