I’m going on vacation soon, so I may not post for a couple weeks. I also will be traveling for a weekend for work soon. My dogs are going on vacation with me, but my bird & fish are staying home. When I travel with work all my pets will stay home.
When you’re a pet owner & you’re thinking about vacation or any travel it is important to plan ahead for your pets while you’re gone, whether your pets travel with you or not. Planning ahead helps things to go smoother & less stressful for everyone involved.
I recommend planning well in advance & making a checklist whether your pets are going to travel with you or not. My friends & family have teased me when they have seen my checklist or my dogs duffel bags. Yes, my dogs both have a bag, stuff is mixed as they share things, one bag isn’t big enough to carry all the things I take for them.
Some of the items I pack for my dogs are:
- Food bowls
- Ceramic water bowls (one for inside & one to use outside)
- Dog food (each meal is measured & in bags labeled with name & what meal it is for so no meals are missed).
- Chew items & treats.
- Rabies vaccination records (these are required when crossing some states borders).
- Brita pitcher with filter (some dogs can be sensitive when drinking water they are not use to).
- Extra collar, harness, or gentle leader (one of my dogs chewed his harness, so now carry an extra).
- Tick removing tool if going to be hiking.
- Long leashes for more freedom when out & about (if that type of opportunity).
- Towels to dry dogs feet.
- Travel water bowl if hiking with dogs.
- Extra dodo bags. I also carry a dodo carrying container that can clip to a backpack or belt loop (prevents smelling dodo).
- Toys to play with (I usually get a couple new ones to introduce on vacation).
- 5-6 foot walking leashes (some place have leash length rules).
- Tie out leashes & tie out stakes (if plan to do this at an Airbnb or similar place).
- If traveling more than a couple hours I take water, so when we stop for restroom breaks my dogs can have a drink.
My dogs are allowed to roam some if we stay at a place where this is allowed. Echo wonders more, so I carry a dog whistle which he responds to. Please don’t allow your dog to run if it doesn’t have a good recall & you know it will return to you. Using a 30-50 foot long line is a safer way to give your dog some freedom till you know they have a reliable recall. The first day or two at a new place I walk my dogs on a leash around the property, getting them familiar with where they can go. Being male dogs they mark the area which also helps them to know where they have been.
If your pet is staying home while you travel the first thing you need to do is to find someone trustworthy to care for them.
Things you’ll need to decide:
- Is your pet going to stay at your home or go some place while you’re gone?
- Who is your pet comfortable with, if using a new pet sitter have them come over & meet your pets in advance.
- There are many pet sitting service companies these days to choose from.
- How often do your pets need care? (dogs need to go outside, where other pets do not).
- Do you want a pet sitter to stay at your home or come by daily?
- Are your pets good with other pets? (may be important if your pets are going to stay at a pet sitters home).
- Some pet sitters have children, so this may be a concern for some pets.
There are pet hotels & pet boarding facilities that take in a variety of pets. In my area there is a bird store & an Exotic Vet that boards birds, & exotic Vets often board other caged pets. Many caged pets would be more comfortable staying at home, but this is not always an option. You can also ask Vets if they know of people who pet sit in owners homes, my pet sitter came recommended by a Vet in my area. She was also recommended by a positive dog trainer I used. I can’t stress the importance of getting references before allowing someone to care for your pet.
I personally have had a bad experience with a pet sitter & wouldn’t want anyone else to have the same experience or worse. Ask a lot of questions & trust your gut & your pets reaction to the place or person. If planning to use a facility or someone who sits in their home please visit before you take your pet there. I was going to board a foster once while I was going out of town. I selected a place online & was in the area so stopped in & was horrified how the place looked in person. It was dirty & not kept up, I got back in my car & actually cried thinking I had to leave him there in less than a week. I gladly saw a boarding place on my way home from the first place & I stopped. The foster dog was with me, & with some pleading & explaining my dilemma & them meeting him they agreed to take him. They were very busy, so I was blessed he was a good dog, dog friendly & they really liked him. He was happy & clean when I picked him up. They were also a dog daycare so he got to play with other dogs (indoor & outdoor play areas).
My pet sitter will watch my birds when I go on vacation soon & she will stay here when I go out of town for work & care for my dogs & birds. I will have her come over soon & we will go over everything for each of my birds. I also write up instructions for each pet. I leave her a letter with my Vets information & include permission to allow her to make medical decisions before I can be reached. This won’t be honored by every Vet, but hope in an ER they will at least do lifesaving treatment till you can be reached.
For my fish I use feeders that I drop in the pond. These come in for weekend feeders & ones for up to 10 days. There are other types of feeders that can be attached to aquariums & setup to dispense daily.
Planning ahead will help everything to go smoothly. I recommend you keep the list you make for future travel plans.
Thank you for visiting my blog, please help me get the word out about my blog. My goal is to reach as many pet owners as I can & help them help their pets. You can help me by liking my posts, subscribing to my blog, commenting on what you liked or learned, share the link to my blog with your friends & family on social media or emailing. & visiting often I have 154 other posts on this blog, & you can find the Table of Contents on my home page under the show tab & then go back to the home page & scroll down to the posts you want to read. I try & write about a variety of pets & on a variety of subjects. If you have questions or an idea for a post please email me at echoinggreatpetcare@gmail.com
Thank you again, Debbie (see you in a couple weeks)
Echoing Great Pet Care 