Travelling with a dog. Considerations?
 

I recently posted this thread in this same forum:

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...how-do-i-37327

Along similar lines, I'd be interested to know about peope who have travelled with a dog, and how that goes with camping, populated areas, locals, wildlife etc

There have been some really helpful posts in the thread about how to minimise the risk of becoming part of an animal's daily calorie intake.

If an animal takes an interest, we can control (to a point) how we behave: play dead, bang pans etc. With our canine girl, it may be a bit harder...

Our dog is inquisitive, friendly, non-aggressive, but does bark if in a tent and hears something outside and I don't really want that to become "Hey there, carnivores... canopes and fast food straight through this thin polyester sheet..."

Other than that are there also other things to take into account (vaccinations aside...)?

Dogs on trips
 

Hi Warthog

Only just seen this thread so hopefully not too late to resurrect the question!

Can I start by asking where you are traveling from and to?

If you are departing Europe and heading through Africa then the paperwork and legal side of taking a dog is not too much of a problem.

You are able to return to Europe (not UK) from Africa without problems of quarantine.

I have never been asked for papers but the normal paperwork inoculations (rabies etc) are advisable. Take advice from a vet as to what other precautions you might take to protect the dog’s health.

As far as passing through borders in Africa - Africans do not seem to even register the presence of a dog. I'm not sure about South Africa though.

Some North and West African peoples seem to regard them with some distaste so you need to use a bit of discretion.

Moroccans on the other hand seem to value dogs.

You will not be able to enter the southern and eastern Game Parks with a dog. Nor will you be allowed into the park in East Senegal.

In Zambia, Flatdogs campsite (which is outside the South Luangwa N park) allow dogs, but they warn owners that their dog might become part of the food chain.

This is increasingly a risk as you move south. I lived many years in Zambia (born and brought up there) and we frequently lost dogs to leopard etc.

Having said all that I would have no hesitation taking a dog.

Hope this helps

John

Thanks for the response, John!

As you can see, feedback had not been plentiful! Well, as long as there are no legal limitations, I guess why not. We have a dog, we have a sidecar and we want to travel through Africa and Siberia, so I guess if we can we will.

Her safety is very important, and it might be that she spends a lot of the trip on lead, or she may simply have calmed down a bit in the 2-3 years before we go (yes, that long to save up...).

If she can be trusted not to wander off, we should be OK. As for camping in the bush, I guess we just need to get used to the idea and keep picking up tips on how to avoid wildlife: the dog was just an extra concern to an existing concern...

Hi John,
I don't have any personal experience, but in Mali last year i met a couple of German lads who were traveling with their 2 year old black lab. They certainly didn't mention having any problems at borders etc. They had been through europe, morocco, w. sahara, mauritania and mali and were planning on heading for the equator.
All those new sights and smells, i bet the dog had a great time!

IMG_2 (460) on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Good luck
Sam

Hi Sam

That is my experience too

I have never had problems crossing boarders with a dog in Africa.

The only problem is returning to the UK

to get round the quarantine issue, the dog has to stay on mainland Europe for 3 months.

Some dogs do suffer in the heat around the equator etc, but, like us, they get used to it

Cheers

John

I've travelled extensively with my two Kenyan dogs in Africa, and am now in Chile with them. There's an article/pdf I wrote for a dog mag on travelling overland with your mutt, which you can download from Lorraine Chittock's Biography and Articles. Just scroll down a bit. I also have an audio book/memoir on this same theme at On a Mission from DOG.

I'm also in the process of writing a book on this subject (I have a publisher), and looking for people who are travelling by horse/bike/vehicle etc. to contribute. If you're interested, drop me a line!
Lorraine