Organising a Get Away for Your Four Legged Friends

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It’s the start of a new year and you’ve probably turned your mind to booking up some sort of vacation at some point or another. But while vacations are fun and extremely enjoyable, many of us feel a sense of sadness at having to leave our beloved four legged friends behind. Not only do we miss our pooches, but finding pet sitters or paying for boarding can be a hassle and expensive. So, why not try to mix the two things you love together? Take a holiday with your pet! Here are a few steps that you should take in order to organise it effectively.Preparing for a Road Trip


Generally speaking, the best vacations for pets aren’t all too far away. While you want to immerse them in a new and exciting environment, travelling long distances can be relatively stressful for pets who are often unsure where they’re going and why they have been travelling for such a long amount of time. The best option from getting your pet from your home to your destination is to conduct a sort of road trip. Chances are that your pet is used to being in your vehicle, so this will be a relatively familiar form of transport for them. They will also be in close proximity to you, rather than being put away in a separate compartment or coach of a form of public transport, where they could become stressed and experience separation anxiety. You do need to prepare thoroughly for any form of road trip with your pooch. Before setting off make sure that you also have the legal requirements to get where you’re going. Make sure you are insured - find the best rate for car insurance - check your tyre pressure and oil levels, and you should be good to go!


Making Sure That They Are Safe


Let’s focus on safety first. Just as people need to follow safety procedures in the car, dogs do too. It is generally advised that your pooch is suitably restrained so that they can’t distract you while you’re behind the wheel. Some people opt to put their dogs in open boot space or in crates in open boot space. You need to ensure that this area is big enough for them to comfortably relax and stretch out en route. You should also definitely invest in safety equipment that monitors the temperature of the part of your vehicle that the dog is staying in. While we are all well aware that you shouldn’t leave dogs shut in cars (as high temperatures can prove potentially fatal), many of us assume that dogs will be fine in moving vehicles. Believe it or not, the temperature in the back of your car can be notably different to the temperature you are experiencing as a driver in the driver’s seat. You don’t want to arrive where you’re going only to find that your dog has been suffering from heat the whole way and that they are unwell. The equipment will send alerts to you in the front of your vehicle if temperatures rise too high, allowing you to stop and let your pooch out for some fresh air. If your pet is in the back seats of your car, you can invest in dog seat belts which can ensure that they are safely clipped in, just as a person would be. Your pet will also need access to water during the trip. There are specially designed no-tip water bowls on the market that allow your pet independent access to a drink.


Making Sure That They Are Comfortable


Once safety has been dealt with, it’s time to focus on comfort. If you’re going to be on the road for an extended period of time, you need to make sure that they’re comfy cosy all the way from A to B. You can make sure that you take their bed along and that it is positioned so that they can get into it. Alternatively, you can place blankets beneath them. Bring along their favourite toy. Turn the air conditioning on to a comfortable temperature. Make regular stops to fuss them.


Stopping Regularly


Make sure to stop regularly on your journey. This will give your pet an opportunity to relieve themselves and this can also save a mess being created in your car. Just make sure to always keep your pup on a lead when you stop to let them out. No matter how well trained they may be, they could be shocked or scared by something, or see something that they want to chase and quickly find themselves far away from you in an environment they’re unfamiliar with - this could be dangerous. Chances are that stops where you will let them out will also be near busy roads, so this advice becomes particularly important in these situations - not only for your own dog’s safety, but for other road users’ safety too!


Researching Dog Friendly Establishments


It’s a good idea to look up some dog friendly establishments in the local area of your chosen destination before you head away. This will help you to take your dog along with you when you eat or go out for a drink, rather than having to leave them unsupervised in an unfamiliar place at any given time.


Pet Passports


If you’re heading away for a long period of time overseas and want to take your pet with you, pet passports do exist. Where there’s a will, there’s a way, and you can get your pet overseas to join you. But first, weigh up whether this is worth it or not. Travelling overseas by plane can be a stressful experience for your pet and they may have to go into quarantine for a period of time before you are reunited. Take a look into different countries’ rules and regulations and determine the exact process that your canine companion would have to go through in order to gain entry. Then weigh up the pros and cons. Make sure to put your pet’s needs above your own wants in this process. This will help to ensure that you make the best decision all round.


As you can see, it could be a great idea to incorporate your pet into your next getaway. Just make sure to be organised and well prepared. This will help everything to go as smoothly as possible!

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