3 Pet-Friendly Travel Mishaps Every Dog Owner Should Avoid
As a dog lover, exploring with your pet is your idea of a perfect vacation. However, traveling with dogs doesn’t always go as planned. From nervous dogs to hidden costs, there’s a lot that can go wrong when traveling with your dog. These are the three most common issues you’ll encounter while on vacation with your dog and how to avoid them.
Exorbitant Pet Fees
Dog owners are used to paying a little extra, but if you assume airline or hotel pet fees are reasonable and don’t ask for specifics, you could find yourself stuck with a bill much larger than expected. Use these tips to avoid sky-high pet fees while traveling.
- Avoid air travel. Most airlines charge £100 or more to fly with a pet and you may pay more if you have a large pet, a long flight, or connections on another airline. Driving avoids these fees and makes for a more comfortable ride for your dog.
- Know which hotels don’t charge extra for pets. When you’re feeling drowsy after a long day on the road, you’ll know which hotels to turn to for a budget-friendly stay.
- Verify pet policies before booking lodging. Even chains known for pet-friendliness may have locations that don’t allow pets or charge higher fees. Call hotels and Airbnbs before booking to avoid surprise fees or discover your lodging isn’t pet-friendly after all.
- Look for destinations known for pet-friendliness. Not only will you have more options for dog-friendly lodging, but it’ll also be easier to find activities to do with your pet.
An Anxious Pup
The sights, sounds, and smells of a new place are exciting for you but can be anxiety-inducing for your dog. Managing your dog’s anxiety makes the trip more pleasant for you both.
Here’s how to do it.
- Practice before your vacation. If crates or car rides make your dog anxious, introduce them slowly to build your dog’s comfort before the trip.
- Pack familiar items. A favorite toy and a dog bed that smells like home increase your dog’s comfort in unfamiliar settings.
- Schedule time for exercise. A tired dog is a relaxed dog. Take breaks while driving to exercise your dog and schedule activity into each day on vacation. However, no matter how laid-back your dog seems, don’t leave your pet unattended in a hotel room. If your pet causes damage, you’ll be responsible for the costs.
- Treat your dog’s anxiety with CBD. A growing number of veterinarians support CBD use to ease anxiety and phobias in dogs. Do your research and talk to your vet to decide if CBD is right for your dog. This CBD buyer’s guide is a good place to start learning about the leading CBD oils of 2019 and how to compare CBD products.
A Canine Escapee
Losing your dog is every pet owner’s worst fear. But losing your dog in an unfamiliar place far from home? That’s a nightmare. These safety practices help prevent a lost dog on vacation.
- Reinforce obedience training before vacation. Your dog is safest when it understands and follows basic commands, even in places with enticing distractions.
- Always leash your pet before opening car or hotel room doors and at parks, rest areas, and other unfenced areas.
- Secure your pet using a crate or safety harness to prevent your dog from running away in the chaos of a car accident. Beware of dog restraints that aren’t proven to keep dogs safe in the car. The only dog restraints proven safe in a collision are products crash-test certified by the Center for Pet Safety.
- Update your pet’s ID tags and microchip before vacationing and take a current picture. If your dog does escape, this helps you find your pet
Some mishaps are worth going the extra mile to avoid. It’s one thing to show up at the dog park and realize you forgot poop bags, but it’s a much bigger problem when your dog tears up a hotel room or escapes at a highway rest stop. By planning how you’ll avoid these common mistakes before your trip, you ensure a safe and fun vacation for everyone.
