One of the advantages of owning a Chihuahua is that this small breed is extremely portable. Your Chihuahua can go almost anyplace a dog is allowed. If you\\\\\\\’ve worked hard to socialise her and acclimatise her to her new surroundings, travelling with you will be a blast for your Chi as well.
Benefits of a Small Dog
Weighing an average of four pounds has several advantages. The Chihuahua can often travel where other dogs cannot—in the cabin while flying cross-country, in a fashionable purse worn over the shoulder at a posh shop in Paris, overnight at elite hotels in New York City that pamper dogs, and even outside at cafés across the country.
And, of course, there are the less elite locations (but great fun for the rest of us) that welcome small dogs: home improvement and hardware stores, outdoor tables at a national coffee shop whose name will not be mentioned, pet supply shops, local parks (as well as many state and federal parks), camp sites, and many roadside hotels and motels—to name a few.
As you can see, owning a toy breed has numerous benefits when it comes to travel. Toy breeds, particularly Chihuahuas, are virtually always acceptable in dog-friendly environments. Because the Chiless is small, it can be threatening to non-dog people, therefore people in unfriendly environments are less likely to complain about the presence of a dog.
Many countries allow dogs of all sizes on trains, buses, and other modes of public transportation, as well as in stores and restaurants. Canines are not permitted in indoor restaurants in the United States due to health concerns, unless they are recognised as service dogs.
The Chihuahua weighs between a very little two pounds and up to six pounds, making it relatively portable for owners who lack the muscle to carry a bigger toy breed. (Of fact, there are enormous Chis that weigh 10 pounds and require some muscle to carry; nevertheless, this is not the usual.)
Carrier Types and Purpose
When choosing a crate or carrier expressly for travel, you must consider how the crate will be utilised the most. Will you be carrying it over large distances, such as through an airport terminal?
Will you be flying with your Chihuahua, or will the most of your journey, if not all, be via car?
Where will you stay when travelling, and is your Chihuahua destructive when left alone? Do you require a crate that can do it all, or are you in a position to buy more than one carrier?
Depending on how you answered these questions, one or more categories of carriers may be appropriate for your travel needs. Each type of carrier offers a variety of features and costs.
Hard plastic shells.
Crates constructed of rigid plastic are often affordable and can be broken down into two large halves for storage. This is the only form of crate that can be used to transport dogs in a plane\\\\\\\’s cargo hold. Hopefully, you will never need to do this and will always travel in the cabin with your Chi.
This box is also permitted to be placed beneath the seat in front of you while flying. (Check with the airlines for current size and weight restrictions.) Of course, travelling with your Chihuahua in the car is a very safe and practical option.
Look for carriers that include seat belts. Some crates include loops through which a seat belt can be threaded and attached. A dog in a crate is excellent, but a dog in a belted, safe crate is even better.
These crates are incredibly light; nonetheless, if you are travelling any distance with They find it difficult to transport the plastic crate. Even with the shoulder strap arrangement, this container isn\\\\\\\’t the easiest to transport.
Of course, you can always put it on a luggage cart and wheel your dog around airports, hotels, and other places, but this isn\\\\\\\’t the kennel you\\\\\\\’ll want if you\\\\\\\’re going to the store or for a latte.
Wire crates
Wire crates come in a variety of designs. Some fold up cleanly, while others do not. Wire crates are heavier than plastic, more expensive, and definitely not something you\\\\\\\’d want to carry for more than a short distance.
They do, however, provide better circulation and a beautiful view of the world when travelling by car. These crates are not allowed for flight transport, either in-cabin or in the cargo hold.
Be especially aware of the temperature difference in your vehicle. You may be enjoying the fresh air with the windows open while your Chihuahua overheats in her box in the rear seat. Toy breed dogs have perished because their owners were unaware that the temperature was significantly higher at the back. If required, place a battery-powered fan in your Chi\\\\\\\’s kennel to keep her cool.
Pup Tents
Mesh, tent-like crates built of screening, nylon fabric, and PVC tubing are incredibly light, airy, and breezy, providing shade on hot days while allowing cooling breezes to pass through. As you might expect, these crates are very easy to pack while travelling and then unfold and use as an in-room box while staying at a hotel. The disadvantages of this great invention include the fact that it cannot be used safely in a car and is not permitted in an aeroplane. If you have a Chi who suffers from separation anxiety, she will destroy this crate within minutes.
Soft-Sided Carriers
For many toy breed owners, the soft-sided carrier is quickly becoming the preferred travelling box. Many different manufacturers are offering great carriers with a variety of characteristics. Most importantly, the best carriers are long-lasting, provide ample ventilation, are easy to load and unload (with top-loading and front-door options), are simple to clean, and are lightweight and comfortable to carry. There are no sharp corners or rigid plastic sides to bang against your legs as you walk.
Furthermore, many soft-sided carriers are allowed for in-cabin travel. These carriers are semi-collapsible, with a flexible frame that crunches down somewhat to fit beneath cabin seats and springs back to give your Chia some extra space while you\\\\\\\’re not airborne. Extra pockets for carrying travel necessities such as brushes, medications, and food; loops for securing the carrier with a seat belt; and retractable wheels and handle for transforming the carrier into a rolling carrier are all options. There are also a variety of fabrics, leathers, and other materials to choose from. The prices range from moderate and economical to expensive and extravagant.
Other Options:
However, your selections are not limited to carriers. Belted harnesses and booster seats are other travel-friendly products. The belted harness is a very safe travel solution for your Chihuahua, allowing him to stand up, turn around, lie down, or sit in a car seat.
Depending on the manufacturer, the seat belt is threaded through the harness or has its own seat attachment. Adding a booster seat designed specifically for toy breeds (along with a water bottle that can be heated for a warm seat or cooled for a cool seat) gives your Chihuahua an excellent view out the car window.
Around Town
Just because your Chihuahua is easy to transport, cute, and adored by everyone who sees her doesn\\\\\\\’t mean you may travel freely.
Before you leave for a day of shopping or dining with a friend, check to see if the places you\\\\\\\’re planning to visit allow dogs. Be warned: most don\\\\\\\’t. Dog-friendly boutiques, businesses, and cafes are few and far between, but they are becoming increasingly popular.
When running about town with your Chihuahua, here are some good principles to follow that will help keep canines welcome:
Do not think you can bring your Chi with you. If you are detected, which you will be, the store has the ability to permanently ban you from shopping there. (It\\\\\\\’s happened.
Ensure that your dog has decent manners and is in control at all times.
Know your dog\\\\\\\’s limitations. If huge groups make her nervous, avoid taking her to a crowded park.
Don\\\\\\\’t say \\\\\\\”yes\\\\\\\” when you mean \\\\\\\”no.\\\\\\\” You have control over the type of contact your Chihuahua has and with whom she interacts. People will want to pet the cute dog, but if you know your Chisnaps, politely decline.
Clean up after your Chihuahua. Don\\\\\\\’t run down the next aisle like it wasn\\\\\\\’t your dog.
Even if you want to keep your Chi in an over-the-shoulder pet carrier, always have a leash with you.
Bring a portable, folding water bowl.
Don\\\\\\\’t leave your Chihuahua alone in the car, even for a second. You can be delayed while shopping, and the car will heat up more faster than you expected, making your pet Chi suffers or dies.
If your Chi is loose in the car, take care not to crack the window too wide. A Chihuahua can escape from any car by squeezing her head through the opening.
A lot of success in carrying your Chihuahua with you on a daily basis is dependent on your common sense and good manners—both yours and your dog\\\\\\\’s. If your Chihuahua is well-trained, socialised, and comfortable in new situations, and if you are conscious of being a good dog owner, cleaning up after your dog and not breaking the rules by bringing your Chi along, you and your dog will not only be a welcome sight, but you will also enjoy your outings more.
Overnighting
There are a lot of rules. Knowing the guidelines will make your travels with your Chihuahua go more smoothly. That largely decides how enjoyable your overnight stay in a hotel, motel, or bed-and-breakfast will be. Okay, with that stated, more and more hotels, motels, and even some bed and breakfasts are becoming more accommodating to travelling pets, particularly little dogs like the Chihuahua. AAA and independent publishers provide annual publications (both online and in book or magazine form) that list all hotels. Pet-friendly hotels range from large brands to privately owned establishments. Some recommendations may also feature dog-friendly outdoor eateries, popular dog walks, and intriguing canine stores in the vicinity. Use these publications as a starting point, but always confirm by phone. Management changes, as do the rules. Confirming the hotel\\\\\\\’s policies can help you prevent an unpleasant surprise.
Make reservations in advance by calling. Confirm that the hotel allows dogs and is aware that you will be bringing your Chihuahua. Expect to pay a fee for having a dog in the room, as well as a deposit for potential damages, which will be repaid to you at the conclusion of your stay—assuming no damage occurs.
Ground Rules
When staying at a hotel with your Chi, keep her on a leash at all times and walk her (for relieve) in less-traveled areas. In other words, don\\\\\\\’t walk your Chi near the pool or on the path to the lobby. Many hotels provide designated dog areas where you can take your Chi; however, these locations can be breeding grounds for a variety of diseases, not to mention worms and other parasites. If possible, walk your Chi in an out-of-the-way Clean up after her. Always. Crate your Chihuahua if you need to leave the room for supper or another activity. Hang a \\\\\\\”Do Not Disturb\\\\\\\” sign on the door and notify the front desk that your dog is in the room and that you would like housekeeping service later. There are two causes for these actions. First, Chihuahuas are a popular breed that is occasionally stolen, and you do not want to lose your dog by accident. Second, if your Chi is running loose in the room and maid service enters, your dog will most likely zip past this person and take flight. A Chihuahualost in an unfamiliar city may never be discovered.
Identification
When travelling with your Chihuahua, take every precaution to ensure that if your Chihuahua becomes separated from you, you have the highest chance of reuniting them. Start with a collar or halter with a nametag. Put your name and cell phone number with area code on the tag. If you put your home phone number on the tag while travelling, you may not receive the notification that your dog is only down the block until you return home. Next, permanently identify your Chihuahua with either a tattoo, a microchip, or both. The tattoo is permanent and placed on one of the dog\\\\\\\’s thighs. (Tattooing is normally done under anaesthesia; a good time to do this is while your Chihuahua is being changed.) Owners typically use their Chihuahua\\\\\\\’s registration number to register the tattoo with one or more national registers.
A microchip is about the size of a grain of sand and is placed with a needle between the dog\\\\\\\’s shoulder blades. The microchip contains a unique code that may be read by microchip readers located in veterinary clinics, shelters, and pounds. One disadvantage of the microchip is that if someone finds your Chihuahua, he may not realise that the Chihuahua has any identity unless he takes the dog to a doctor or shelter.
Typically, a mix of tags, tattoos, and microchips will cover all bases as effectively as feasible. In addition, bring a clear image of your Chihuahua. If she gets lost, you may instantly create posters and fliers and place advertisements in local newspapers.
When travelling with your Chi, bring some of their familiar toys and bedding.
Jetsetters
If you plan to travel by air with your Chihuahua, always keep your dog in the plane\\\\\\\’s cabin. There is no reason for your Chi to put himself at risk by riding in the plane\\\\\\\’s belly. When making travel plans, include a ticket for your Chi to ride in the cabin. This typically costs between $50 and $80 per way. Before your Chihuahua can travel, she must have a health certificate certified by your veterinarian within ten days of the departure date. You will need to present this certificate before you may travel. Additionally, albeit pretty common, each airline has its own constraints in terms of pet container dimensions and total weight.
Some airlines do not allow pets in the cabin; others will only accept a certain number of pets per flight (typically one or two), so don\\\\\\\’t wait until you get to the ticket counter to get a ticket for your Chi. Make sure that any connecting flights are on planes that are large enough to accommodate dogs in cabin. Not everyone is.
Most Chihuahuas in carriers will easily stay under this weight restriction; but, if you use your carrier to transport your dog\\\\\\\’s medications, supplies, food, and water, you may wind up with an overweight pet. Determine your airline\\\\\\\’s actual weight limit, and weigh your Chi and carrier, as well as anything else you intend to pack in it.
Preparations
When flying with your dog, it is usually a good idea to keep all food and snacks away from your Chi for at least four hours before takeoff. Water should be removed approximately an hour before takeoff. Walk your As close to flying time as possible, properly groom your dog.
Prepare to remove your Chihuahua from her carrier and carry her with you through the metal detector at the security checkpoint. Do not put your dog\\\\\\\’s carrier through the X-ray machine! This is really risky for your dog.
Line your Chi\\\\\\\’s crate with several layers of pee pads or a comparable product. If your Chi has an accident, you simply remove the soiled padout and discard it. If travel causes stress in your Chihuahua, consider using soothing chemicals like DAP and the floral essence RescueRemedy to help. Your doctor will not prescribe sedatives for your Chihuahua\\\\\\\’s travel; these medications have been shown to be considerably more harmful to your Chi than being worried.
When Your Chihuahua Can\\\\\\\’t Join You
There will be occasions when your Chihuahua cannot accompany you on business vacations, trips to foreign countries (especially those that require quarantine), or trips to Hawaii (the only state that requires a thirty-day quarantine). You may also want to avoid travelling with your Chihuahua if it is upsetting for her. If you find yourself in this position, you have a few options. You can count on family, friends, and neighbours. This is acceptable if you are fortunate enough to have really trustworthy people to rely on. You must be able to trust that they will not only look after your Chihuahua, but will also recognise an illness or emergency and seek veterinary care right away. Most of us will eventually need to pay for expert care. In addition to planning for this alternative in the canine annual fund, locating a pet sitter or boarding kennel cannot be done at the last minute. Allow yourself at least a month to interview and investigate sitter services and boarding facilities. Keep in mind that holidays and summer are extremely popular times that fill up rapidly.
Pet Sitter
A pet sitter is someone who comes to your home to feed, play with, and care for your Chihuahua while you are away. Keeping your Chi at home, where she is acquainted, is much more comfortable and less upsetting than sending her to a kennel full of dogs. Aside from being a fantastic alternative for your Chi, a pet sitter will water your plants, bring in the mail and newspaper, open and close blinds, turn lights on and off, and conduct many other individualised tasks as agreed upon prior to the visits. It is critical to locate a pet sitter with whom you and your Chihuahua feel at ease. The pet sitter should be bonded and able to explain her obligations, your liabilities, and exactly what her contract is. Spells out. Request references and call them. Find out what this pet sitter is like, and whether she is honest, trustworthy, and dog-friendly.
Boarding kennels
To be boarded, your Chihuahua must have a recent bordatella vaccine. She must be at least fourteen to sixteen weeks old and completely vaccinated. A boarding kennel has the ability to spread far too many infections to risk boarding a young puppy who has not yet developed immunity to lethal illnesses. Before boarding your Chihuahua, request a tour of the kennel\\\\\\\’s facilities. They should be clean and free of unpleasant odours. Take a look at how the dogs are kept. Some kennels box smaller dogs and allow them to go outdoors many times a day, while others offer both an indoor pen and an outdoor run.
Gather referrals from dog-owning friends, your breeder, and your veterinarian for boarding kennels. Also, when you visit the kennel, ask the manager or owner for references. Always call these people. Ask questions.
Discover how the dogs are exercised. Are they turned out in groups or exercised individually? What further services do they provide? Boarding kennels range from simple services to high-end, full-service kennels. When choosing a kennel, trust your instincts. If anything does not feel right or if a person rubs you the wrong way, continue looking. Choose the option that best meets your tastes, your Chihuahua\\\\\\\’s needs, and your budget.
Plan for the Unknown.
Nobody can look into the future. Accidents happen. Tragedies happen. And, as Americans are all too aware, terrorists strike. The best strategy to deal with unforeseen circumstances is to devise a plan for dealing with what-if scenarios.
Have a backup plan in case you don\\\\\\\’t return home to your dog one day. If you don\\\\\\\’t have a family member who will notice you\\\\\\\’re absent, can you rely on a trusted friend or neighbour? You\\\\\\\’ll want this person to know you have a dog and that you return home every day. You\\\\\\\’ll want him to have a key to your house to care for your dog, or at least a phone number to call if he suspects something has happened to you.
Place a sticker on your window indicating that you own a dog. In the event of a fire, firefighters will be aware that they are also searching for a pet. Post a care plan or a message indicating that there is a care plan so that if you are unable to enter your home or flat and only emergency workers are there, they will know to look for an animal while making their way around the premises. Finally, make preparations for your Chihuahua\\\\\\\’s care if you pass away. Remember that while friends and family may promise to always take your dog for you, this is not always the case. Don\\\\\\\’t assume you can give your dog to someone and the money to your pet. A pet is not regarded an individual with rights. They are chattel.
Ideally, you can make arrangements with a friend; nonetheless, you should have backup plans. Many owners have had good success in arranging for a trusted Chihuahua rescue to take the dog and, if possible, rehome her. If not, a predetermined sum of money can be contributed to the rescue for Chi\\\\\\\’s care for the rest of her life.
Keep your Chi\\\\\\\’s meds in one place, and make sure the care plan describes how they should be administered. Also, make a note of emergency numbers where you may be reached so that rescuers can tell you where your dog is.
We all wish to outlive our Chihuahuas, but if that is not the case, make sure the tiny one who has given you so much love for so many years is cared for and will not be abandoned, dumped, or disposed of. You owe it to her, and as they say, it will give you piece of mind knowing you\\\\\\\’ve taken care of her. And then? You can forget about it and enjoy life to the fullest with your energetic canine companion.