Car travel with dogs and cats: a checklist for Berlin pet owners

A trip with your dog or cat starts long before departure: how does your pet travel safely in the car, what does it need on the way, and which documents apply at your destination? Our checklist helps you prepare. Check the rules of your destination and transit countries again before every trip.

Carrier or safety harness: how your pet travels safely

Secure your pet properly during the journey. Ideally, dogs and cats travel in a carrier that is firmly secured in the car. If your dog does not like carriers, special harnesses that can be buckled in, or a larger crate with a comfortable dog bed, can be a good alternative.

Practice drives: getting used to it in small steps

Long journeys mean a lot of stress for animals, especially when the first drive of several hours is coming up. So get your pet used to longer journeys step by step. That way the car will already be familiar when the actual trip begins.

Plan regular breaks

Driving for several hours is tiring for you at the wheel too. So plan regular stops: they keep you alert and reduce the stress for your pet. A quiet, secluded spot in the countryside is better for a break than a noisy motorway service area. Give your pet the chance to move about and relieve itself there, and offer it food and above all water.

Check documents and vaccinations before you leave

For travel with a dog or cat within the EU, you need identification (microchip), valid rabies protection and the blue EU pet passport. The primary rabies vaccination should have been given at least 21 days before travel; for older animals the vaccination should still be valid. The date and validity of the rabies vaccination are recorded in the pet passport. Have the chip data, vaccination status and travel documents checked at our practice in good time before you leave (more under Services).

Returning from some non-EU countries may require a rabies antibody test; exceptions depend on the current EU lists. Do not rely on an older list of countries – check the current entry rules of your destination and transit countries before every trip, for example with the European Commission.

Checklist before you leave

• Accommodation and means of transport: are pets allowed?
• Carrier or safety harness fitted and practised
• Regular breaks planned
• Microchip and chip data checked
• Rabies protection valid (primary vaccination at least 21 days before departure)
• Blue EU pet passport packed
• Entry rules of destination and transit countries checked
• Water, usual food and medication

Questions about preparing for your trip? We are happy to advise you. Call us on 030 / 412 73 57 (available 24 hours) or use our contact page. More tips for dog owners are on our page Tips & tricks for dogs. We wish you and your pet a good journey!