Travelling with a dog starts long before the boot gets packed. It starts with the routines you have at home, because those are what the dog leans on when everything else around it becomes new. Unfamiliar sounds, unfamiliar smells, a bed that doesn't smell like home. The more familiar you can make the rest, the more easily the dog settles in, whether the trip goes to a holiday cottage in West Jutland, a campsite in southern Germany or a holiday flat by a French river.

That's why good preparation is less about equipment and more about predictability. The same meals, the same feeding times, the same blanket, the same evening routine. It sounds trivial, but it's the single factor that most often determines whether the dog relaxes on day one or not until day four.

Paperwork and practicalities before you set off

If you're crossing a border, the EU requires a pet passport for the dog, a valid rabies vaccination and ID marking with a chip. The rules are administered by the authorities and change from time to time, so always check the current requirement for the specific country you're travelling to, and have the paperwork confirmed by your vet in good time. Some countries also have special requirements for certain breeds or for dogs arriving by plane or ferry.

The practicalities are something you can manage yourself. A harness or crate arrangement in the car, a water bottle that doesn't spill, the dog's own bed, an extra lead and the dog's usual meals in sufficient quantity for the whole trip plus a couple of extra days. Changing the dog's food in the middle of a holiday is a bad idea, and foreign shops rarely stock what your dog is used to. Bring plenty from home, and keep the portions exactly as they are back home.

The car journey, where most trips are decided

Long car journeys are best with short, frequent breaks. Every second to third hour is a sensible cadence, where the dog can stretch its legs, drink water and be allowed to sniff around. Feeding right before departure, on the other hand, is rarely a good idea. Instead, give the dog its meal a couple of hours before you leave, and let the journey itself be time for water and calm rather than food.

Keep the cabin cool and shaded, and never leave the dog alone in a parked car, not even briefly. A treat during the breaks can turn the stops into something the dog looks forward to, and here something durable and simple works best. We often hear from customers that a MARROW BONE DELIGHTS is what gets a restless dog to lie down on the blanket at the rest stop.

Summer holiday with a dog without tummy trouble

A summer holiday with a dog brings heat, unfamiliar water, sand between the teeth and a daily life that suddenly looks completely different. That's precisely why meals are the area where you should be most conservative. No new flavour varieties on the go, no leftovers from the barbecue, no improvised portions. Stick to the nutritional profile the dog thrives on, and let the holiday be the thing that changes.

If your dog has a more sensitive stomach, continuity is even more important. BALANCE is composed with a mild, well-balanced profile for everyday life at a moderate pace, and it is not a grain-free meal. If the dog is used to grain-free meals, you should stay on that track and not use the trip as an occasion to experiment. In our guide to grain-free meals you can read more about what the difference specifically means for the composition.

If you're unsure how to recalculate the portions when the dog's activity level rises markedly during the holiday, ESSENTIAL FOODS' nutrition advisers are ready by phone, chat and email. They advise on feeding, meals and nutrition, and they know each individual meal's profile in detail.

Camping with a dog requires its own routines

Camping with a dog is the form of travel where the dog is closest to both nature and the other guests. A fixed spot in the awning, where the dog can retreat and get shade, makes a big difference. Place the water somewhere the dog can always find it, and keep feeding at the same time as at home, even when the evenings become long and loose.

If you hike, cycle or swim more than usual, energy expenditure rises noticeably, and this is especially true for dogs with a high activity level. STAMINA is prepared for precisely that type of daily life with a denser energy profile, while CONTOUR suits dogs better where the weight needs to be kept in check. If you need to assess where your dog really stands, our article about the dog's healthy weight provides a concrete method you can use with your hands.

When the appetite drops on the go

Many dogs eat a little less during the first few days in a new place. Heat, activity and impressions take up space, and the appetite typically comes back on its own once the rhythm falls into place. Serve the meal in a calm spot away from through traffic, give the dog time without an audience, and let the bowl stand out for a limited period rather than all day.

If the meal needs to be made more appealing, a tablespoon of BALANCE PÂTÉ stirred in works as a fragrant persuasion that doesn't fundamentally change the dog's habits. Persistent lack of appetite, on the other hand, belongs at the vet's, and it's worth having contact details for a clinic nearby before you need them. The rest of the trip is about what you know: familiar meals, familiar times and a dog that knows exactly what happens the next time you open the bag.