The paperwork must be in place weeks before departure, and warmer countries bring diseases your dog has never met.
Within the EU a dog normally needs a microchip, a valid rabies vaccination given after the chip and an EU pet passport, and after a first rabies vaccination you usually have to wait 21 days before travelling. Some countries also require a tapeworm treatment by a vet shortly before arrival, and rules outside the EU vary more. Check the official requirements for every country on the route well in advance.
Leishmaniasis, spread by sandflies, and heartworm, spread by mosquitoes, are common around the Mediterranean, along with tick-borne diseases you may not have at home. Ask your vet about repellents and preventives for your destination, and avoid walks at dusk and dawn, when sandflies are most active.
On ferries and planes the dog may have to travel in a crate or in a kennel area, so read the carrier's rules and get the dog used to the crate at home first. Bring the passport, the vaccination record, familiar food and the number of a vet at your destination.
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