Tips for Stress-Free Travel with Your Dog (Guest Post)
Having a dog definitely impacts your travel plans. Do you travel with your dog?
Pet owners must decide if they will take their pets with them on each journey or find someone to care for their furry friends while they are out of town.
Our four-legged family member is named Trixie.
Trixie doesn’t do great with long car rides and prefers long naps on the couch instead. So for our family, it works best to leave Trixie at home when we travel. We have some pretty amazing friends who fight over the chance to dog sit for us, so we are fortunate!
For some, bringing their pup on their travels is an important part of each trip. But traveling with pets requires extra planning and preparation. I’m excited to share this guest post from another blogger who is very familiar with taking man’s best friend on his travel adventures.
Nick Burton is the co-creator of Our Best Doggo. Together with his wife, they are the proud parents of three rescue dogs. After the passing of their 15-year-old lab/terrier mix dog, Willie, they decided to create a website to share all types of dog information and help people that are mourning the loss of a dog.
Nick offers some great tips on how you can travel stress-free with your four-legged friends in tow!
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Guest Post by Nick Burton
Owning a dog has many benefits. Having a furry friend by your side can alleviate stress, spur you to get more exercise, and even stave off symptoms of depression. However, taking care of a canine also presents challenges, and this is especially true if you like to travel. When you bring your dog along on a trip, you have to plan accordingly.
Find out how you can make the experience fun and stress-free below.
Focus on Dog-Friendly Destinations
Choose a holiday destination that both you and your pet can enjoy. Big city trips might be tricky. Your dog likely won’t be permitted to enter restaurants, museums, and similar metropolitan highlights. On top of that, your pup may quickly become overexcited or anxious when confronted with crowds of strange people — not to mention strange sights and sounds.
Smaller towns or rural destinations are better options; for instance, a camping trip allows you and your dog to enjoy time outdoors. TripAdvisor offers a comprehensive list of vacation spots that are great for dogs, such as beach-side Wilmington, North Carolina, or the dog-friendly mountains of South Lake Tahoe, California.
Prepare for Driving or Flying Accordingly
If it’s possible, opt to drive with your dog instead of flying, which allows you to stop easily whenever your pup needs to pee. If you have a large dog, keep them in an appropriately sized crate for their comfort and your safety. According to Pet Life Today, before purchasing a crate, make sure you measure your dog to determine the size you need. Then, check out reviews to ensure the crate your purchase is high quality and durable.
Before you start your road trip, ensure your pup is ready to go. If Fido has never taken a drive before, start with short practice runs — even just going to the bottom of the driveway and back up is enough for the first time. Give your dog a treat when they are safely loaded into the car, allowing them to associate this strange new experience with something positive.
If your destination is too far away to drive, check the airline pet policy beforehand. Some carriers only allow dogs in the cargo hold, for example. There are also limits on the types of dogs that may fly. For instance, American Airlines doesn’t accept Mastiffs, Pit Bulls, or snub-nosed dogs like Chow Chows. Each airline has its own policies.
Book Accommodations That Accept Four-Legged Friends
Not all hotels accept animals, and there may be restrictions if you do plan to bring a pet. Airbnb is a much easier option. If you stay in a house with a yard, you can rest easy knowing that your dog will have space to run around comfortably. Just confirm in advance that the accommodation accepts animals.
You can also search for pet-friendly places to stay via Booking.com. Again, make sure to inform the accommodation in advance that you will have a dog. This is also an opportunity to make any special requests, as some hotels are able to provide food and water bowls as well as bedding for dogs. What’s more, some hotels even have a “pet menu” on their room service menu!
Pack Your Pet’s Favorite Comfort Items
Just like people, dogs can experience stress and anxiety around traveling. So, it’s important to take steps to keep your pup’s nerves at bay. To keep them calm, bring their favorite dog toy or blanket. You can also talk to your vet about synthetic pheromones, which calm and reassure the animal, or anti-anxiety pressure wraps.
Follow these tips and you will be ready for a fun and stress-free adventure with your dog. Note that in some cases, a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection is required if you travel with an animal internationally or even across state lines. With this last item ticked off your to-do list, you and your dog will be ready for a memorable adventure!
Are you ready to have Fido join you on your next trip?
Do you prefer to bring your dog with you when you travel or do you leave your four-legged family members at home? Comment below and share your own tips for traveling with or without pets.
Wherever the road takes you, make it a joyous journey,
Traveling Tanya
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