{"id":18613,"date":"2023-08-18T16:08:52","date_gmt":"2023-08-18T16:08:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.skyparksecure.com\/blog\/?p=18613"},"modified":"2026-04-13T10:50:49","modified_gmt":"2026-04-13T09:50:49","slug":"prepare-furry-friend-long-journey","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.skyparksecure.com\/blog\/prepare-furry-friend-long-journey\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Prepare Your Furry Friend for a Long Journey"},"content":{"rendered":"

SkyParkSecure have teamed up with animal behaviour experts, Adem Fehmi and Ellie Lee, on how to prepare your dog or cat for a long trip either by car, or by plane.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

\"Key<\/figure>\n\n\n

More and more of us want our pets to join us on holiday \u2013 especially abroad, with searches for \u2018taking dogs on holiday abroad\u2019 increasing by 240% in the last year.<\/p>\n\n\n

Adem Fehmi is a dog behaviourist from Barking Heads, whilst Ellie Lee is the co-owner of Manchester Cat Clinic<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n

Going on holiday is something we all look forward to \u2013 leaving our pet behind however, isn\u2019t. Fortunately, there have been a surge in \u2018pet holidays\u2019 in the last few years \u2013 whether it\u2019s staycations, roadtrips or holidays abroad as more places become suitable for pets. It was recently revealed that almost 30% of UK pet owners were planning to take a holiday with their pets<\/a> in 2023, with 9% of those planning on going overseas.<\/p>\n\n

However, our pets aren\u2019t as accustomed to the jet set life as we are \u2013 and can sometimes find long car and plane journeys stressful. Travel experts SkyParkSecure have outlined what you need to take into consideration when taking your pets abroad, and if you\u2019re planning a scenic road trip, have teamed up with Adem Fehmi, a dog behavourist from Barking Heads on how to prepare dogs for long car journeys.<\/p>\n\n

Travelling by Plane<\/h2>\n\n

Taking your pets on a plane is considerably trickier (and more expensive) than taking them on a car journey \u2013 with different airlines and different countries having varies rules and regulations, meaning it\u2019s incredibly important to do you research beforehand.<\/p>\n\n

Some countries – such as Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Fiji all require pet quarantine upon arrival in the country \u2013 some quarantine stays are brief, but some can be weeks long, and some countries may onto have a few facilities meaning having to travel into a specific airport or long journey to pick your pet up. In this case, it\u2019s probably best to only take your pets to countries requiring a longer quarantine if you\u2019re saying for a long time or moving there for the foreseeable future.<\/p>\n\n

Most countries, however, will usually accept a valid health certificate and have requirements for your pet prior to flying \u2013 such as being microchipped, vaccinated and tapeworm treatments. Due to Brexit, the rules for UK travellers wanting to travel to EU countries or Northern Ireland changed in 2021 and the EU Pet Certificates became invalid. You now need an animal health certificate, with your pet satisfying EU pet travel rules<\/a>, and upon re-entering the UK, your pet must meet the requirements of the UK Pet Travel Scheme.<\/p>\n\n

Now you\u2019ve done your research, and you\u2019re ready to take your pet on holiday \u2013 can they sit beside you on the plane? Or do they have to go in cargo? Again, this differs depending on airlines, and can also depend on the size of your animal. Some airlines don\u2019t allow pets to travel on their planes at all (with the exception of guide dogs) whilst others may only allow pets to travel in the hold.<\/p>\n\n

Some airlines will allow you to take your pet into the cabin with you \u2013 usually cats and dogs, but some also allow other small animals, such as birds! However \u2013 like hand luggage requirements, there are usually weight and size limits in place, so larger dogs will have to go into cargo. Many airlines also have age requirements in place. Discover the best airlines in the world for pets<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n

The key factors to consider when taking your pet on a plane<\/h3>\n\n