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The moment the whole family has been waiting for has arrived: the start of the holidays. We continue with our tips for travelling with a dog.
If last week we talked about the days leading up to the crossing, make a note of these tips for when you are on board.
Before boarding
1) Scent check: a good scent-focused walk that includes some physical and mental exercise allows your dog to become familiar with the surroundings, reducing hostility and increasing confidence.
2) Burn off excess energy: nobody can deny that going to the gym helps burn accumulated energy and stress. The same applies to our dogs. That is why it is important to arrive with enough time for them to release any excess excitement and energy built up during the car journey.
3) Cognitive games: hiding food or a ball for your dog to find activates a very powerful instinct that uses a great deal of energy through the sense of smell. It is also very relaxing and can be practised anywhere.
During boarding
1) Tell your dog what you want them to do; they will look to you for guidance when they do not know what to do.
2) During boarding, your dog should always be on a lead, moving slowly and calmly. If the surroundings make them nervous, you can distract them with food. Small dogs can also travel in a carrier.
3) Arrival at the Pet Area (if this is the option chosen): keep control and maintain a safe distance. Two metres if there is a risk, or one metre if there is not, while respecting each dog’s private and personal space.
Dogs should not play together during the initial meeting. Try to remain calm at all times and avoid risks. Respect the order of entry so that the crew’s assistance staff can settle each pet in turn.
Arriving at the pet area
1) Drinking bowls and water are available for each dog in the pet area.
2) Goodbyes should be short and low-key so that your dog does not sense any concern from you. This can confuse them and cause more stress.
3) If you have treats, now is the time to give them and leave.
If your dog is very small and has a carrier, you can leave it inside the kennel to help them feel secure. If your dog is very nervous, a natural calming product before boarding may be a good idea, as may an anti-stress shirt/body wrap.
Pet Area: during the journey
1) Walking times must be respected for everyone’s benefit. When one dog leaves its kennel, the others become unsettled. Outside these times, remember that you can use the video monitoring system to check how your pet is doing at any time from your mobile device.
2) Walks in the exercise area should be as calm as possible. If dogs become overexcited, they will be nervous when they return to their kennel and will struggle to control their excitement levels.
3) Keep your distance if your dog threatens another dog or is threatened by one.
'Pet-friendly' cabins
Baleària currently has six ships with cabins suitable for travelling with your pet. These ferries are: Hypatia de Alejandría, Marie Curie, Hedy Lamarr, Abel Matutes, Rosalind Franklin and Bahama Mama. Find out here how to book this accommodation.
Disembarkation
1) As when boarding, you will need to wait your turn in the waiting area while the crew member responsible for the pet area assists each passenger with their pet. If you are travelling in a 'pet-friendly' cabin, a crew member will tell you when you may leave it.
2) Anyone travelling with a male dog should take extra care during disembarkation, as the dog may want to mark corners to relieve accumulated stress and mark its territory. The others may follow, including some dominant females.
3) Small dogs can be carried in your arms. This will be more reassuring for them.
4) Once ashore, a good walk will help them recover, which they may show with a big shake followed by a happy wagging tail. They will be delighted to be back on solid ground with new scents and stimuli to explore.
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