5 important tips for those traveling with pets

One of the easiest ways to transport an animal, for example, to the dacha, is to use the commuter train, train, or passenger land transport. The rules of transportation are quite simple: depending on the type of animal, it must be kept in a special cage, bag or box, which is placed in places for hand luggage. The total parameters of the container for transportation should not be more than 180 cm in three dimensions for the electric train and 120 cm for ground transport.

However, miniature animals are allowed to be transported without cages and muzzles – it is enough for the pet to be on a leash and under the constant control of the owner. Some dogs can ride in the cabin in a muzzle without cages, but it is better to clarify the rules of carriage additionally when buying a ticket. In addition, according to the rules, only two large dogs can be in one carriage. It is important to remember that only small animals and birds are allowed to be transported free of charge in land passenger transport, for large dogs you will need to pay for a ticket. Exceptions are made only for guide dogs. Traveling by electric train or long-distance train, you will have to pay for a ticket for any animal – the price will be 25% of the cost of a passenger’s full ticket.

Going on a trip from the capital, it is worth remembering that the pit-friendly culture in the regions is not very developed, so on the spot it is always worth clarifying in advance whether the animal will be allowed into the metro or not. By the way, dogs are not allowed into the Novosibirsk metro without carrying them into the subway, despite the fact that they are always welcome in Moscow and St. Petersburg. The main thing is to be on a leash and in a muzzle.

In addition, in the regions, dogs and cats are practically not taken in taxis outside of carriers (drivers are not used to such customers and are afraid that animals will get rocked in the car or they will leave a lot of wool and dirt in the cabin), which can make the trip very difficult. Therefore, if you are flying on vacation, for example, with a large or medium-sized puppy (or just a fluffy animal), we recommend that you book a transfer from your hotel or from the owner in advance. Or at least have a blanket with you to cover the back seat for you and your pet. 

There are many more nuances to consider when traveling with a pet on an airplane, many of which depend on the requirements of a particular airline. Most carriers allow you to take only cats, dogs and birds with you. They are allowed to be transported either in the aircraft cabin or in the luggage compartment. As a rule, the weight of the container together with the animal should not be more than 8-10 kg, and the sum of its three dimensions should not exceed 105-135 cm – depending on the particular airline (105 is the minimum value for all airlines, but some allow dimensions up to 135 cm).

The bottom of the carrier must be rigid and waterproof. Large pets usually travel in the hold. Travel of pets is paid as transportation of non-standard baggage, and the only exception is guide dogs and service dogs, which are required to have a collar and muzzle during the entire flight. To purchase a ticket for your pet, we recommend that you first make sure that the airline allows you to transport the pet and what restrictions apply – just ask these questions to the call center staff and in the messenger. During the call / message, also specify where the ticket for the animal is paid – at the airport ticket office, on the airline’s website or by phone through the voice menu.

Flying on an airplane is an exciting business not only for people who are afraid to fly, but also for animals. However, you can reduce the stress of your pet during the flight if you start preparing for it well in advance. 

Purchase a suitable container / carrier or cage. It will be easier for owners of small and medium breeds of puppies. Actively traveling owners of large breed puppies (for example, Samoyeds) will have to change 2–4 carriers per year, since such pets grow very quickly. Containers for transporting animals are sold in pet stores and on all kinds of sites with private ads. On aggregators of ads, you can also subsequently sell the cage if your pet has already grown out of it or you have not been traveling for a long time. Carriers for large dogs may not be available in pet stores, so they must be ordered in advance – at least a couple of days before departure. Either buy on Avito or, if you live in Moscow, rent it on special services, which is very convenient and economical, since there are many difficulties in transportation with large carriers.     

Give your pet time to get used to and feel comfortable in the carrier. You should put your favorite bedding (on top of the diaper if you have a small puppy), a stuffed animal and a long-lasting treat, or a chewy cong filled with your favorite pâté to make it easier for the animal to cope with stress. A bowl of water is likely to spill when loading a container with an animal into a heated trunk, so it is best to give your dog a drink before departure. However, if your flight is going to be more than 4 hours, you may want to install an autodrinker or a bowl attached to the carrier grill.   

On the day of departure, even if you have an early flight, it is important to give the dog full mental and physical activity: take a good walk (preferably in new places) – ideally more than an hour, if you have an older puppy or adult dog, play actively on the playground, for example, to the delivery. At home, while you are going, you can organize light exploratory games like a sniffing rug (hide various delicacies in a special rug to search for food or simply in a fleecy carpet, through the fibers of which the food or delicacy is not visible). This is necessary for the puppy to receive sufficient intellectual and physical activity, to be less active at the airport and more likely to fall asleep during the flight.    

It is recommended to arrive at the airport with a pet no later than 3-4 hours before departure. However, in my experience, this is too long a period, due to which you, after quickly checking in, remain locked at the airport with your pet, carry-on luggage and carrying it for a few more hours. Therefore, I recommend calculating the time in such a way as to have time to register, laying on force majeure, without arriving as early as possible. And during the rest of the time at the airport, you can keep the puppy busy by repeating commands to distract the pet from the environment (a large number of people, constant flight alerts, etc.). Although, perhaps, the puppy will not be nervous, but will simply observe what is happening around.

You shouldn’t use sleeping pills or sedatives without consulting your veterinarian, especially if you haven’t used one before and don’t know how it works for your pet. Finally, check with the flight attendants before the flight itself if the heating is on in the luggage compartment if your pet is traveling there. 

The most important rule is to be calm yourself. Animals are very good at reading emotions, so if you show excitement, your pet will start to worry too. 

If possible, install a video camera in the pet’s cage, so that upon arrival you can check how your pet felt during the flight and whether there was any rough treatment towards him by airport or airline employees. 

If you are going abroad, you must have a certain set of documents for the animal with you. For a detailed list, contact the embassy or consulate of the country you are traveling to. For a trip abroad and check-in at hotels, the required document is an international veterinary passport, which must contain notes on two vaccinations against rabies and the absence of fleas, worms and other parasites, as well as data on the chip. It is also worth taking care of protecting your pet from ticks and insects – take special pills or drops. 

Before booking a hotel room, be sure to check if pets are allowed. Another way of renting an apartment for the duration of a trip can be an independent search for it on various aggregators, including Avito. For convenience, use the “pets allowed” filter. If there is no such filter, when communicating with the landlord, check whether it is possible to move in with a pet and whether the conditions and the booking price will change because of this (some owners may ask for an additional payment for a pet). Also, if you expect to find some things for the animal in the rented accommodation (for example, bowls, a couch, towels for paws), ask in advance about their availability and if the landlord is not ready to provide them to you, do not forget to take them with you. …

Hotels and hotels are now quite friendly towards accommodation with pets, often an additional fee for a pet is not required. Camping sites, as a rule, require funds for accommodation with a pet and accept animals up to a certain weight – up to 20 kg. Spa hotels usually do not allow families with four-legged friends. If we talk about entertainment, then not all restaurants in the regions accept animals. In order not to be mistaken, it is better to check this information in advance on the institution’s website or in local pubs, the 2GIS website, where there is a special filter, or on a special map of dog-friendly places in Russia. 

After checking into the room, the pet can be left in the room and go for a walk, since the pet will most likely want to sleep after the journey. The main thing is to leave him water, a treat and a toy so that he does not get bored in the absence of the owner.

Despite the fact that the pet-friendly culture in Russia is in the stage of formation, you should not deny yourself the pleasure of traveling with a pet, as this contributes to its development. By their example, the owners influence the development of infrastructure and show local entrepreneurs that traveling with animals is a demand, and “accustom” others to the fact that four-legged friends can be excellent travel companions.

Artem Kromochkin, head of the short-term rental department at Avito Real Estate, tells how to travel with a pet correctly. 

Head of short-term rental Avito Real Estate

“The first thing to start with is to understand whether your pet’s condition allows it to travel: if the pet is very young (for example, a puppy less than 2 months old), or, on the contrary, is elderly, or has serious health problems, it is better to leave it at home. or only take on short trips. For example, some breeds of dogs and cats with flattened muzzles (Persian cats, bulldogs or pugs) are extremely difficult to tolerate air travel. Due to the nature of their body, oxygen deficiency and high temperatures can become fatal for them. If you are in doubt about whether you can take your pet with you on a trip, it is best to consult your veterinarian.

Another point that you cannot do without is the preparation of documents for the upcoming trip. There shouldn’t be any special problems with documents for cats and dogs, especially if you are traveling within the country. But if you plan to transport an exotic pet (turtle, snake, etc.), you need to obtain a special permit for animals falling under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). “