PAWlidays: A Travel Training Guide

Written By Isobel .

Training your dog before travel isn’t just about good manners—it's about building confidence, reducing anxiety, and ensuring safety in unfamiliar environments. In this post, we’ll cover three areas to focus on before hitting the road: crate training, desensitisation to busy environments and transport, and teaching them to settle in public spaces.

1. Crate Training: Your Dog’s Home Away From Home

Crate training is one of the best investments you can make before travelling. Despite some people’s reservations, crates mirror the den that dog’s distant relatives (including foxes and wolves) like to sleep in- a small, cosy spot where they can completely relax and feel safe. Giving your dog this secure, familiar space is ideal for transport, hotel stays, or when visiting friends and family.

Tips for Successful Crate Training:

  • Make it Positive: Introduce the crate gradually and pair it with positive experiences like treats, toys, and praise. Let your dog explore it freely before closing the door.

  • Feed Inside the Crate: Start feeding meals in the crate to build positive associations.

  • Practice With the Door Closed: Slowly increase the amount of time your dog spends in the crate with the door shut, starting from a few seconds to longer stretches. You may want to give them a chew or Kong to keep them busy as you extend the amount of time that they’re in the crate.

  • Use It in Different Settings: Move the crate to different rooms in the house and even take it into the car to generalise the behaviour.

2. Desensitising to Busy Places and Public Transport

Sudden exposure to new sights, sounds, and crowds can overwhelm even the most confident dogs. Desensitisation helps your dog gradually adjust to these experiences.

Public Spaces and Crowds:

  • Start Small: Begin by walking in quieter areas and gradually increase the level of activity.

  • Use Distance: If your dog seems overwhelmed, create space between them and the trigger (e.g., loud people, bikes, or kids).

  • Reward Calm Behaviour: Praise and treat your dog for relaxed behaviours—like looking at distractions and then back at you.

Public Transport:

  • Visit Stations First: Take your dog to a bus or train station without boarding anything. Let them hear the sounds and smell the environment.

  • Short Rides: Once they’re comfortable, try a short trip. Reward calm behaviour before, during, and after the journey.

  • Don’t assume: That once your dog is comfortable on a bus, they’ll be comfortable on a train or tram & vice versa. Different modes of transport have different speeds, smells and sounds so make sure your dog is prepared for all of the ways they’ll be travelling on your trip.

    3. Teaching Your Dog to Self-Settle on Lead in Busy Places

    Picture this: you're sipping coffee at a bustling café, your dog is by your side, calm and relaxed. Bliss, right? That kind of behaviour doesn’t happen overnight—but it’s very achievable with the right training. I recommend this FREE online course for teaching your dog to settle (I’m not affiliated with TBTE in any way, I just love their course!)

  • https://www.trainingbetweentheears.com/bd

    Final Thoughts: Prepare for Success, Not Just the Trip

    Travelling with your dog can strengthen your bond and open up a world of shared experiences—but only if they’re set up to succeed. By investing time into crate training, desensitisation, and teaching calm behaviours in public, you're not only preparing your dog for travel—you're helping them become a more adaptable, confident companion.

    Start training weeks—or ideally months—in advance of your trip, and take things at your dog’s pace. With patience and practice, you'll both be ready to explore the world together.

    Ready to plan your next pawliday? Check out this handy guide to the practical side of pet travel!

Isobel .
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