Why Treats Matter When Traveling Internationally With Your Dog

When preparing to travel internationally with a dog, treats are often treated as an afterthought something comforting in the moment. In reality, treats are a training and communication tool, and how they are used before and during travel can meaningfully affect how well a dog adapts to new environments.

This is especially true when traveling to a new country, where routines, language, sounds, and daily structure change all at once.

When used intentionally, familiar treats help reinforce calm behavior, predictability, and trust throughout the travel process.

Treats Are for Preparation First

Long before stepping onto an airplane, treats should already be part of a dog’s daily routine and training foundation. Treats are not random rewards. They are intentionally paired with learning, calm behavior, and communication.

Carrier training is a clear example. Getting a dog comfortable in an airline-approved carrier is not just about physical comfort. It is about creating a positive emotional association with that space.

High-value treats reinforce:

• Entering the carrier calmly
• Remaining settled inside
• Viewing the carrier as a safe, familiar environment

By the time travel day arrives, the carrier is not new. It is predictable and reassuring.

This preparation is part of the broader foundation outlined in What It Takes to Travel Internationally With a Dog and Helping Your Dog Get Comfortable in an Airline-Approved Carrier.

Why You Should Never Introduce New Treats During Travel

International travel is not the time to experiment.

New treats can:

• Upset digestion
• Create uncertainty or disinterest
• Disrupt established calming cues

When everything else is unfamiliar sounds, smells, language, and routines consistency becomes grounding. Familiar treats help anchor a dog emotionally during periods of change.

High-value treats your dog already knows provide:

• Comfort through familiarity
• Motivation without confusion
• A sense of routine in unfamiliar places

This is why planning which treats to bring and ensuring they are permitted for entry into your destination country is just as important as selecting a carrier or booking flights.

Game Time Is the Foundation Behind the Treat

Every day, Coco and I have game time. This is not casual play. It is structured, intentional training.

During game time:

• Coco earns her favorite treats
• Specific behaviors are reinforced
• Focus, confidence, and communication are strengthened

This daily ritual builds trust and predictability. When Coco receives the same high-value treats during travel whether in her carrier, during takeoff, or while settling into a new space it connects directly to something she already understands.

The treat itself is not the point.
The routine behind it is.

This same concept is explored further in Why Continuing Familiar Games Helps Dogs Adjust Abroad and throughout Coco’s Life on the Ground.

Planning Around Your Destination Matters

High-value treats do not need to be complicated. They need to be predictable.

For Coco, her favorite high-value treat is cheese. Because we’ll be in Italy, I know cheese will be:

• Readily available
• Familiar in smell and texture
• Easy to source without introducing something new

That makes it a practical and intentional choice rather than a last-minute substitute.

The same logic applies to toys. Familiar toys:

• Reinforce a sense of home
• Support daily routines like game time
• Help regulate stress in new environments

Maintaining access to familiar treats and toys helps bridge the gap between home and abroad.