What to Do With Your Dog When You Travel

As dog owners, one of the hardest decisions we’d ever have to make is leaving our canine friend behind while we travel to attend to other businesses. Not only does it weigh us down, but it also keeps our pet glum for a pretty long time.

Wondering what to do with your dog when you travel can be quite overwhelming; you wouldn’t want to leave it hungry and lonely while you’re out. To take the burden off of your chest, we at CANINE FINDS have compiled an extensive list of alternatives to opt-in for when you have to be temporarily separated from your dog.

Here are a couple of things to do with your dog when you’re traveling;

• Hire a Pet and House Sitter

Just like us humans, dogs can get homesick when taken away from the apartment they’ve known all their lives. Even worse, they don’t get to see their owners too – this could be a tough challenge for your dog to overcome. Getting a pet sitter to take care of your dog in the comfort of your home helps make being apart from you easier for them.

Finding a pet sitter you can trust with your home and the life of your pet is mandatory when selecting this option. Be sure to do a quick background check and visit trusted sites.  Hiring a trusted pet sitter would help keep your mind at ease wherever you are.

• Try the Vet Shop

Boarding your dog at the vet shop isn’t usually the best option for your dog, as the environment could be quite devastating to your pet. However, leaving your pet in the hands of a vet is the safest and most reasonable option for a sick dog or dogs that need special attention.

Leaving your healthy dog at the Vet’s might not be a good idea, as they might be exposed to diseases from other infected pets in the office. Unless there’s a different room or daycare for your healthy dog, boarding them at the vet’s isn’t a great idea.

• Have the sitter take your dog home

Boarding your pet at the sitter’s is the closest to having it enjoy the comfort of being in a home. With the help of your assigned dog-sitter, your dog can easily adjust to being in a new environment while enjoying the routines it loves doing. It is also relatively cheaper when compared to having the sitter care for your dog at your place.

While this option might be rough at first, it gets better in the long-run. Your dog eventually starts to love its sitter and will be looking forward to the next visit. 

• Leave your dog at home 

When going on short trips, leaving your dog at home isn’t a bad idea. All you need to do is inform a neighbor, family, or pet sitter to help check up on your canine friend at least three times a day. Making sure they have enough water to drink and food to eat. Leaving your dog at home is only applicable if it has been trained to do a couple of chores all by itself.

• Board your dog at a kennel or pet hotel

Your dog deserves a vacation of its own every once in a while. Leaving it at a kennel or pet hotel is one of the best ways to appreciate your dog, and there’s no perfect timing than when you have to travel. Making your dog have the best time of its life while you’re away from each other is an efficient way of reducing the effect of your absence.

Before making your pick, you must do a thorough inspection of the premises for your dog’s sake. Ensure that it’s in a top sanitary condition; you wouldn’t want your dog getting infected or sick. You also need to make sure it is a place your dog will enjoy and take a look at the activities they have in-store for your dog. 

• Take your dog along with you

If you can’t stay a moment without having your dog right by your side, you could always bring it along with you. For emotional support and service dog owners, traveling with your dog is pretty much important, especially if you’ll be staying longer at your temporary resident. 

Taking your dog along with you saves you the cost and constant worries that leaving your dog behind brings. Traveling with your dog also helps create a strong bond like never before.

Important precautions to take when traveling without your dog

We know it hurts being separated from your dog. Keeping it in the best condition while you’re away is your major concern, and that is why you need to take certain precautions to ease the burden of leaving them behind. 

Here are a few tips you need to know after deciding on what to do with your dog when you travel:

• Make sure your dog has its collar on

Keeping a collar on at all times makes identifying your dog easy, just in case there’s an incident that requires identifying your pet.

• Give the assigned sitter detailed instruction

No one can care for your dog like you do. Hence, the need for specific instructions. Make a list of meals, schedules, and activities that keep your dog happy. A list is essential for dogs that require special attention of any kind.

• Prepare your dog for the great departure

Introducing your dog to its prospective sitter, hotel, or kennel ahead of its final arrival is the easiest way to help it familiarize itself with its temporary residence. Make it easy on your dog by giving off cheerful and positive energy, with a brief pat on the head or kiss before leaving too.

Final Thoughts

Being away from your dog doesn’t have to be difficult. Missing each other is inevitable, but constant worries are. After figuring out what to do with your dog when you travel, all you need to do is provide all it needs to survive till your arrival. Give it its favorite toys, meal, bowl, and other forms of entertainment and comfort it needs.

Do not be afraid to properly inspect and make research on the sitter, hotel, or spa where your dog is boarding. Keeping it in safe hands is the only way to keep your mind at bay. It is also okay to facetime your dog whenever just in case you miss it a little too much. 

Safe travels!