Bringing your dog on a ski holiday

The accommodation

First of all, the accommodation you want to stay at must allow pets. This is not always the case. Because your dog sometimes has to stay here for a few hours every day, it is also important to bring his basket or pillow, and his food and any medicines that your dog is taking.

The winter sports area

It is of course very nice to take beautiful snow walks with your dog. It’s sensible to check beforehand whether the ski area you have in mind also offers nice hiking routes. Your dog is not allowed on open ski slopes. This is life-threatening!

The journey

As most people go abroad for their winter sports holiday, it is also important to think about the following things concerning the trip:

• Your dog must have the correct travel documents and vaccinations. These must be valid for the destination country, but also for the countries you will pass through during the trip. Within Europe, it is important to have a European pet passport. Your dog must be microchipped and vaccinated against Rabies. Make sure to check important requirements before travel.
• Not all dog breeds are allowed in all countries. In addition, a muzzle may be mandatory. So check this carefully in advance.
• The requirements for transporting your animal in the car differ per country. For example, for Germany, the use of a seat belt is mandatory.
• Provide water and a bowl so your dog can drink on the go. Take regular breaks during the trip so that your dog can get out and stretch its legs.
• Provide medication for travel sickness if your dog is sensitive to this!

Winter sports holiday

Now you have arrived at your location, but then there are even more things to take into account.

Your daily schedule

Your dog can’t be left alone all day. The environment is new and strange to your dog. So make sure you adjust your daily schedule accordingly. Alternate half a day of skiing with a nice walk.

Caring for your dog’s paws

It is advisable to take good care of your dog’s paws and to protect them from the snow and cold. Snow lumps can get stuck to the hair between the toes. You can cut away any long hair. You can coat the legs with, for example, Vaseline or special paw wax. You can of course also use protective dog shoes to protect your dog’s paws.

Protect your dog from the cold

A dog that is active outside often stays warm enough. Dogs with a thin coat or older dogs may benefit from using a dog coat. This blog article about dog coats helps you decide whether or not your dog needs a coat. Do not leave your dog outside in the cold when wet, because a wet coat insulates poorly and quickly causes extra heat loss. Don’t leave him in the car either. It gets just as cold as outside and the dog can’t move enough in the car to stay warm.

Finally…

Taking your dog on a winter sports trip is fun, but make sure you prepare properly. Adapt your trip to your dog, in terms of accommodation, winter sports area and travel there, and take the necessary measures to protect your dog against the snow and the cold. Have fun on your holiday!