Ah, summertime! It’s the time of year when thoughts turn to taking a little time off from our “real lives” to enjoy a bit of rest and relaxation. If you’re thinking about bringing your dog along on your vacation, you’re not alone. It’s estimated that 29 million Americans will travel with their pets this year. Wow, that’s a lot of dogs on the move!
Traveling with your dog is much like traveling with kids: it takes a little bit of planning and a whole lot of patience. If you want a successful vacation with your dog, you’re going to have to get prepared before you hit the road. Take a look at this cute infographic for some of the things you should consider when planning a trip with your dog, and then we’ll chat some more below.
This article contains affiliate links which means that if you use these links to make a purchase, I may receive a small commission at no additional charge to you. Thank you for supporting my blog!
Whether you are traveling by plane, train, or automobile, my top 6 tips for traveling with your dog are:
- Make sure your pet is up-to-date on vaccinations, and take a paper copy of her shot record with you.
- Double check that the contact information on your pet’s ID tag is correct. Should she become lost, it will be imperative that your current phone number is on her tag. Have you heard the story of how a pet ID tag saved my dog’s life?
- Even more important than an accurate ID tag is a microchip. It costs so little (less than $50) and can bring so much happiness when a microchip helps your pet find her way home.
- No matter how you’re traveling, whether it’s by plane, train, or automobile, your pet should be properly restrained to avoid injury. We love Sleepypod products, and there’s one that is perfect for your pet regardless of size.
- Always have a pet first-aid kit on hand. You never know when you might need it, and it’s always better to be safe than sorry.
- Use pet-friendly hotel accommodations. Even if you can sneak your pet into a place that doesn’t allow pets, you shouldn’t. What if the next person who stays in that room is deathly allergic? Don’t be that guy.
We’ll be traveling next week with Georgie on our first family vacation since she joined our pack. I’m super excited about it, but I’m also meticulously checking and re-checking my list of road trip necessities to make sure I’ve packed everything she needs and all of our bases are covered. There’s a lot to consider when traveling with pets.
What are your best tips for traveling with dogs? I’d love for you to share them in a comment below!
Leave a Reply