Dogs are more than just pets. These adorable four-legged furry buddies have become our closest confidantes and companions. With over half of US households considering dogs a part of their families, it comes as no surprise that pet parents wish to tag along with their furry companions while planning a trip.
The travel industry has rolled out its new red carpets for both animal and human guests. It has started to offer a wide range of dog-friendly hotel packages and flights specifically designed for pups. If you are unsure whether or not to bring along your pet for your travel or are looking for the best tips to keep your four-legged companion, especially small dog breeds like Miniature Cockapoo, happy and healthy, then our post today will help you.
Read more:
- 5 Things To Consider Before Getting Your First Dog
- How to Prepare for Your First Pet: A Beginner’s Guide
Preparing Your Dog for Long-Term Travel
Before you add your pup to your travel plans, ensure that you stay prepared. Consider it like laying the foundation of a building; lacking one will make everything else crumble.
Put Your Pet’s Well-being First
Before you start drafting your packing list, always put the well-being of your dog first. Although you may find it exciting to bring your pup along on your journey, the feeling may differ for your dog. Furthermore, travel may prove harmful to your pup’s health. It is mainly true for small dog breeds like a Cockapoo. For example, since you know your pup more than anyone else, it is always the best idea to connect with your vet for professional travel suggestions. It includes the key Cockapoo training tips to ensure an effortless travel experience.
Other than your dog’s health, consider their overall personality and choices. Since they are an anxious homebody who lives by the routine or more of a social butterfly who loves to explore, it mainly relies on your breeds. While a few pups have adventurous spirits and love traveling, others might not feel the same way. It is extremely essential to maintain a healthy relationship with your pets to know about their preferences.
A few specific trips may often be more conducive to bringing pets than the rest. For instance, a weekend camping getaway vs. a global business conference. Consider the whole travel experience from your dog’s point of view, right from the moment you step out of your home until your moment of return.
Determine When to Travel Without Your Pet
At times, you might feel that the right decision is to travel alone. However, with the dog travel tips, things may turn different. If you identify the things that make your pup uncomfortable or the trips might not be dog-friendly, then consider hiring a pet sitter or booking a boarding facility. Also, remember to book a spot for your pup early if you are planning a trip during a busy season.
Ensure to list every pro and con, as numerous times; pet parents have the best intentions. However, traveling might turn stressful for a few pups as they will lack knowledge about the different sounds and sights of a new city or an airplane.
Consider the Mode of Travel
Once you have decided on bringing your pet along then the next move is to decide on the mode of travel. For instance, if you have a small dog breed, like a Cavachon, then take frequent breaks. At times of any medical emergencies, you can drive out to a nearby hospital for urgent care. But, in air travel, you will lack this flexibility, making it extremely essential to focus on training a Cavachon or any other breed to stay calm and at comfort in confined spaces.
Driving may not be possible on several travels, so you may have to check into flying with your dog. However, air travel for non-service animals can become complicated as every airline has their protocols. These may vary depending on the nature of the departure and the arrival destinations, the dog breed, the weather, your pet’s age, vaccination status, and more. Typically, unless your pup is small enough to fit in a carrier like a Cavapoo or underneath the seat on the entire flight, they might have to travel by the cargo hold.
Planning a Pet-Friendly Itinerary
Getting to your destination is just the minuscule piece of the puzzle behind planning a dog-friendly vacation. You have to consider the logistics, lodging, and social dynamics after you arrive. Also, try managing an additional responsibility to care for your pup while you travel. There are a couple of questions you might have to ask yourself:
- Does your vacation rental or hotel allow dogs? If they do, are there any rules or special fees involved? Numerous hotels will allow for a specific number of pets in each room, while a few of them might have breed restrictions. Even the others might prohibit dogs from being left alone in guest rooms. So, this means you have to take your pup everywhere you go.
- What is enlisted into your itinerary and how dog-friendly is the destination? Is your pet spending the whole day cooped up in a strange place where you are off and about, or will you bring them with you to the shops, activities, or restaurants?
- If you travel with your family, will the accommodations be conducive to dogs? How will your pup react to the other animals or children?
- Does your dog have any medical issues? Does your hotel have a vet on-premises or within proximity, and how would you reach there?
Preparing for the trip
Upon finalizing every detail, offer yourself some moment of preparation for the pet-friendly trip. If you are planning an international vacation, then you can visit an accredited veterinarian who will sign off on the much-needed health certificates. The process will often take about months or weeks. Several pet owners fail to understand the importance of planning.
Along with packing up your belongings, ensure that you leave room for the pet’s necessities. These will include food, medications, treats, leashes, collars, harnesses, toys, dog beds, litter, crates, or carriers. Ensure that you carry along a digital copy of your dog’s vaccination records along with the requisite documentation to travel with pets.
If you are a first-time traveler, these will help you familiarize your pup with upcoming situations. If you have bought a new pet carrier, then ensure to start at home. Before heading out for a road trip, along with spending some time driving around, you will make your pet feel comfortable inside the car. Also, give them some time to acclimate themselves, unpacking their ideal blankets or toys to make their space feel more like home.
Be Flexible
“Pack your patience” is the key term that can help. This is a real fact more than a friction when you choose to travel with your dogs. It is important to head out with a mindset that if anything goes wrong, you will always have a Plan B to safeguard your travel adventures. Set your expectations right to refrain from becoming disappointed or frustrated. Also, research is better than what you think is a necessity.
The Final Leg: Returning Home
Reaching the end of your journey does not mean laying out a finish line for your dog’s travel experience. Getting back home might appear stressful for your pup, like the initial journey, mainly if your dog has become accustomed to the new sounds, sights, and routines.
Ease into Routine Again
Once you return from your travels, help your dog get back to its regular routines. Returning to their usual exercising, feeding, and play schedules is extremely important. If you find your dog happy during the travel, plan for more long-term trips and add new adventures to their lives.
Conclusion
Planning for a dog journey for the long-term is an astounding experience. It not only involves careful preparation to offer them comfort on the road but also a mentally enriching journey where every step counts. Similar to humans, dogs live by their routines, care, and safety. They are all overjoyed to spend an adventure of you celebrating the mark of a lifetime friendship. Geared with the right attention, you can take the responsibility of a pet parent to create a lifelong memory with your four-legged companion!
