Tips for a great vacation with your dog
Decide if you should take your dog with you. If you are traveling by car and have small children, I advise you to leave your dog at home. You’ll have enough to deal with the little ones, let alone your dog added to the mix. Also, if you are going to fly to your destination, it is better not to take your pet.
Pet sitters are a great alternative to kennels. Call a few and make appointments. When you interview them, ask them if they are attached (show proof), their fees, if they will stay the night, etc. If you hire a pet/house sitter, they can water the plants, retrieve your mail and paper, visit multiple times throughout the day, and some stay at your home.
Locate a good accommodation center and visit it before deciding to leave our pet. Take a look at a couple before you decide. Look around. They are clean? Are the animals exercised and well cared for? Is there a smell? Make a list and check it off as you interview the owner and the grounds. Your vet can also provide you with the names of good kennels in the area.
When you pack your dog’s “suitcase”, think about the essentials. Take a blanket or bed with his scent, a toy and teether, his dog food and treats, bowls, plastic bags, some water bottles from home so there are no stomach problems along the way, and a fold down crate.
Bring a copy of your dog’s vaccination record with you. They may ask you at any time. A few years ago we were traveling by car and stopped at a rest area to stretch our legs and walk the dogs. A police officer was there and asked if we had any updates on our children’s rabies. Yes, we did and we showed it to you. So you never know, just be prepared.
When you make your hotel reservations before you leave, ask if the hotel is pet friendly. If so, please let them know you are traveling with your dog. There is usually a fee for an animal in a hotel room.
Most hotels require that a pet be supervised at all times in the room and on the property. If you leave your dog alone in the room, put him in the crate with water and a chew. Then turn the TV to medium level with a program that has both music and voices. We turn on the national weather program. Also put the Do Not Disturb sign on the doorknob.
Always clean up after your dog. There’s nothing worse than taking a leisurely walk at a rest stop or hotel and stepping in dog poop. Picking up after your dog will keep pets on good terms with the world of travel.
If you are going camping, be sure to check the rules and regulations regarding pets in campgrounds and national parks.
NEVER leave a dog in a hot car. It is considered animal cruelty and against the law. Temperatures can rise dramatically even with the windows rolled down and cause death.
Have a nice summer on the road!