Level 3Experienced
Managing travel to a dog show
Travelling well to arrive ready at the ringside
The bag is packed, the documents are filed, the satnav says three hours on the road. But have you counted the breaks, the parking and the time needed to settle your dog in?
A successful trip starts before you leave and ends after you get back. Organising it should let you arrive without rushing, with a dog as comfortable as possible.
1. Plan the whole journey
Check the exact address and, if it is given, the entrance reserved for exhibitors. A large park can have several entrances: the one the satnav picks isn’t necessarily the right one.
Also note:
- The access times given by the organiser.
- Parking options.
- Places where you can take a break.
- The time needed to reach the rings with your equipment.
- A fallback plan in case you are late.
The time the satnav shows is the estimated drive, not all of your organisation.
For a very early start or a long distance, compare travelling on the day with arriving the day before. A night on site can simplify the day, but only if the accommodation also suits your dog.
2. Plan a suitable set-up in the car
Choose a means of transport suited to the dog and the vehicle: for example, a properly sized, securely fixed crate, or a harness designed for car travel, used according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Also stow the luggage so it can’t shift towards the dog.
MyDogShow tip: settle your dog so that you keep your freedom of movement and a clear field of vision at the wheel. The exact choice of crate or harness then depends on your dog and your vehicle.
Gradually get your dog used to its set-up, with small pleasant experiences before a long journey.
3. Organise the breaks
Breaks are for the driver as much as for the dog. Plan to be able to offer it water, a short walk and a quiet moment.
Choose a spot away from traffic. Before opening the crate or letting the dog out, make sure it is under control and on the lead.
Adapt the stops to the length of the journey, the conditions and its needs. If it travels badly or seems very worried, ask your vet for advice before planning long trips.
A window left slightly open does not make a parked car safe in great heat. The FCI show regulations notably forbid putting a dog in danger by leaving it in a vehicle in excessively hot or cold weather.
4. Keep the essentials within reach
Pack a small bag you can open without emptying the boot.
| Within reach | What it is for |
|---|---|
| Water and bowl | Offering a drink during stops |
| Suitable lead, harness or collar | Managing getting out of the vehicle |
| Poop bags | Keeping places clean |
| Towel and familiar bedding | Drying the dog and settling it in |
| Required documents and confirmation | Making it easier to get into the show |
| Useful contact details | Reaching the organiser or a vet |
Documents kept on your phone can be handy, but do not replace the originals when these are required.
5. Check accommodation and other transport
“Pets welcome” deserves a few more questions: how many dogs, what restrictions, what supplement and what conditions while you are away?
If you are travelling by train, plane or ferry, check the carrier’s rules before booking: whether the dog is admitted, required equipment, booking and journey conditions. Service Public (the French government’s official information portal) recommends this check for trips abroad.
6. Plan ahead for travel abroad
Your entry to a show does not replace the formalities for entering the country.
Check early enough the requirements on identification, health documents, rabies vaccination and any additional measures. The rules depend on the destination and the route. Also think about the countries you will pass through and the return to France. French Customs sets out, in particular, the conditions that apply to bringing a dog back into the European Union.
If you are travelling with several dogs, have the conditions for your situation checked: the rules and exceptions can depend on the number of animals and the reason for the trip.
Beginner: three tips to get started
- Test the set-up before the big day. A short trip will let you check the equipment and see how your dog travels.
- Pack the boot the day before. Keep the water, lead and documents accessible. You will have less to look for when leaving.
- Allow time to settle in. On arrival, leave room for a calm walk and for discovering the venue before showing.
Intermediate: three tips to improve your organisation
- Note what made the trip easier or harder. Actual duration, breaks, parking and the dog’s behaviour: this information will be useful for the next outing.
- Compare an early start with a night on site. Weigh up the budget, the driver’s tiredness and how your dog copes with a hotel.
- Organise the return too. After a show day, reassess whether you are fit to drive. Take a break or adjust your departure if needed.
Advanced: three tips for complex trips
- Share out the tasks if you are travelling in a group. Decide who drives, who handles the documents and how the breaks with the dogs work.
- Check the formalities before making important bookings. For abroad, establish the steps and deadlines that apply using official sources and your vet.
- Assess all the successive trips together. Two shows can be close on a map yet involve several tiring days. Take into account waiting, nights away from home and recovery.
Your travel sheet
- Address and exhibitor entrance: …
- Planned departure time: …
- Breaks and arrival margin: …
- Dog’s set-up checked: …
- Documents needed: …
- Accommodation or carrier: …
- Return arrangements: …
- Fallback plan: …
Before you leave, ask yourself this question:
“If the journey takes longer than planned, do I have what I need to get through the day calmly?”