Travelling with your pet to a festival

Festival season is in full swing, and we’re here to banish your travelling blues!

We’re bringing our best summer vibes to this post about travelling with our pets to festivals, helping you arrive safely and ready for the time of your lives… care to join us?

Discover dog-friendly festivals

We love that pet-friendly festivals are popping up all over the UK.

Festivals offer a fantastic chance to make amazing memories with your best fur-iend, and we think it’s great that there are now events specifically for pets and pawrents to enjoy together.

An incredible dog-friendly festival we know you’ll want to get on board with is Pawfest, happening in September 2023!

To find out more, and to get your paws on tickets, visit Pawfest.

Adventure essentials

Here are some must-haves for your dog:

• Collar with I.D. tags
• Comfortable harness
• Lead
• Water (don’t forget to keep it cool and clean!)
• Travel-friendly water bowl
• Snacks
• Poo bags
• Suitable suncream (for pets and pawrents!)
• First-aid kit
• Blanket (a comfy place for your canine to curl up!)
• Dog-friendly wet wipes
• Towels
• Umbrella (protection from rain or sunshine!)

Pre-travel prep

There’s extra prep needed before travelling with your furry friend:

• Make sure your pooch is protected by up-to-date vaccinations.
• Update your pet’s microchip details.
• Have a dog seatbelt or car crate at the ready, so they stay super safe!
• Your pup should know not to jump up at passers-by and should be happy to walk nicely by your side.
• It’s helpful to train your canine to understand commands like “sit” and “leave”, to keep them calm when festival fun gets a little too exciting!
• Practise shorter journeys until you find the perfect travelling process for you and your pooch.  
• Praise your pet for getting it right and taking travel in their stride!
• Don’t forget to carry your vet’s contact info.

Travelling your canine by car

Not all of us are lucky enough to live near these fabulous festivals, which means we need to travel quite a distance. While we realise most dogs love jumping into the car and embarking on their next, great adventure, it’s important to make sure you schedule plenty of rest-stops along the way.  

Taking a break creates calm for your canine, as they can stretch their legs, have a drink, and poop in peace!

Some dogs are anxious about travelling by car, however, so it’s important to note any signs that they may be stressed.

Signs of stress include:

• Refusal to get into the car
• Panting excessively
• Drooling
• Shaking
• Barking
• Crying
• Lip licking
• Swallowing repeatedly
• Toileting
• Vomiting

If your best fur-iend is frightened of the car, we suggest getting them used to it while it’s parked, by giving them some of their favourite tasty treats when they bravely sit on the car seat (or in their travel crate)!

Remember: Symptoms of travel sickness mimic signals of stress, so contact your vet if you feel your pet suffers from travel sickness.

Preventing travel-induced stress:

• Feed your dog three hours before travelling, to allow their stomach to settle.
• Walkies! Exercising your pup prior to popping them into the car helps them feel calmer.
• Keep cool air circulating for the entire journey, so your pooch stays comfortable and doesn’t overheat.

You can find products designed with travel in mind, such as calming coats and de-stress sprays, though we recommend checking in with your vet before using any anti-anxiety products.

Travelling with your pooch on public transport

Boarding buses and trains can be an exciting experience for many mutts, as they lap up the attention of fellow passengers and love the new sights, smells, and sounds!

Many ferries are dog-friendly, train services tend to be happy to invite dogs along for the ride, and most bus drivers love dogs to join them for their journey. Coaches and taxis, however, are less likely to allow your pup to pop aboard, so we recommend contacting the travel provider before it’s time to head to the festival.

For dogs who find public transport a bit scary, the best way to help them feel better is to practise using public transport with your pooch before travelling to a festival.

We also recommend using public transport when it’s quiet, as this will  limit the anxiety your dog may feel in unfamiliar, bustling environments. Public transport also provides your pooch with fantastic practise in coping with new environments prior to attending their very first festival.

Share your pet-themed festival stories with us on our Facebook or Twitter pages, or why not head on over to our stand to say hello? We can’t wait to see you!