Travel on train with my dog

Question
Dear Chris,

I am planning to purchase a border collie puppy in the near future and to travel with it a lot. However, in Canada, Via Rail Canada keeps your pets in the baggage car that is heated, but has no air-conditioning, so my pet may be exposed to high temperatures. This seems really careless on their part, risking pets to get heatstroke. I am very angry at this. Can you tell me how I can prevent my dog from getting heatstroke on a potentially overnight train trip? I was also wondering if the other pets are screened for health so my dog won't catch an illness, and if my dog, though not small, will still be allowed to travel. I've never traveled with a pet before, and the process all seems very tedious and conditional. I mean, not all of us have tiny, under 10 pounds, prissy little designer dogs!!!

Answer
Selena,

The best way to keep your dog from suffering from overheating is to NOT put your dog in a train car that is heated.  I'm sorry there really isn't anything else you can do.  Some products are out there like fans for crates but these just circulate the warm air.

If you are concerned about the heat I simply wouldn't risk the safety and health of my dog by doing that. Rather than traveling by train, why don't you consider driving so that you can keep your dog with you?  This way you can ensure that your dog is in the right temperature, as well as safe and secure.  Dogs are pack animals and ALWAYS prefer to be with their pack. In most cases this is their family.. you will be his or her pack.  The most stress free way you can travel with your dog is to travel WITH your dog sitting next to you.

To find out how pets are screened for health you'll need to contact VIA rail directly and ask them.

Most public & commercial transportation in the US and Canada, restricts the ability of dog owners to travel with their dogs because there are many people allergic to dogs, or afraid of dogs.  These commercial & public forms of transportation need to ensure that the majority of their passengers are comfortable.

We run the Dogtravel Company which is a travel club for people who want to travel with their dogs.  ONLY for people who want to travel with dogs!  You would be surprised at how often we get calls from business travelers who are complaining that if they booked travel on one of our dog-friendly flights or train trips that they would be upset because there would be dogs!  To be honest, I'm not sure why a business traveler without a dog would even consider booking travel with an organization called "The DogTravel Company" and think that they could arrange travel without a dog on board, but it happens!

In any event, I don't know if this is your first dog, but what I do recommend is avoiding putting your dog in cargo anytime you can. It's very stressful for the dogs, and for you.   We have many members who travel by car, by RV, or with us on dog-friendly in-cabin crateless flights, train service, or cruises. We provide travel for dog lovers who want to travel WITH their dogs - regardless of size.

You're welcome to join our organization, but I also encourage you to start being a little creative with how you travel and start researching, dog friendly hotels, tourist sights to see, dog friendly activities, etc. You may want to join a herding club, or agility club, or a dog meetup group, or doggie day care when your pup is old enough. You'll get to meet other dog lovers and share ideas with them about traveling with your pup, and places to go and things to do. As I'm sure you know Border collies are very very very (did I say VERY?) smart, and active and really need to be stumulated almost constantly.  They love to be trained and worked with and will want to spend a lot of time with you. I think it's great that you plan to travel with your dog and you sound like you'll be a great dog mom!

I encourage you to contact us if you have any questions about travel or activities.

Sincerely,

Chris Shoulet
DogTravel Company
www.dogtravelcompany.com