Every time we tell someone we’re moving to Alaska, a popular question isn’t about the 20-foot trailer or the Alcan Highway. It’s: ‘Is Zeke coming?’ Of course, Zeke the dog is coming! Zeke, our 50-pound English Setter has two modes – ON for hunting and ‘fishing’. Then OFF mode for couch sprawling and cottage bed napping. Hopefully, he’ll be sprawled out in the back seat of the truck on his dog bed in OFF mode during our drive through Canada to Alaska.

He travels fairly well but we may resort to some helpful pharma depending on his anxiety level. When he and I traveled to Colorado by car a couple of years ago, it took him about 2 days on the road for the travel and hotel anxiety to abate. And, of course, we’ll be traveling with CHEESE. Cheese is Zeke’s love language. Want him to eat? Cheese. Want him to love you forever? Cheese. Want him to come when called in a field full of squirrels*? Better be holding cheese. – his number one motivator. *Note – it has been proven that cheese will not help with recall if he’s in a field full of birds. He’s super focused with birds.

It turns out you just can’t show up and travel across borders with your dog. There’s a number of travel documents he needs. I’ve gathered his vaccination status, rabies certificate, neuter certificate, microchip number and CVI (certificate of veterinary inspection). Also, the US CDC requires a dog import certificate (to go from Canada into Alaska) which you can do online at the CDC website and then show the receipt at the border. Hopefully, that will smooth the way through our crossing. If you’re thinking about traveling internationally with your dog, it’s worth checking entry requirements well in advance—rules can vary by country, state, and province.

We’ll see how Zeke handles the wilderness of the Yukon and Alaska. Just as long as there’s cheese, he’ll probably be fine.

Feel free to ask YOUR questions in the comments box below!