There’s nothing better than getting to bring along your furry friend while traveling. A hotel can be a great place for you to lie down and relax, but your dog may feel the complete opposite. Traveling can be extremely stressful and traumatic for dogs, so you want to make them feel them the most at home as you can! Read on to find out how to make the most out of your travel and create a comfortable experience for you and your pooch!
Pick a Dog-Friendly Hotel
Picking out a dog-friendly spot may seem like a no-brainer to you, but some people tend to sneak in their dogs to avoid any extra fees or having to find an accommodating hotel. This is a big problem as you may be triggering other guests with pet allergies (or even your dog), get kicked out of the hotel (which adds even more stress to your pup), or even pay a hefty fine. Some people may also avoid taking their dog on much-needed walks or potty breaks to avoid being caught by the hotel staff. Avoid this completely by just staying in a dog-friendly facility, some hotels even leave out treats for their incoming furry guests!
Ground Floor Rooms
Try and ask for a room on the ground or the first floor. This way you will have easy access to outside exits and avoid the stress of using the elevator or stairs with your dog.
Let Your Dog Explore
Dogs are more comfortable with new surroundings if they are able to check them out for themselves. Let your dog explore the room and sniff about before you begin throwing your luggage everywhere. This will ease them into staying in the room and they won’t be afraid! Of course, if you choose to let your pup explore the rest of the hotel, make sure you keep them on a tight leash and supervise what they’re doing (i.e. no unwanted accidents or crumb eating)!
Bring a Piece of Home With You
A great way to put your dog’s mind at ease is to bring along something they love at home. Whether this is their favorite toy or blanket, just make sure it hasn’t been washed extremely recently so there’s still a scent of home on it!
Bring a Variety of Toys
If your dog doesn’t feel entertained, they will find something to do themselves. This can, unfortunately, mean chewing on the hotel furniture or even your clothes! To avoid this, bring a few toys with you. Enrichment or puzzle toys can be great to bring as your dog won’t get bored easily. P.S. leave the squeaking toys at home, you don’t want to get a noise complaint because your dog found themselves bored at 3 A.M.
Maintain the At-Home Routine
It’s easy to fall out of routine on vacation. But dogs thrive off of routines, so switching it up dramatically can really impact your dog’s wellbeing. Try maintaining your wake-up and bedtime routine with your dog by putting them in their travel crate at a designated time. Feeding and potty routines should also be followed to decrease your dog’s stress.
Exercise, Exercise, Exercise!
Playtime is extremely important to dogs and they need daily exercise to release stress. Check out local dog parks or hiking trails while you’re traveling! It will be a fun way to get in exercise and your dog will love being outdoors. An exercised dog is a dog who is less likely to bark and whine!
Don’t Leave Your Dog Alone
Try to avoid leaving your dog by itself, or at least for long periods of time. While this may be fine when at home, they are in an unfamiliar space and get stressed out a lot easier. Your leaving may trigger separation anxiety and a feeling of abandonment, causing your dog to freak out. This can be traumatic for your dog and they may begin to damage the room, howl or bark, and have potty accidents.
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