Seven Pet Travel Holiday Hacks Every Dog Owner Needs to Know
So, you and your pet are getting ready to head off on an adventure. Whether you’re traveling new or somewhere very familiar, it’s a great opportunity for some bonding with your beloved best friend – provided they are trained and you have a plan! Here are seven pet holiday hacks that will ensure the journey is comfortable and as stress-free as pawsible.
- Wear your dog out ahead of time
If you want a pet who won’t give you any trouble, then you need to make sure they get some exercise pre-trip. Take your pooch for a nice jog, play with them in the house or let them have a playdate with another dog. Whatever you do, make sure they are pretty tired by the time you get them to the car, plane, boat or whatever other mode of transportation you are taking. This way, your four-legged friend won’t be restless, irritable, or anxious for much of the trip. Instead, they’ll be sleeping or resting comfortably and letting you enjoy the trip without worrying over their whines.
- Take a squeegee for clean-up
Does your fluffy friend have a habit of leaving hair everywhere they go? No one wants a car full of pet hair, and you don’t want to leave a mess at the hotel either. Run a squeegee over soft furnishings to get rid of most of the fur your furry friend has dropped.
Top tip: Groom and deshed your pooch thoroughly before you travel. Using something like a high velocity K9 Dryer will save you getting fur all over your vacation clothes, especially if you have a pup with a heavy coat. Going for a longer period? You can pick up hand held dog dryers that are compact and lightweight for your vacation.
- Use a wheeled pet carrier
Try carrying your fur baby, your fur baby through a busy airport or across the deck of a boat every time you need to go somewhere. It’s near on impossible to do that while carrying your bags or suitcase, plus you’ll guarantee some funny looks!
At the same time, if you try to get your pup to walk everywhere they run the risk of getting tangled, lost or in someone’s way. A pet carrier is an essential item you’ll need to bring along with you – and you will be able to find some with wheels that will make travel a walk in the park. This will ensure your dog doesn’t get distracted in a busy airport and get into mischief or refuse to move because they’re scared of the crowds.
Top tip: If you’re flying, make sure to invest in an airline approved pet carrier and find an airline that will allow you to travel with your four-legged friend. Make sure to read up on what vaccinations your dog needs to travel and ensure you are properly covered.
- Bring along some baking soda
What are you going to do if your dog has an accident on the plane or in the hotel room? You can clean up dog poop without too much trouble, but what about if they decide to pee in an inconvenient place? Even if your dog is well trained, accidents can happen. You are taking them into a new environment, after all, and that can make them nervous.
Top tip: Baking soda is a great way of soaking up urine and getting rid of smells and stains. Just bring a small box with you wherever you take your puppy and benefit from how easy it is to use for cleanups.
- Run a trial of the trip before the trip
It’s always good to have a trial run, right? Rather than worrying about your upcoming trip or just hoping everything will be okay – why not find out for sure?
You can pack up your dog and their things and go for a day trip, just driving down the countywide or taking a ferry. This can be a great way to find out how your dog will cope and if you need to bring anything extra for your furry friend. You’ll see firsthand how you can deal with dog as you travel and how well they handle everything too. Doing a trial run can also ease your stress and worry and make you feel calmer about the upcoming trip.
Another benefit is that your dog will feel less stressed too, as they will subsequently be more used to traveling.
- Give your dog a way to see out the window
A good tip is to ensure your dog gets a window seat on your journey – if it’s allowable. If you are traveling by car, you might need to give your dog a cushion to sit on to let them see properly out the windows. This will give your dog a great view to keep them occupied, and you don’t have to be so concerned with entertaining them either.
- Use a pet locator
If you’re heading somewhere foreign to your pet, it’s a good idea to ensure he or she is microchipped and they are wearing a dog collar with a tag that has your phone number listed on it. The tag should have the number, since an address won’t be any good if you are traveling. You could also use a puppy GPS, which is a fairly new piece of tech that helps you track your dog’s location. These typically come in the form of collars with a small tracking unit inside. You can link the tracker to your phone with some devices, and that makes it really easy to take your tracking unit with you. This way, if you lose your puppy, you can just turn on your GPS and hopefully find them a lot easier.
Conclusion
There you have it – a quick list of things you can do to make traveling with your pet easier than ever. If you find some of your own you want to share, then please do so in the comment section. We would love to hear from you and if you have any pet travel hacks to share.