by Sue Pethick
In addition to making sure your car is tuned up for your trip, you’ll need to get it “pet ready” before you hit the road.
Making sure you come home together safely is the most important part of any trip, so be sure you have a way of securing your pet while you are traveling.
Crates, carriers, or car harnesses will prevent your dog from making an unannounced visit to check the view from your lap while you’re driving and will protect him from injury in case of an accident. Also remember to deactivate the airbag for any seat your pet will be occupying.
Talk to Your Vet
Call your vet to confirm that your dog’s vaccinations are up to date, and discuss any possible health concerns that might exist where you will be traveling. Also ask about possible remedies for car sickness, diarrhea, and restlessness—just in case!
Finally, consider having your pet microchipped and keep your contact information up to date with the company that registers the chip. It would be a nightmare, but pets do become separated from their people while traveling. Shelters, animal hospitals, veterinary clinics, and humane societies have scanners that read the chips so they can quickly notify you of your pet’s recovery.
Polish Your P’s and Q’s
You can avoid embarrassing and potentially dangerous situations by teaching your dog reliable come, heel, quiet, and settle commands. Practice is the key. Before you set out, test your progress somewhere with a lot of distractions, like an outdoor café or a dog park.
Gather the Gear
Dogs need a lot of stuff when they are on vacation! Here’s a checklist of things you’ll want to take along:
• Food and treats—If you are not certain that you’ll be able to find the brand of food and treats you feed your pet along the way, pack enough for the whole trip plus a little extra. And, for canned food, don’t forget the can opener!
• All his medications, vitamins, and supplements.
• Drinking water—If your dog’s stomach is easily upset, it pays to take drinking water from home with you.
• Food and water bowls—Portable bowls pack easily and are great when you are out and about, and anti-spill water bowls are fantastic in the car.
• Your dog’s bed and a couple of toys—These familiar objects will make him more comfortable when you spend the night in unfamiliar locations.
• Current identification tag—Of course you’ll want to include your cell phone number, or other phone number where you can be reached while you are away, on your dog’s ID tag. If your dog requires medication, include that information on his tag as well.
• Leash—Many places require your pet to be on a leash no longer than six feet. Also consider a long leash (fifteen to twenty feet) if you plan to hike with your dog or let him run in an unfenced area.
• Waste bags to pick up after him along the way.
• A couple of rolls of paper towels and some carpet cleaner for muddy paws and other messes.
• An old towel in case of rain, or after swimming.
• First aid kit.
• Proof of vaccinations—You’ll need these at some dog parks, hotels, and campgrounds. Also, if you need to use a pet sitter, day care, or kennel services while you are traveling, they will need these documents.
• Medical records—Having your pet’s veterinary records with you could be critical in the event of an injury or illness. Rather than lugging around a large file, scan the documents to an easy-to-pack USB drive. And don’t forget to take your vet’s telephone number and the telephone number for the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center: 888-426-4435.
• Photo of your dog—In case you get separated, have a current photo handy so you can create posters quickly.
All this preparation takes some time, but it’s the secret to making sure your trip is enjoyable for everyone. With the groundwork done, it’s time to decide where you’ll go and what you’ll see!
Less Is More When It Comes to Fun
Start poking around and you’ll find that there are thousands of places that would be fun to visit with your dog. From hiking in the mountains to romping on the beach, the possibilities are almost endless! It’s tempting to jam-pack your itinerary with all of the pet-friendly locations you’ll find along the way, but remember to leave time to stop and sniff the roses.
To a dog, nothing is more important than thoroughly sniffing the tree before him. Rushing him on to the next tree, and the one after that, before he’s finished with the first is just plain frustrating. When you’re traveling with your pet, plan to take your time. Trade in your scurry for a mosey, and really experience the places you go rather than just checking them off a list.
Booking a Place to Stay
Reserving a pet-friendly hotel can be a tricky proposition. While more and more locations welcome pets, the degree of enthusiasm with which your dog will be received ranges from “barely pet tolerant” to “over-the-top accommodating.” Ask these questions, and you’ll have all the information you need to find the perfect place to stay:
Does the hotel accept pets? Hotel pet polices change often, so it’s a good idea to verify that the property you’re considering is still welcoming pets.
Are there any weight or breed restrictions? It’s common for hotels to impose weight restrictions—but if you’ve found a hotel that’s perfect in every way, except that your pup is a little too big, ask if they’ll make an exception! Most hotels have a little wiggle room in their size limitations and will try to accommodate you when asked.
How many pets are allowed per room? When you travel with multiple pets, it’s important to ask if you’ll all be allowed to stay in the same room together.
Will you be charged additional pet fees? This is where a hotel’s true pet-friendly colors will show. There are some hotel chains where pets stay free, while others heap on pet fees that can add up to more than the nightly room rate! Be sure you have a clear understanding of the charges before making your reservation. Determine whether the fee is per night or for the entire stay, whether it’s charged per pet or is a fixed rate regardless of the number of pets, and whether any portion of the fee is refundable if the room isn’t damaged during your stay.
Are pet travelers limited to specific pet-friendly rooms? Everyone has their preferences . . . proximity to the elevator, stairwell, ice machine, and high floors versus low floors. It’s good to know up front if the hotel will accommodate your requests.
What amenities does the hotel offer? The most important amenity is always a convenient, grassy pet relief area, but some hotels also provide treats at check-in, pet beds and bowls in the room, doggy room service menus, spa treatments, and pet-sitting services. Some hotels have restaurants with pet-friendly patios, and some even host a “yappy hour” in the lobby each evening! Deciding how much to pamper your pooch is up to you.
May pets be left unattended in the room? Determining whether the hotel allows you to leave your pet alone in the room while you step out for something to eat or to run an errand helps you plan appropriately. Hotels are primarily concerned with two things when dogs are left unattended: damage to the room and barking that disturbs other guests. To alleviate those concerns, the hotel may require that pets be crated when you’re away, and following our tips for a quiet stay will help ease any worries with barking.
Are some areas of the hotel off-limits to pets? Pets are generally not allowed in breakfast areas, restaurants, pools, and fitness rooms, so ask to be sure you can live with the restrictions.
Is the hotel haunted? It’s best to know up front if there’s a chance you and your dog will be sharing your room with a ghost. If in fact you find yourselves lodging with Casper the Friendly Poltergeist, ask for another room.
Keep to the Schedule
Maintaining your dog’s feeding and exercise schedule as much as possible during your trip will reduce any anxiety he may feel about being away from home. Set an alarm to remind you when mealtime is approaching, and set aside time each day to let your dog stretch, run,
and burn off some energy—isn’t this what being on vacation is all about, after all?
Be Considerate
When you travel with your pet, you are an ambassador for all pet travelers—so make a good impression! Abide by the rules of the places you visit—especially keeping your dog on-leash and always cleaning up after him. Inconsiderate behavior can have unfortunate repercussions for future pet travelers and local pet owners.
Roll with It
When things go a little sideways—and they sometimes will—you can choose to let it ruin your day, or you can choose to see it as a new adventure. Dogs are great teachers in that they’re never attached to the outcome . . . where you end up, how many places you see along the way. . . . Those things are all irrelevant to your dog. He just wants to be with you and have fun. If you can embrace that mind-set, you’ll see every detour as an opportunity to have a great time—and you and your dog will grow closer for the experience.
With these tips in hand, your first dog-friendly vacation will be a breeze! And, most important, you’ll be making memories with your best friend that will last a lifetime.
About GoPetFriendly.com
In 2009 two accountants returned from walking their dog, Ty, and found a stray German shepherd waiting on their doorstep. They took the poor dog inside and mounted a search for his people, but no one came forward to claim him. So they named him Buster and made him part of their family . . . and that changed everything.
It wasn’t long until the couple was planning their summer vacation and discovered how difficult it was to travel with a dog as big as Buster! Hotels had weight restrictions and some charged ridiculous pet fees, and information on pet-friendly restaurants, beaches, and dog parks was scattered all over the Internet. That’s when Amy and Rod Burkert came up with the idea to start a Web site that would make it easy to plan trips the whole family could enjoy together.
Now GoPetFriendly.com has it all. From pet-friendly hotels and campgrounds to beaches and off-leash parks where your dog can run—even veterinarians, pet supply stores, restaurants, and wineries—you’ll get the scoop on more than 60,000 pet-friendly locations across North America!
All the information pet parents need when traveling in the United States and Canada is provided free of charge, including 20,000 consistent, detailed pet policies from hotels and campgrounds, expert advice on nearly 200 dog-friendly destination guides, and a pet-friendly road-trip planner that makes planning your next vacation a breeze.
Amy, Rod, Ty, and Buster have been touring the country in their motor home for more than five years, searching out new pet-friendly places to include on the Web site, and blogging about their adventures. They invite you to travel vicariously with them on the GoPetFriendly.com blog, Take Paws, and on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter.
Waggin’ trails!
To the extent that the image or images on the cover of this book depict a person or persons, such person or persons are merely models, and are not intended to portray any character or characters featured in the book.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
“Preparing for Your First Dog-Friendly Vacation” printed with the permission of Amy Burkert and GoPetFriendly.com, LLC.
KENSINGTON BOOKS are published by
Kensington Publishing Corp.
119 West 40th Street
New York, NY 10018
Copyright © 2016 by Sue Pethick
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the Publisher, excepting brief quotes used in reviews.
Kensington and the K logo Reg. U.S. Pat. & TM Off.
eISBN-13: 978-1-61773-843-2
eISBN-10: 1-61773-843-3
First Kensington Electronic Edition: January 2016
ISBN: 978-1-6177-3842-5
ISBN-10: 1-61773-842-5
First Kensington Trade Paperback Printing: January 2016
