How to Vacation With Your Pet

These days more and more people are choosing to vacation with their pet. If you are single, rather than vacationing alone or waiting for a friend, you can carry your dog for companionship, especially since there are number of hotels and sites that welcome man’s best friend. It’s just going to take a little planning beforehand.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Before the Trip

1. Take your dog to the veterinarian at least two weeks prior to the trip for a complete physical and update on vaccinations, including Bordatella for kennel cough. This should also include a flea treatment. It’s good practice to make sure your pet doesn’t have the little pest before the trip to avoid infesting cars, motel rooms and cabins.

2. If the vacation involves hiking, start conditioning your dog with daily walk for about a month before to get him in good shape.

3. About a week before the trip, give your dog a through grooming to reduce shedding in the car and at the motel. Also trim those claws to tear furniture and bed linens in motels or cabins or damage tent floors.

4. Research hotels and pet policies when making reservations at motels, hotels, inns, lodges, or campground. Some hotels require a non-refundable deposit and other limit travelers to small dogs. There might also be breed restrictions, rules about clean-up, and noise ordinances.

5. Prepare a travel kit. A few items it should include a crate, food and treats, at least two six-foot leashes and a retractable leash, etc. Also make sure there is a first aid kit.

6. Make sure he has identification tag firmly attached to his collar. He should also have temporary tags that include the rabies tag number, license number, microchip registry information, and a telephone number – your cell phone or a friend’s number.

On The Road and At the Hotel

7. Your dog should have good enough manners to sit and lie down and come on command. He should also sit to be petted, walk quietly on a leash and not steal food.

8. Remember most dogs will be alert to every sound the first night or two when in the hotel, but they will settle in nicely when they come to grips with the situation. Still all effort should be made to keep your dog quiet.

9. So he doesn’t get car sick, try driving him to different places, so he gets used to the motion, and don’t feed him before the trip.

10. Stop at rest areas every three or four hours so your dog can stretch his or her legs and relieve herself.

When Sightseeing

11. You should only leave your dog in the car after twilight. He should be in a crate and the windows opened an inch or two.

12. If you need to do a tour in the day time, then make arrangements to leave your dog at the hotel or at a kennel that offers one-day boarding. If he’s to stay at the hotel, leave a message at the desk so the maid doesn’t walk in on him.

13. Before leaving your dog alone for several hours take her for a brief walk, put her in a crate, say goodbye and act just as you would at home.

14. If for whatever reason, your pet just can’t be left alone in the room, then find a place to board him or change your plans.