Traveling abroad with your dog: What you should know before booking

A holiday with your dog can be wonderful. Discovering new paths together, relaxing by the water, and spending time with each other. But before your first trip abroad, questions quickly arise: Which vaccinations does my dog need? Which documents should I bring? And will my dog actually feel comfortable during the trip?

Preparation therefore begins before you book—with your dog, your destination, and the rules that apply along your entire route.

Does the trip suit your dog?

Some dogs approach new situations with curiosity, while others need plenty of reassurance and familiar routines. Think about how your dog reacts to longer journeys, unfamiliar people, other dogs, crowds, and unusual noises. Can your dog settle in a new place? How well do they cope with changes to their daily routine?

Age, health, and fitness also matter. A quiet holiday rental with a consistent routine may be more suitable than a road trip with a different place to stay every day. For a very anxious dog or one with health limitations, staying at home with a trusted caregiver may be the more comfortable option.

Arrange a vet appointment early

As soon as you have a destination in mind, discuss the trip with your vet. Tell them the country, travel dates, means of transport, and any countries you will pass through. This will help them assess whether your dog is fit to travel and which preventive measures are needed.

Alongside rabies protection, your vet should review your dog’s routine vaccinations, including those against distemper, parvovirus, infectious canine hepatitis, and leptospirosis. Other vaccinations that may be appropriate depend on your destination and planned activities. Vaccinations recommended for your dog’s health and those legally required for entry are two different things. If your dog experiences travel sickness, significant anxiety, or takes regular medication, ask about a suitable plan well in advance.

There are important basic requirements for travel within the EU

For a typical holiday from Germany to another EU country, your dog generally needs a microchip, a valid rabies vaccination, and a correctly completed EU pet passport. A clearly readable tattoo applied before 3 July 2011 may be accepted as an exception.

The order matters: the microchip must have been implanted before the rabies vaccination used to meet the travel requirements. After the first rabies vaccination, there is a waiting period of at least 21 days. If a booster is given after the previous vaccination has expired, a new waiting period applies. A booster given on time normally does not trigger another waiting period. Additional age requirements and country-specific rules apply to puppies.

Check transit and return requirements too

For travel outside the EU, additional documents or procedures may be necessary, such as official health certificates, import permits, blood tests, or quarantine. Check the official requirements of your destination and every country you will pass through.

Particularly important: before leaving, find out what your dog will need to return to Germany or the EU. For certain countries, a rabies antibody titre test is required. Having this test carried out sufficiently early before departure and correctly documented can prevent waiting periods when returning. Some travel preparations take several months. Also check for possible entry restrictions affecting certain dog breeds.

Parasite protection must suit your destination

Your dog’s usual protection at home does not automatically cover every risk at your holiday destination. In parts of southern and eastern Europe, for example, sand flies can transmit leishmaniasis, and mosquitoes can transmit heartworm. Tick-borne diseases also need to be considered, depending on the region.

Ask which product your dog needs, when to start using it, and whether treatments should continue after you return. A leishmaniasis vaccination, when recommended, does not replace protection against sand-fly bites.

Some countries also require documented treatment against the fox tapeworm. For travel from Germany, these include Finland, Ireland, Malta, Norway, Northern Ireland, and Great Britain. Treatment must be administered by a vet within the required window of 24 to 120 hours before entry. Giving your dog a worming tablet yourself does not replace the required veterinary documentation.

Clarify transport and accommodation arrangements before paying

For trains, ferries, and flights, each operator’s conditions apply. Before booking, ask about reservations, carriers, muzzles, fees, and where your dog will stay during the journey. For flights, also confirm weight limits, carrier dimensions, and any breed restrictions. Particularly for short-nosed dogs, suitability for flying should be carefully discussed with your vet. Sedation for air travel is generally discouraged.

Ask your accommodation specific questions: Is your dog welcome given their size and breed? Can they stay alone in the room? Is there a quiet place to rest and somewhere nearby for walks and toilet breaks? Also check local leash and muzzle rules, as well as access to beaches and public transport.

Prepare for the journey in small steps

Introduce your dog to their carrier or secure car travel setup early, using positive experiences. Short practice journeys will help you assess how well your dog copes with your chosen means of transport.

Plan to bring familiar food, enough medication, water, bowls, a harness, a leash, and a blanket with a familiar scent. Update the contact details linked to your dog’s microchip registration and attach a phone number, including the international dialing code, to their collar or harness. Also identify a veterinary practice and an emergency veterinary service at your destination before you travel.

With the digital health record in PetConnect+, you can keep medical reports, medication details, and important health information together for your trip. You must still carry the originals of your dog’s EU pet passport and any other required travel documents.

Save this article for your travel planning, and check the current official entry requirements before making a firm booking.