A trip in a reserved seat carriage across the vastness of our vast homeland can last either one day or one week. Such trips are difficult to endure for both people and their pets. How to prepare for a long journey in a reserved seat carriage with a dog? What do I need to take with me?
Briefly about the rules for transporting dogs in a reserved seat carriage
The rules for transporting dogs state that you can take a small breed dog with you in a reserved seat carriage in which animals are allowed. In this case, the criterion for the "smallness" of the breed is only weight: the dog must weigh less than 20 kg. That is, breeds such as the Russian Hunting Spaniel, Pug, Border Collie or even Siberian Husky can be considered small.
According to the rules of transportation, a small breed dog (even if it is a 19-kilogram husky) must be carried in a carrier. And there is a clear requirement for its size: the sum of three dimensions should not exceed 180 cm.
The transportation of the dog is paid, the price depends on the class of service of the carriage and the distance.
No documents are required, but when traveling in Russia with a pet, it is advisable to always have a veterinary passport with vaccination marks with you.
The pet owner must feed the dog and observe the sanitary and hygienic conditions.
What difficulties can arise?
The ability to anticipate potential problems and prepare for them well is a useful skill for a traveler. When traveling with a dog in a reserved seat carriage, the following problems may arise:
- The fellow travelers are not happy with the dog in the carriage. Dogs can only be transported in a special carriage. And the fact that animals are allowed in this carriage is indicated by a special mark and price (it is usually lower than in other similar cars). But there are a couple of people who, with their hatred of animals, will be tempted by the low price and buy a ticket to a special carriage. Of course, they will not be able to drive out the passenger with the dog, but ruining the trip is easy.
- The dog will have to be carried all the way. Either the passengers described above, or shy children, or a stubborn handler can cause the dog to sit in the carrier all the time. Will the dog be able to withstand several days of confinement in a narrow and cramped enclosed space? Will she start howling?
- Problems with the dog going to the toilet. A dog accustomed to peeing on a schedule may have a hard time adjusting to doing so during the trip. Long stops are rare, and on short ones the dog may hesitate to do it on the platform. It is good if the dog still remembers the diaper and is ready to go to it in the vestibule.
- The presence of other animals in the carriage. It may turn out that the carriage is full of other dogs, cats, rabbits and other pets that are not always friendly. Is your pet ready for such a neighborhood?
- Provision calculation error. If the owner made a mistake and took not enough food for the dog, or she stole and ate all the supplies, then the owner will face the fact that it is almost impossible to buy dog food at stations and train stations.
- Dog behavior problems. Not all people can take a long trip. And as dogs, without the possibility of active walking, even more so. Therefore, even well-mannered pets sometimes begin to misbehave.
What to take on the dog train?
To travel around Russia with a dog in a reserved seat carriage, you need to collect a separate suitcase for it. It is recommended to put in it:
- Stable bowls (for water and food);
- Dog food or natural food;
- First aid kit for a dog;
- Hygienic diapers, diapers (if the dog has problems with the toilet);
- Napkins (dry and wet);
- Pathetics for cleaning;
- Towel;
- Long-lasting treats, toys.
Advice
To make your trip stress-free, you can follow these tips:
- To keep your dog entertained, it is recommended to take long-playing treats or biting toys for it. Firstly, the dog will have at least some entertainment, and secondly, when the dog gnaws, it calms him down.
- Take a sedative with you (and for yourself too). The dog can be very frightened by the noise of trains, honking, and the abundance of strangers.
- Diapers and diapers can solve the toilet problem. Some dogs, under severe stress, may go to the toilet in a carrier or on a shelf. Therefore, owners of overly nervous and emotional dogs are better off taking care of hygiene in advance.
- When choosing a carrier, it is advisable to pay attention to those models that can be further expanded. If the dog has to ride in a carrier all the time, it will be better if it has room to collapse and stretch.
- In order not to miss a long night stop, you can rewrite or download the train schedule to your phone. The timetables that hang in the carriages may not correspond to reality.
- If there is no way to load the dog physically, then you can load it mentally. Learning a new team would be a great activity.
After learning about possible problems, it is better not to give up and not leave the dog at home, but simply start preparing in advance. Someone, knowing about the cowardice of his dog, before a long trip, often tries to take it with him on trips on trams and trains.
