Dr Mugford, renowned animal behaviourist and psychologist, offers the following tips when taking your pet onboard with Stena Line:
- Take your pet with you on short local trips before embarking on a long journey - this will help to familiarise him with car travel
- Ensure your pet carries an identity disc with your holiday address
- Plan your journey time carefully - you'll need to stop at regular intervals to exercise your pet. Travel in the morning or later at night, taking advantage of Stena Line’s overnight crossings, when it is cooler and less busy
- Ensure your vehicle is well ventilated and cool en route
- Pack a sufficient amount of your pet’s usual food but avoid feeding him less than two hours before the trip. If your pet suffers from travel sickness speak to your vet
- Water is vital during summer-time car journeys and should be offered at least at two-hourly intervals. Carry a two litre bottle of water in case your pet suffers from hyperthermia in a hot car
- Arrive at the port early so that your vehicle can be positioned in the best place in the hold for the welfare of your pet. Travelling on one of Stena Line’s overnight crossings is also recommended - your pet will be used to sleeping at that time
- Attach a CLIX Car Safe harness to your car seats, which will function as a seat belt for your pet, avoiding possible painful injuries
- A restrained pet in the car may also be liable to overheating if there is no shade from sunshine. Specially designed solar shades are available from good pet shops so monitor this aspect of your pet’s comfort
- Do not allow your dog to travel on the front passenger seat of your car. In some countries this practice is illegal and it is certainly dangerous for dogs if safety airbags are activated in a crash.
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