PetRelocation.com

Our friends over at the TakePaws blog have been discussing pet travel codes of conduct this week, talking about the best ways to make sure your dog isn't a canus non grata at the next pet hotel you stay at. We love their tips, particularly the one stressing the importance of training in advance. As we frequently mention, crate training is one of the most important things you can do before flying your pet, as it can reduce his or her stress levels immensely.

The only thing we would add to the list is that it's important that people with "aggressive" breeds to know in advance whether they will have trouble traveling with their pets. While we love Pits and Rotties (in fact, we have a beloved Staffordshire Terrier named Bruno who hangs out here at our offices), many people are concerned about aggressive breeds. Check with the airline, the hotel and the city/country you are traveling to if you have a pet who might be considered dangerous. Sometimes, the results might surprise you.

For example, Switzerland bans all pets with cropped ears/tails as this is typically seen as a sign of an "aggressive" breed. The only way to import a pet with cropped ears or a docked tail is if the pet owner can establish that they are moving to Switzerland, not simply traveling. This prevents travelers from nearby countries within the EU stopping in Switzerland with aggressive breeds, which is frowned upon by the local communities.

Have you experienced some "lessons learned" when traveling with pets? Let us know in the comments section.