What a jet-setting Chihuahua packs: my dog travel checklist
My human packs one bag. I pack a bag, a carrier and a small suitcase. Here’s what goes in, refined over a lot of countries.
Documents (the boring bit that ruins trips if you forget it)
- Animal Health Certificate, or the export certificate for wherever we’re going
- Rabies vaccination record and microchip number
- Vet’s phone number, plus a vet near where we’re staying
- Pet insurance details, with the overseas cover checked
- Printed booking confirmations that say “pet” on them
- Photos of everything, saved on the phone
The carrier
- Soft-sided, airline-approved, with mesh ventilation
- My own blanket inside, so it smells like home
- A puppy pad underneath, just in case
- A luggage tag with my name, my human’s phone number and the destination address
Food and water
- My normal food, enough for the whole trip plus two days. A new country is not the time for a new diet.
- A collapsible water bowl
- A bottle of water for the journey
- Treats for good behaviour, or for no behaviour at all
Health
- Any regular medication, in its original packaging
- Tapeworm treatment plan for coming home to the UK (book the vet abroad in advance)
- Flea and tick protection, especially for Southern Europe
- A small first aid kit: bandage, saline, tick remover, antiseptic wipes
- Paw balm for hot pavements and cold snow
Wardrobe (non-negotiable)
- A warm layer. Small dogs get cold fast, in planes, in the Alps and in air-conditioned restaurants. My cashmere jumpers exist for exactly this reason.
- A raincoat for London
- A cooling vest for Greece
- Something nice for dinner. I have a reputation.
Comfort
- A favourite toy
- A chew for the journey
- A travel bed that folds flat
- A familiar lead and harness. Holidays are not the time to try a new harness.
Before you go
- Check every hotel, restaurant and beach is actually dog friendly, and whether there’s a size limit (there rarely is for me).
- Look up local rules. Some beaches and national parks ban dogs in summer.
- Book the vet visits you’ll need, both here and abroad.
Read my guides to taking your dog to Europe, flying with a small dog and taking a dog to Japan for the paperwork in full.
