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Should You Bring Your Dog with You on Your Vacation?

People without pets are able to just wake up one morning and go off on vacation, as easy as that. But if you own a dog, there’s one extra step.

Finding out what to do with the dog while you’re on vacation!

You want to be able to relax on your vacation, but you’ll only be able to do that if you know your dog is safe!

So Should You Bring Your Dog with You on Your Vacation?

Let’s look at some pros and cons!

Should You Bring Your Dog with You on Your Vacation banner

Should You Bring Your Dog with You on Your Vacation?

Pet-friendly Locations

If you’re hoping to bring your dog with you on your vacation, you’ll be happy to discover that pet-friendly hotels, campgrounds, and cabins are easier to find than ever before!

If you are looking at hotels and planning on staying several days or even longer, you should make sure and look for an extended stay hotel.

However, while pet-friendly locations are available, not every place is pet-friendly, so you may have to be a little flexible about location and amenities.

And remember that finding a pet-friendly place is only half the battle.

You’ll also need to keep your dog happy during your vacation, which means setting aside time to exercise them, feed them, and take them out for potty breaks.

Even if you’re on a campsite and are allowed to have your dog run free, you’ll still need to keep an eye on them.

You don’t want your trip cut short because your dog decided to play with a snake!

Travel

Don’t forget about traveling with your pet. If you are skipping the long car ride and planning on flying to your destination, commercial air travel is not always a good experience for pets.

Small pets end up stuffed under seats which can be quite uncomfortable and scary. Even worse, if you have a big dog, they are delegated to the cargo area – never a good thing. 

Instead of commercial flights, you may want to look into jet card programs.

With a private jet charter, you can bring your pets along and ensure they enjoy a safe and comfortable flight right alongside you.

Pet Sitter

If you think that bringing your dog along sounds like too much stress, you have other options, like hiring a pet sitter!

Pet sitters can range from inexpensive (nearby dog-loving friends) or a little pricey (experienced, insured professional agencies with great online reviews).

Pet sitters are often a good choice, as your dog gets to stay in the comfort of their own home.

Some pet sitters even double as house sitters!

The only downside to a pet sitter is that your dog will be home alone for most of the day and night, possibly getting into trouble.

Also, if your dog suddenly decides they don’t like the sitter and won’t let them come inside, you may find yourself having to hurry home!

Boarding

Another option if you’d rather not bring your dog with you on your vacation is boarding!

Your vet may be able to board your dog.

You could also choose to board your dog at a doggie “resort.

If your dog has any medical issues, boarding them at the vet may be the best choice, followed by boarding them at a place with a vet, like PetSmart’s Pet Hotel (given that the PetSmart has a Banfield vet attached).

But if your dog is healthy, they’d probably enjoy a doggie resort more.

The best resorts allow friendly dogs to play together, and also offer at least a little grass for potty breaks.

While you may feel more comfortable knowing your dog is being watched all day long by professionals, do know that boarding can be pricey and also can be stressful for your dog if they don’t board often.

Which to Choose?

Whether you decide to bring your dog with you on your vacation will depend upon your budget, where you’re going, your dog’s health and temperament, and how you feel about leaving them behind.

If you don’t mind babysitting your dog, then you’d be fine bringing them along.

But if you’d rather not have your pup waiting for their dinner back at the cabin when you want to hang out on the lake, a pet sitter or boarding may be the better choice.

What do you do with your dog when you go on vacation?

Calvin

Monday 2nd of March 2020

Great to know, applies to most pets too.

Sara

Sunday 20th of November 2016

This dog so cute

Sandy Weinstein

Friday 5th of August 2016

if i cant take my dogs i dont go on vacation. i will not leave my girls at home. i would miss them too much. i dont even go out of town if i cant take my girls. i had to go to a dog show and the dog breeder got made b/c i said i was bringing all 3 gals. so we have abt 6 dogs in the rv. i had to sleep on the floor in a sleeping bag for a wk b/c she would not sleep with more than 1 dog and i said all 3 gals are used to sleeping with me.

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