I’ve been thinking about vacations a lot lately. For two years, I’ve been kind of a homebody, hanging with my dogs. And now that I feel safer venturing out again, I’m looking at vacation ideas. And the question I am asking myself is…. do I take the dogs or not? So if you’re thinking of taking your dogs on the road, here are a few things ask yourself to help you decide.
- Do your dogs travel well? I’ve been very lucky, all the dogs I’ve had have been great travelers. They settle into long car rides very easily. However, one of my best friends has two dogs that do not. They pant, get very nervous and car sick. My dogs, good potential travel partners. Her dogs? Probably not. Why make them miserable?
- Airline travel? My rule on that is if they cannot fit under your seat, no. I would never put my dog in cargo. And the second question, can they stay in a carrier for many hours without getting anxious or needing to go to the bathroom? If you are stuck on the tarmac for 3 hours, how would your dog do? The percentage of dogs that are good candidates to fly is small. Be honest with yourself before you subject your dog to flying.
- Plan for success. If you’re taking a car trip, map your trip out and plan it in reasonable segments. You might be able to drive for 12 hours, but 12 hours in the car with only a potty break is not great for any dog. Where will you stay? Find hotels that cater to dogs and you feel safe walking your dog around them.
- Talk to your vet. You will want to make sure they are up to date on needed vaccines and you have proof of rabies with you. Also, discuss car sickness and have a remedy available, just in case.
- Be flexible. If you’re taking your dog, make it enjoyable for everyone. If you see a great place to stop and take a walk, do it. If your dog loves to swim and you see a dog beach, let them have fun too. A dog friendly vacation is the best when you enjoy your dog. Do the things they love and you’ll both have more fun.
- Pack for your dog. Make sure you have everything they need to make them feel comfortable. Do they have a favorite dog bed? Favorite toys? Try to keep a regular schedule for feeding and their regular dog food. They will have a lot of change on a trip so keep as many of their normal habits in place when possible.
My dogs love to ride in the car, but I don’t think they are good hotel dogs. If I’m perfectly honest with myself, they are really most comfortable at home or someplace without a lot of distractions. So as I’m thinking about summer, a camping trip is more our speed. But I know many people who have taken their dogs to an Air BnB or rental home and done very well. The key…. know your dogs and plan for success. Have a great time and let’s see your vacation photos!
