Holidays with a dog. How to prepare a dog for vacation?

More and more people want to take their dogs on holiday trips. We suggest how to prepare for vacation with a dog, so that it is really comfortable and pleasant for both people and a pet.

How to prepare for a vacation with a dog?

We usually start holidays with planning the destination of travel and accommodation. Currently, more and more places are open to travelers with animals, and accommodation search engines have this option to mark. Here, however, a key advice: in this matter, do not rely on information from the search engine. Especially if it is to be accommodation in an intimate center, guest house or house. It is best to contact the owner in advance and make sure your dog is actually welcome and what rules of stay with the dog are valid on site. Hotels often have such regulations on their websites. Check if there is an additional fee for the dog, make sure that the place will accept each dog (some hotels have weight restrictions and only tolerate small dogs). Ask if the hotel restaurant is friendly to dogs (this is not always the case). At the same time there are many hotels and other beds that even advertise as quadruped friendly. In such places, a dog can often count on a welcome gift, and even a lair, a bowl or a separate towel.

When planning your destination, think about how you want to spend time on vacation. Check if the attractions you care about can be visited with the dog. Contrary to appearances, there are more and more pupils: these are also some museums, some national parks or towns that have designated beaches dedicated to tourists with dogs. Also more and more restaurants are inviting guests with dogs, and in the summer season you can sit with your pet in most gardens.

If you are planning to go with a dog abroad, be sure to check what requirements related to the transport of a dog across the country in a given country must be met. Everywhere a passport is required that you can produce in selected veterinary offices, important vaccination against rabies and a chip. The provisions regarding the transport of animals to individual countries can be found on the website of the Main Veterinary Inspectorate.

What to go on vacation with a dog?

If you go on vacation by car, take care of the dog’s safe transport. It should be in a special transporter properly fixed, and if he sits loose, e.g. in the back seat, it should be pinned with belts (there are special car braces or dog pins).

Dogs can also travel by public transport. In Poland, dogs can travel by trains. Most carriers apply a separate ticket for the transport of the dog – this fixed amount independent of the route length, the ticket price ranges from a few to several zlotys (most at PKP Intercity – 15.20 PLN per dog). Before choosing this form of travel, it is worth reading the animal transport regulations of a given carrier (usually a leash, muzzle and important rabies vaccination are required). If you are planning a bus travel or local buses, make sure you can take your dog. Not all transport companies give this opportunity.

Important: Prepare a dog for travel! If something is new to the dog, it may be frightened: regardless of whether it is a car journey or a visit to a crowded station, or finally driving a train. Take the dog for a short ride and check how he reacts. You can and should work on fears to make the journey comfortable for everyone. If you see any problem, you should ask a behaviorist for help.

What to take on vacation with a dog?

The most important are documents, i.e. a health book or passport with important vaccination against rabies. When going on vacation, be sure to have a list of veterinarians who are accepting in a given area. Believe that in case of a sudden need to use help, the nervous search for the nearest veterinarian is the last thing you want. It will take you a few moments before your vacation.

The dog should wear a solid address with the number to the carers, also make sure that the chip is registered in the appropriate base and assigned to your phone number.

If you complete the outfit for your family, remember what to take for a dog. The firmness of the dog first aid kit can be consulted with your veterinarian, but it should certainly contain dressings, disinfecting agents, recommended by the veterinarian with diarrhea preparation and something to remove ticks.

In addition, take two sets of leashes and braces (or collars), it’s worth having a muzzle and packing your dog’s favorite toys, a blanket or a lair.

How to feed a dog on vacation?

Dog nutrition on vacation is, contrary to appearances, a very important matter. A sudden change of food can cause a stomach disorder, and this is the last thing that is needed on vacation. This is not the time for changes and experiments. Make sure that the food that your dog eats is available in the place you are going to, and if not, take the supply with you. If this is a longer trip, the solution is also to order karma to the address you will be during the holidays. If you plan to change the food, do it in advance.

Where to leave the dog on vacation?

When planning a vacation, it’s worth remembering one more rule: you can take your dog on vacation, but you don’t have to. It is nothing wrong to go without a dog, it is only bad to abandon the animal (which is a scourge during the holidays). Regardless of the reasons why the dog cannot go with you, take care of proper care for him at this time: the easiest way to entrust the dog to the care of someone close to someone, and if this is not possible, take advantage of the care of Petsitter or special hotels for animals.