Can you be a digital nomad with a dog?
A while ago I wanted to get a pet dog. The biggest hurdle was trying to find out if it was feasible with the amount of travel I do, so I spent the time to do some research and here’s what I found.
It’s difficult keep a dog as a digital nomad because of requirements and restrictions when travelling with animals. Many countries will require paperwork and vaccinations, and in some cases have mandatory quarantine periods, for arriving animals to prevent the spread of rabies. You will also generally have less choice for things like public transport and accommodation once you arrive. Digital nomads with dogs often like to stay in one place for longer periods of time between travelling to reduce the frequency of these issues.
I decided not to get a dog in the end because I think it would be too difficult for me. But for any motivated people that already have one, is well within possibility to live as a digital nomad with a dog!
In this article I’ll let you know what to look out for and what you should do to make your life easier.
Restrictions when travelling with a dog
There are often strict restrictions when bringing animals past borders due to worries of disease - primarily rabies.
Usually you will be asked for documentation of a rabies vaccine (sometimes translated into the local language) and potentially also the results of a recent rabies titer test that came back negative.
When you enter a rabies-controlled country with your dog, it won’t be able to leave for up to six months. If you decide to leave for a rabies-free country before then, your dog will be forced to quarantine on arrival or risk being returned to wherever you came from.
Even after that, your dog will need a microchip, an import permit and a negative rabies titer test result.
If you plan on only ever going through rabies-free countries, you should be okay. Yes it will be more paperwork than you want, but its mostly an inconvenience rather than an insurmountable obstacle.
Make sure to check the rules of each country before you go there - some are more strict than others. It’s not uncommon for checks at the border to be partially or completely skipped, but it’s better to be safe than sorry so I’d recommend being prepared.
Flying with a dog
Taking flights with a dog has some unique challenges.
In some cases (if they’re small enough) you can put your dog in a carrier and take them in the cabin. If your dog can’t fit in a carrier that can fit under airplane seats, it needs to go in a container.
I think the size of your dog can make or break your decision to travel with it.
Taking it with you in the cabin is safer and more comfortable for the dog. You can’t really know the conditions of the containers beforehand - they might be too hot or too cold for your dog, for example. Though rare, there are stories of dogs being killed in those containers so search online for other people’s experience with the airline you are flying with.
In the airport
Before you can fly, you must pass airport security and get to your gate. This stage isn’t much more difficult with a dog than without, but it may take a little longer so make sure to arrive early.
Check in
When you get your boarding pass at the check in desk, you need to pay any fees for taking your dog, then they’ll tag your dog carrier.
They may also look more closely at the carrier to make sure you aren’t cramming in a dog that’s too big.
If you check in online you should still see go to the desk just in case.
Security
Just like you, your dog needs to be checked by security. You’ll have to take it out of its carrier and remove its collar (if metal) then walk through a fully body metal detector while holding it.
Your dog’s carrier will go through the same machines as the rest of your luggage to be examined.
Once everything has been checked, you should immediately put your dog back into its carrier. After that point, your dog won’t be able to come out of it until you land.
On the plane
If you are able to take your dog on the plane you will need to care for it during the flight.
Once you get to your seat, you’ll need to put your dog carrier underneath it. If you ask the flight staff, they may let you put it on your lap.
I think it’s best to be courteous and let the person sitting next to you know that you have a dog in the carrier, even if it’s completely silent. You never know if they have some serious allergies!
Some things you need to keep in mind for your dog when flying:
- Food and drink
- Pee and poop
- Pressure changes with take off and landing
How you manage food and drink depends on your dog and how long your flight is. Ideally you won’t give your dog too much to eat - it’s better for them to be hungry than to have uncontrollable bowel movements! For some dogs you might have no choice - they will be noisy if they skip meals.
For flights longer than a couple of hours, there’s a bigger risk that your dog will need to pee at some point. You can line your carrier with potty pads so they don’t make a mess. Practice swapping out potty pads without fully opening the bag before you go if your dog is younger and can’t hold it for long.
Once you land, look for a pet relief area (check the airport map online beforehand) for your dog to pee and poop.
Pressure changes on a flight are harder to deal with for dogs than people because their ears are more sensitive. Giving your dog chews will help to keep them quiet and let their ears adjust to the pressure changes more easily. (Just like how chewing can help our own ears.)
Another option you have if flights seem impractical to you is to use other forms of transport like trains and boats when travelling.
Accommodation with a dog
I’m sure you’re not surprised to hear that people are less willing to offer you accommodation when you have a dog with you. The number of places available to you will be significantly lower than normal.
All you can do about this is plan well in advance and let everywhere you book know that you’ll be staying with a dog. Keep in mind that some transportation within the destination country won’t allow dogs either. Again, make sure to plan ahead and check where dogs are allowed and how you will get around the country.
Is it worth it?
I know some people will tell you to get rid of your dog or leave it behind if you want to become a digital nomad. That’s not something I agree with - if you love your dog you wouldn’t want to do that anyway.
Instead I think you should try out travelling with your dog and decide if you are okay with it. You don’t need to commit to full time travel just to try it out one time.
I hope I’ve answered some of your questions in this post and wish you the best of luck if you decide to go ahead and explore the world with your dog!