Many dog owners wouldn’t hesitate to bring their beloved pet along for a trip. The problem is with logistics; not every vacation plan gives folks the opportunity to invite their dogs along for the ride. Plane rides, cruise ships, business trips, and quarantine laws when crossing international borders with animals are just some of the factors making it hard to travel with pets in most situations.
With this in mind, we figured it’d be a good idea to provide some useful tips for dog owners leaving their beloved canines at home while they’re away traveling:
Plan for separation anxiety
Unless they’ve been raised from puppyhood to expect their humans to disappear for a week or so at a time, dogs tend to get anxious and depressed when left alone. It comes with being a pack animal. Consider leaving behind a bag of CBD dog treats for the dog sitter. These help to alleviate anxiety in canines.
Find a familiar face
Another step towards reducing dog anxiety while you’re away is finding a familiar face to serve as dog sitter. A friend or family member the dog knows is ideal. If you’re hiring a professional dog sitter, have them come over a few times before your trip. This way your dog has a chance to become familiar with the person. Having a total stranger stroll through the front door while already anxious is not exactly going to put a pooch at ease.
Stock on cleaning supplies
Even the most potty-trained pooch on the planet is going to have an accident if left alone for long enough. Could you hold it for that long? Given the potential for delays caused by traffic and other factors, which could keep your pet sitter from showing up in time to prevent an accident, it’s important to leave several rolls of paper towels, bottles of cleaning agent, and other supplies.
Do not crate or kennel
You might be thinking most of these problems can be solved simply by crating your dog at home or taking them to a kenneling service. As far as the crating craze goes, pet owners ought to think about what it’d be like if they were cooped up in a cage for the majority of the day. Would you be right in the head? Regarding kennels, the risk of kennel cough is too high to say this is a good idea. If you must kennel your dog, take the time to find a location with a reputation for cleanliness and quality care.
Bring back a present
Dogs aren’t much different than people. If your dad went on a business trip and brought you back an interesting toy from abroad, you’d feel a lot better about the fact he wasn’t there for the past four days. The same holds true for our canine companions. Bring back a present for your dog as a way to smooth over the separation but to also let them know the pattern ends with a fun treat or toy and the return of their favorite human.
Dog owners will usually want to bring their furry friend along on a trip if possible. The problem is it isn’t always possible. When you have to leave your dog back home while you travel, make sure to provide for them the best way possible.
