We’re always on the move! We’ve all been there, ready to plan our trip, and need our dog to be taken care of. We love to bring them along but sometimes staying with family members or friends is the only option. When that option is taken away, we freak out! We’ll go through some of the things we do to make traveling with your dog a breeze.
Getting Ready
What type of vacation you are planning takes a big part of the process. Let’s go through some of them.
City Trip: Dogs aren’t allowed at every hotel these days, so finding one can be difficult. Apps like Airbnb and VRBO have pet option filters that help find stays with pets allowed.
Outdoors: A little easier for the outdoor trips because folks like to bring their dogs on these typically. Again, Airbnb and VRBO have excellent filter options. We’ve noticed outdoorsy places like cabins and glamping are a little more lenient.
International Travel / Long distance: The most complex one, especially if you have a large dog like us. You need to check what are the laws around pets for destinations.
A note on airlines: If you are flying with your dog, check the airline website to see their rules and regulations. If you have a big dog, they will likely be stored under the cabin. Some airlines require that the temperature is below a certain threshold to allow your dog to fly, so keep that in mind!
The Day of
Now that you’ve got accommodation arrangements sorted, it’s the day of, and you are ready to go….sort of.
What do we need to take?
- Dog Food
- Extra Dog Collar & Leash
- Leash
- Dog tags, including any to show they have all their shots.
- Water
- Bed
- Emergency Kit
- Potty Bags
Anxiety an issue? Our dog has significant anxiety from traveling. We visit our vet for medication and give it to her the morning we travel. This helps big time!
Potty time! Make sure you take them on a long walk in the morning so they can go potty. This will also tire them out a little for the trip ahead.
Traveling & Arriving
Air Travel: If you have a layover, some airlines will allow you to meet with your dog and let them use the potty as long as time permits. If you don’t ask an airline associate where you are to meet your dog after the plane has landed. Some steward personnel will allow you to try to get off the plane early.
Road Trip: Depending on the length of the trip, you will want to stop about every 2 hours for them to use the bathroom. Many rest stops offer excellent locations and have potty bags for your dog. Also, if you think they need to go, try and stop at your next possible location.
Back home
By now, you should be a pro at this. Rinse and repeat the steps above, and you will be home in the blink of an eye.Safe Travels,
Aloha Dog Co