How to Prepare Your Pet for Long-Distance Travel
Most of the stress in a long trip is avoidable with a week of preparation. These are the steps we ask every client to follow before we arrive for pickup. Works the same whether the pet is going by our van or by airline cargo.
One week before
- Confirm paperwork is in order. Rabies certificate current, health certificate scheduled, CDC Dog Import Form filed if crossing into the USA. Full checklist.
- Start packing the travel kit. See the packing list below.
- Let the pet sniff the crate or carrier. Leave it out in the living area with a familiar blanket inside. Feed treats near it. Crate anxiety is usually crate unfamiliarity.
- Confirm pickup window with us.We'll narrow the time a day or two before.
3 days before
- Don't introduce new food. Same brand, same portion, same schedule. Digestive upset on the road is avoidable.
- Good exercise. Two solid walks or play sessions. A tired pet is a calmer pet at pickup.
- Confirm the destination contact.Name, address, phone, email. Make sure they're ready to receive the pet at the ETA.
Day before pickup
- Final walk or bathroom break in the evening. A full belly and bladder is not how you want to start a trip.
- Clip nails if needed. Long nails catch on crate fabric and cause stress.
- Check the collar ID tag. Current phone number, current address. If the pet somehow gets loose at a rest stop, this matters.
- Pack the paperwork folder. Physical copies, not just digital.
Day of pickup
- Light meal 2-3 hours before. Not a full meal. Not starving. A light meal reduces both carsickness and in-transit accidents.
- Thorough walk 30 minutes before. Relief break. Exercise.
- Keep the handoff calm. The pet will read your energy. A relaxed, confident handoff lowers their stress. Avoid prolonged, tearful goodbyes at the vehicle.
- Hand over the paperwork folder, the food supply, and the blanket. All three travel with the pet.
The travel kit: exactly what to pack
- Food:enough for the trip plus 2 extra meals, in ziplock bags labelled with the pet's name and portion size
- Water bowl (we bring water)
- A blanket or stuffed toy that smells like home
- Medications in the original vet-labelled container with a written schedule
- Collar with current ID tag and a leash
- Poop bags
- Paperwork folder: rabies cert, health cert, CDC receipt, microchip documentation, vet contact info
What we provide
- Clean, secure crate or harness tie-down in the vehicle
- Water and water bowl on hand
- Regular stops for walks and relief (every 3-4 hours typically)
- Climate control in the vehicle throughout the trip
- First aid kit and contact info for vets along the route
For young puppies (under 12 weeks)
Young puppies need extra care. They're vulnerable to temperature extremes, they need more frequent small meals, and they tire easily. For puppies under 12 weeks, we schedule more breaks, set the climate conservatively, and ask that you include a few extra meals in the food supply. Some breeders prefer to wait until the puppy is 10+ weeks for cross-border transport; we support whichever decision you make with your veterinarian.
For anxious or high-energy adult dogs
Tell us at booking. We adjust the vehicle setup (covered crate vs open harness) and build in extra decompression stops. A video call the week before can help the dog associate our voice and face with something positive.
FAQs
Should I give my pet sedatives for the trip?
No, not without veterinary guidance. Sedation in transit is actually dangerous for many pets because it can affect breathing regulation, especially at altitude for cargo flights. Talk to your vet. For most pets, calm handling and a familiar scent work better than medication.
What if my pet gets carsick?
Tell us at booking. We adjust feeding times, use the quietest vehicle positioning, and can request anti-nausea medication from your vet. Most carsickness is managed by driving with short breaks and skipping the meal right before pickup.
Is one long trip harder on a pet than multiple shorter ones?
Surprisingly, a single continuous trip is usually easier than multiple short trips with rest days. Pets adjust to being in the vehicle within a couple of hours. Re-adjusting to a new environment multiple times is more disruptive than staying in familiar surroundings (the van) for a longer stretch.
Ready for a quote?
Tell us the route, the pet, and the date. We'll come back with a price within 24 hours.