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Whether you’re off to the mountains, the coast, a city break or a countryside escape, travelling with your dog is one of life’s great joys — and a little preparation turns a good trip into a smooth one for both of you. Wherever in the world you’re headed, and however you’re getting there, here’s your complete pre-travel guide, including the essentials we’d never leave home without.
Groom before you go — and book a reset for when you’re back.
This is the step most people skip, and it makes the biggest difference. A clean, mat-free coat is far more comfortable on the road, easier to keep tidy away from home, and quicker to dry after a swim. Aim to groom one to two weeks before you leave. Bark & Beauty Full Groom is built for exactly this. Just as important is the groom after you travel — sand, salt, dust and sun take a toll, and a post-holiday reset gets your pup’s coat and skin healthy again. Travel pretty, travel clean, come home and glow up.
Before: a little overgrown and travel-weary. Booking the groom before you go is the first step on the checklist — a clean, mat-free coat is far easier to manage away from home.© MonAme Magazine — all photos copyright MonAme Magazine
After: tidy, fresh and ready for the trip. A pre-travel groom keeps the coat comfortable and low-maintenance on the road — the perfect start to any holiday with your dog.© MonAme Magazine — all photos copyright MonAme Magazine
Travel safely in the car.
A loose dog is a risk to themselves and everyone in the vehicle, and an unsecured pup is often an anxious one. A proper car seat gives them a stable, cosy space of their own. Our favourite is a crash-tested TAVO Pets car seat that installs with ISOFIX in seconds and turns the journey into calm, contained comfort. And it’s available to order at the Bark & Beauty studio in Adliswil. My own little co-pilot has firm opinions about road trips, chiefly that he should supervise every one of them from the best seat in the house.
A raised, secured car seat keeps your dog safe and settled — and lets them watch the world go by.© MonAme Magazine — all photos copyright MonAme Magazine
Safe car travel matters: a crash-tested, ISOFIX-installed car seat gives your dog a secure, cosy spot for the journey.© MonAme Magazine — all photos copyright MonAme Magazine
Safe carriers for trains and planes.
Travelling by rail or air across Switzerland and beyond is wonderful with a dog, but it needs the right bag — secure, ventilated, comfortable and compliant. Our choice for smaller dogs is Leopold’s Finest travel bags, which are designed for exactly this: beautifully made carriers that keep smaller dogs safe and settled on trains and flights. My own little traveller treats his like a first-class suite — he marches in, does three dramatic spins, flops onto the orthopaedic mattress, and promptly falls asleep before we’ve even left the house. Honestly, he naps better in that bag than I do in seat 14C. If your pup is going to judge your packing choices (and they will), this is the one that earns a paws-up. 🐾
Settled and curious — a well-ventilated carrier gives a small dog a safe, cosy base while you travel.© MonAme Magazine — all photos copyright MonAme Magazine
Pack a familiar toy and a water bottle — small comforts that keep your dog calm and hydrated on the move.© MonAme Magazine — all photos copyright MonAme Magazine
When the carrier feels like a den, travel becomes easy — relaxed, happy and ready for the journey.© MonAme Magazine — all photos copyright MonAme Magazine
A compliant soft-sided carrier slides neatly under the seat in front — the key to stress-free in-cabin flights.© MonAme Magazine — all photos copyright MonAme Magazine
Protect the coat from the sun.
Just like our skin, a dog’s coat and the skin beneath it can be damaged by strong summer sun — especially on thinner-coated, light or recently trimmed dogs. A UV-protection brushing spray shields the coat while you brush, adds shine and helps prevent sun-related dryness and colour fade on long days out. A quick spritz and brush before you head into the sun is an easy habit worth keeping. Our recommendations are Chris Christensen Ice on Ice Detangling and Finishing Spray and Block Sunscreen Spray from Artero.
Stay ahead of ticks.
Switzerland’s woodland, meadow trails and even city parks are prime tick territory in summer. Do a 30-second check after every walk: run your hands over the ears, neck, armpits, between the toes and the belly. Remove any ticks with a proper twist-tool rather than squeezing, and keep an eye on the area afterwards. A neatly groomed coat makes them much easier to find.
Keep cool on the move.
Never leave your dog in a parked car, even briefly. Carry water, take shade breaks, and plan the most active parts of the day for the cooler hours.
Your dog’s travel essentials checklist:
- Pre-trip groom booked (Signature Full Groom)
- Post-trip reset booked for when you’re home
- Pet’s car seat — crash-tested, ISOFIX
- Comfortable carrier bag for train and plane travel
- UV-protection brushing spray — shield and shine for sunny days
- Basic grooming kit on the go — a brush and comb, eye cleaner or eye napkins, and wet wipes for paws and hygiene areas between baths
- Tick remover tool and a daily tick-check habit
- Favourite toy for comfort in new places
- Treats and snacks plus their usual food
- Travel water bottle and bowl
- Familiar blanket or bed that smells of home
- Towel for muddy paws and post-swim drying
- Poo bags, lead, harness and ID tag
- Vaccination records / pet passport for crossing borders
- Any medication plus a small first-aid kit
Save this and tick it off before you go:
A little planning means more time enjoying the adventure together, and fewer frantic moments at the departure gate. Wherever you and your best travel companion are headed, may the journeys be smooth, the coats stay glossy, and the window seat always be theirs.
