At Hounds Travel, every tour is built around the same idea: your dog isn't just coming along — they're a full member of the group. That only works if every dog on a tour is a confident, comfortable travel companion, for their own sake and for the sake of the humans and dogs around them.
That's why every dog joining a Hounds Travel tour must meet our Tour-Ready Pup Standard before booking is confirmed.
What "Tour-Ready" Means
A Tour-Ready Pup is a dog who can:
- ✓Walk politely on a leash, including past distractions (other dogs, wildlife, restaurant patios, village streets)
- ✓Greet people and other dogs calmly, without jumping, lunging, or reactive behavior
- ✓Settle and remain calm in shared spaces — vehicles, hotel lobbies, outdoor dining areas
- ✓Respond reliably to basic cues (sit, stay, come, leave it) from their handler
- ✓Tolerate being handled and examined by an unfamiliar adult (a guide, a vet, another traveler)
- ✓Handle novelty and moderate distraction without excessive stress, fear, or aggression
This isn't about perfection or breed — it's about whether a dog is genuinely comfortable, and makes everyone else comfortable, in a small group traveling together over several days.
How to Show Your Dog Is Tour-Ready
We accept any of the following as proof of the Tour-Ready Pup Standard:
1. A recognized national good-citizen certification
- 🇺🇸AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) — United States
- 🇬🇧Kennel Club Good Citizen Dog Training Scheme, Bronze award or higher — United Kingdom
- 🌍Equivalent national kennel club certifications in other countries (see current tour destination pages for country-specific accepted programs)
2. A documented equivalent assessment
If your dog doesn't hold a formal certification, we accept a written temperament and manners assessment from a licensed veterinarian or a certified professional dog trainer, evaluated against our Tour-Ready checklist above.
Download the Tour-Ready Assessment Form →3. An in-house Hounds Travel evaluation
Where available, our guides and affiliated evaluators can assess your dog directly ahead of your tour.
Find an evaluator near you →Getting Certified Before You Book
Not certified yet? We've partnered with training organizations and evaluators to make this easy — and in many cases, discounted for Hounds Travel guests.
- Find an AKC-approved CGC evaluator near you →
- Find a Kennel Club-listed Good Citizen training club (UK) →
- Browse our partner training & prep programs →
🎉 Guests who arrive already certified get priority booking and a discount on their tour deposit — because a tour-ready pup means a smoother, safer trip for everyone.
Why We Do This
Every dog and owner in a Hounds Travel group is trusting the group with their trip, their comfort, and often their dog's safety. The Tour-Ready Pup Standard exists so that trust is well placed — for your dog, for the other travelers, and for the local partners (hotels, restaurants, guides) who welcome our groups.
Questions about whether your dog qualifies?
Contact Us