One of the biggest problems with taking a dog on holiday is the car journey. Many animals, especially younger ones, can find the experience stressful and may succumb to travel sickness, even on a short journey. For this reason, it pays to prepare them for the trip. A few weeks before you leave, take the dogs on short journeys in the car and gradually increase the distance over time. To help with the situation, don't feed dogs that are travel sick within one hour of any trip and always drive with consideration for the animals by braking and accelerating smoothly. It may help to leave the window slightly open but never allow a pet to hang its head outside, as this is unsafe and can lead to eye injuries. Certain dogs are naturally travel sick and, if you are worried about taking them on holiday, ask the vet about travel sickness medication for dogs and he will advise you on the various options. He will also be able to give old or young dogs a health check to ensure they are fit to travel.

Dogs can quite happily travel on the back seat of a car, or in the rear of a hatchback or estate vehicle. However, for their own safety and that of human passengers, they should be strapped to a suitable canine-friendly dog harness or placed in a pet carrier (important for very small dogs and puppies) which is suitably secured. Alternatively, a travel cage can be housed in the rear of the car - this will provide a safe environment and allow the back door to be opened for ventilation (during breaks to the journey) without the dogs being able to jump out.

When travelling with your dog, it's essential to include regular breaks to the journey - this will enable the animals to stretch their legs, relieve themselves and have a drink of water. In most cases, the stop is likely to be at a service station or near a busy road so, when exercising the animals, keep them on a lead (with an identification collar) at all times. If the weather is warm or sunny, always park in a cool, shady spot and leave the windows slightly open for the circulation of fresh air. If at all possible, do not leave your dog unattended (or out of sight) and make sure they have access to water whilst the car is stationary.