“In Venice, one of the things that Schnitzel, my miniature dachshund, liked the most was visiting San Marco Square, walking through that historic space facing the sea, between the basilica and the palace,” explains New Zealander Shandos Cleaver, who She presents herself as “one of the world experts in traveling with dogs.”
Cleaver is the founder of the Travelnuity blog and one of the contributors to the book Fifty Places to Travel with Your Dog Before You Die (Abrams), which proposes fifty tourist destinations around the world to travel with your dog. From Arizona to Paris, passing through Japan, Madrid, Vienna, Australia and Venice, where Schnitzel had a great time chasing pigeons and riding a gondola. The book is a reflection of an increasingly common trend—traveling with dogs. A fashion supported by blogs and Instagram accounts where, of course, happy dogs and happy owners are shown.
This happiness, however, takes place in places that are not the usual habitat of dogs. Like the Sacher Hotel, in Vienna, where the Queen of England and John F. Kennedy have stayed. Establishment, as they say in the book: “Where there is a respectful sympathy towards the canine guests”, which means that the opulent rooms also include “blankets and towels, bowls for food and, naturally, special dog beds.” In Vienna, dogs are also welcome in the more traditional cafes, where they are even offered a chair. This is what another contributor to the book says, Amanda Klecker, who describes herself as “the proud dog mom” of Jonathan Warren, a Chihuahua she saved from being euthanized and today has “a life of love and luxury on the Upper East Side Manhattan.” .
Science indicates that the first mammals known today as dogs appeared more than one hundred thousand years ago. Since then, it has rained a lot, but dogs continue to be man's most faithful friends. Even something more. Pets have become an emotional pillar for many people, as well as a gigantic market: in Spain there are more dogs than children, while in the United States, fifty million Americans go on vacation with them every year. And when choosing a destination, the needs of pets have become an important criterion.
And, as this book reflects, the offering is increasingly sophisticated. So much so that it raises many questions. Dogs may be lovely, but do there need to be spas for them? Hotels with room service? Restaurants with specific menus? What “private flights for pets” are offered? Since Covid, this service has increased exponentially and includes staff trained to handle animals, organic food and mats for them to rest on during the trip. The offer is open to all types of animals (cats, parrots...), but the dog is still king.
But, beyond the moral questions that this offer raises for traveling pets, one question stands out: Is it convenient for dogs to travel? Wouldn't they be calmer at home? “Traveling is convenient and if they are used to it it can be fantastic,” responds canine educator Carlos Carrasco, author of Team up with your dog (Plataforma). He himself, he explains, always travels with his two dogs and his four cats: “By car, by train, by bus… I haven't done it by plane yet.” And how do you ensure that no one suffers? “The fundamental thing is that they are used to the carrier, leaving the house, movement and different stimuli,” he lists. Although he warns that this is something that has to be learned during the first year of life. Otherwise, the trip, no matter how luxurious, is a source of stress.
