Traveling (Lightly, & with Puppy) Tips

As I had my tooth prodded and cleaned out, I kept thinking, we need to travel lighter, for the upcoming trip.  All that boarding and disembarking of trains, negotiating stairs, cobblestoned streets, and country dirt roads, have taught me, that although a small bag is necessary, a wheeled bag is not always the most practical of ways to traverse terrain, with a pint-sized puppy in tow.

My New Plan
A.  New Equipment
1.  The Tumi Alpha Bravo Essential Tote

I love it (so far)!  Bruno loves it.  Lightweight, waterproof, bullet-proof- the works.  The details on the bag are practical and handsome.  If I laid a towel in it, it can easily double up as a dog carrier as well, as long as it stays unzipped (so Bruno can breathe).  It encourages organisation and negates the need to pack a purse.

2.  Pet Messenger Sling/Bag (Wagwear)

My new friend!  For public transportation, entry into stores, and other moments when you don't want your poor dog to be trampled upon, and need your hands free.

B.  Wardrobe

1.  Mine- London uniform but with red nail polish, as a gesture of respect to the city I am visiting.  

2.  Bruno-  Replicate London threads

Raincoat and jumper.

C.  Documents

Passports, proof of vaccinations for Bruno, map, utility bill with my name on it, and documentation proving that Summie is my daughter and legally at school (to pre-empt any misunderstanding for re-entry into the UK)

D.  Bruno's Other Stuff

toys, treats, food, flat-feeding dish, cleaning fluids, spoon, travel wipes, potty bags, towel, blankie, comb, water-bottle, and a contact of an English-speaking vet (veterinaire/ "veto")

It's a dog's life!

If there's space, I'm contemplating bringing his igloo bed as it packs easily and can be rolled out on a train journey for him to rest in, and allows him a sense of home at a new hotel.

E.  Tapeworm Treatment

Thinking ahead of our return into the UK, Bruno went to the vet this afternoon at 15:00 hours.  DEFRA laws require all dogs to be treated for tapeworm between 24- 120 hours prior to entering the UK.

Dr P also checked that Bruno's microchip was still readable, and that all his shots were still current.

I hope this helps someone in similar shoes.

Act 2: Scene ii in pictures

Fast forward to Calais and the Pet Control Center.  As you drive up towards the Eurotunnel, hang on right, and you will see a sign leading you here.  Your dog will need to be microchipped before receiving the rabies vaccination, + given the tapeworm treatment 24-120 hours before entry into the UK (Defra laws).  Note that the vet has to record the time of the tapeworm treatment along with the date to avoid being denied entry into the UK... 

Once your dog is cleared, get back into your car and clear customs.  Then board the train :)

 You drive into the train and stay on board with your dog in the car :)

 30 minutes later, you get off the train and drive directly onto the freeway (unlike if you were on the ferry, you would then have to clear UK customs upon disembarking.)

 London is not that far (1.5 hours?) a drive without traffic.  But when you get to London, the immediate sight is not pretty...It does get better though at some point...

 Stuck in rush-hour traffic.  Feeling sorry for myself.

 Wallowing in self-pity.

 Then I see this and think, God must be saying something to me.

Finally, finally here.  Safe and in one piece.  Never mind that we are knackered.  Or that my dog needs a jumper.  I feel so relieved the moment I step into Number 16 and hear the staff greet me with familiarity.  Today is almost over.  Tomorrow is a new day.

Number 16, 16 Sumner Place, SW7 3EG

A Star is Born

There is immense relief on my part when we finally land at Schiphol.  While waiting to disembark, another passenger asks if he could take a picture of Bruno.  I thank everyone around us for their patience and kindness.  Another stranger asks how I managed to get him on board.  Everyone agrees that Bruno has been awesome.

Once we leave the plane, I take Bruno to the first washroom I find, let him out of his bag (which he now hates), and again lay the floor with potty pads.  I brush my teeth, fix my face.  Bruno is happy to be standing and walking about, but he still refuses to do anything on the potty pad.

We go to baggage claim and wait.

And wait some more.

Only after we clear customs, and leave the airport to find grass, does Bruno allow himself to potty.  He has kept his bag clean throughout the entire flight.  Watching him recognise grass, I am reminded that all the baby steps at Boot Camp in preparation for this journey has created one incredible dog.

From Schiphol, we find the train that takes us to Amsterdam Centraal, hop into a cab to the hotel.  By the grace of God, we get to check in early (the room is perfect!), Bruno gets fed a little meal, then it's off onto Tram 2 to find the vet, on Johannes Verhulstraat 115.

An extremely jet-lagged Bruno takes it all in his stride.  When not walking beside me, he is simply sitting quietly on my lap.  Bruno gets checked, weighed, and given the pill for tapeworm treatment (UK DEFRA requirement).  We put in the application for his EU Pet Passport.

A Star is Born.