Safety first: Travel tips for taking your pet on holiday

A dog wearing sunglasses sits on top of luggage in an open trunk of a car as and gets ready for a road trip

Written by Natalie Reilly for Australian Seniors

The suitcase comes out, and the drama begins. For Barney, a 13-and-a-half-year-old lagotto/labradoodle cross, the sight of a Samsonite is the ultimate trigger. Before his owners Dianne Webster and Steve Taylor pack their first pair of socks, he’s already attempting a stealth manoeuvre: climbing directly into the open suitcase to ensure he isn’t left behind.

“The worst part of any holiday without Barney is leaving him,” Dianne explains, who lives in Sydney.

“He knows the second he sees a suitcase that something is up and his anxiety spikes.

“When he was younger, we’d take him to a high-end boarding kennel where, after we’d paid for daily swims in the pool and unlimited play time, he’d literally wrap his paws around my husband’s leg and refuse to be checked in. We always left in tears; it was horrendous.”

Travel has been a part of Barney’s life since he was a pup, but it hasn’t always been seamless. There was the farmhouse in Port Fairy, Victoria where the dog, having never seen a cow or horse, spent the break providing a frantic, yelping soundtrack to every pastoral view.

“Driving home through Wangaratta, we hit a horrific thunderstorm,” Dianne says. “Desperate to eat, we pleaded with the maître d’ of a fancy-looking restaurant to let us walk Barney through the dining room to a covered outdoor area. All went well until the return trip through the dining room – the sort of place where the only sound is the clinking of cutlery – and Barney suddenly pulled up, made alarming heaving noises and threw up.”

Yet, for all the hiccups, Dianne says there is nothing like the feeling of a pet-friendly stay, like the house at Palm Beach on the Gold Coast where they stayed last year. “We rented a house facing a dog-friendly, on-leash beach with a lawn down to the sand,” says Dianne. “The Airbnb provided a leather dog bed, a brand-new dog blanket and treats. It was bliss for all of us. Dog-friendly sometimes means dog-tolerant. This place was definitely the former.”

Expert tips for travelling with your dog

To ensure you and your four-legged friends have the most hassle-free adventures, certified dog trainer and behaviourist Lara Shannon has the following tips.

1. Pre-trip planning

“Do your research and book well ahead of time,” Lara advises. “In peak periods, you may need to book 12 months in advance for caravan parks or cabins.” And call ahead – don’t rely on an accommodation’s website. Check restrictions on the number of pets or specific breed sizes before you leave.

You should also be realistic. If your holiday involves cocktail bars and golf, your dog might be happier with a sitter. Most hotels strictly prohibit leaving dogs unaccompanied in rooms.

2. Mastering the road trip

Not every pet is a natural at car travel. Lara says desensitisation is key for anxious pets, and suggests ‘the increment method’. “Start with your pet sitting in the car with the engine off, rewarding calm behaviour. Slowly progress to short drives down the driveway, then around the block.”

Put safety front and centre, she adds: “Use a reputable, crash-tested car harness attached to a seatbelt. Never fasten a seatbelt attachment directly to a collar; it must be a harness.” And for large breeds, if you’re using the cargo area, “ensure you have a secured barrier system or a sturdy, fastened crate”.

3. Create a ‘zen zone’

Whether you’re in a hotel or a hatchback, your pet’s anxiety can be managed with a few clever tools. Consider scent and sound, Lara says. “Use pheromone calming sprays – such as Adaptil for dogs or Feliway for cats – on blankets 15 minutes before departure. In hotels, keep the TV or calming music on to drown out hallway noises.”

Lara also recommends using a high-value ‘special’ toy or a long-lasting chew specifically for travel to “create a positive association”. Natural aids also have a place: “Supplements like Zylkene or a ThunderShirt [a pet anxiety vest that provides light pressure] can make your pet feel as if they’re in a big hug.”

4. Pets in the cabin

With Virgin Australia already allowing small cats and dogs to fly with their owners in the cabin in a pet carrier on selected trial services, the logistics around travelling by air are shifting.

“Crate training is non-negotiable here,” Lara says. “You want them to be content in that space long before you reach the airport.” She also suggests asking to board last so your pet isn’t overwhelmed by the crowd of people filing past their carrier.

Pet-friendly stays

For the top picks for luxury stays for pets, you’ll be able to find suitable accommodation in major cities like Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Canberra as well as popular destinations like the Gold Coast and Newcastle for dogs, including special bedding and breakfast packages. A few hotels also cater for cats.

Those after a more laidback stay, build your break around dog-friendly beaches with off-leash areas like McCauley’s in Thirroul, near Wollongong NSW, Brighton Dog Beach in Melbourne, and Sunshine Beach near Noosa in Queensland.

You can also join community groups on social media to learn from other Australians who love travelling with the four-legged family members – be it of the feline or canine variety.

Related:

Here are other articles on living in harmony with your pet that you may find interesting:

24 Jul 2026