If you have a puppy, it's not easy to leave it at home when you have to leave for your holidays! Whether you don't know who to leave it to, or you don't want to part with it, the problem of how to take it with you is real. But it is not always easy to travel with our animals and the trip should be planned very carefully in order not to have problems.
When you plan a boat holiday, the issue becomes even more thorny. Generally the presence of animals is not accepted by boat but, by taking a boat for hire, you can take your trusted friends with you. Let's now see some tips to follow to make a perfect boat holiday for cat dogs and owners!
Permissions and security
First of all, to take your dog or cat with you, if you plan to sail abroad, you will need to request all permits in time. Yes, traveling with an animal is not so simple: keep in mind that some countries impose quarantine on incoming animals!
You may need to do additional vaccinations and, in Europe, you will need a specific passport for your friend. The passport must be requested from a veterinarian and you will need to inquire if the microchip application is required in the country where you are headed.
Once you have obtained all the permits, and you choose the charter boat that accepts animals on board, you will need to take care of the safety of your pet. Travelling by boat, in fact, could be dangerous, or uncomfortable for both: dog and cat.
While cats are more reluctant to change and may not like the new accommodation, dogs may have real difficulty moving around the boat. You will need to make sure that the chartered boat has all the safety devices. You should secure the outside of the boat with fall nets and make sure that your pet always wears the life jacket.
Piers and walkways may not create difficulties for a cat, but they can be dangerous for dogs. Try covering them with non-slip rugs to make the passage safer!
Hygiene on board
One of the problems of having animals on board is certainly that of hygiene. For the needs, for example, you will need to equip a special area with the box and the sand. While for a cat there will be no problems, it will identify and use the box immediately, a dog will have to be trained. You'll have to start some time before, at home, to teach them how to recognize it and use it.
An alternative solution is to make not very long navigation sections and drop your dog down to do the needs. However, this will only be possible on certain routes along the coast. The most likely solution is that you will have to use both systems: frequent stops and, alternatively, the onboard box.
But don't be fooled, the presence of the tape will not save you from having to clean everything very often! You'll find sand scattered around and you'll have to arm yourself with a lot of patience, but have it with you.
In general, having an animal on board will force you to a much more eventful life and the boat will tend to get dirty more easily. However, this is what happens with a small animal, the dog in these cases is definitely more clumsy, but we are not telling you anything new.
Not to mention that even your animals could suffer from seasickness! Make sure you have a cool, shaded area where they can rest and always feed them in small doses so they don't feel bad.
Now that you know all these things, you can decide to go with your four-legged friend. You can rent a boat and take it with you on holiday as an active member of your family!
