Tips and Etiquette for Vacationing with Dogs

Earlier this week I wrote about planning a trip with your pets. This article will cover tips and etiquette for vacationing with your dogs.

Car Rides

Hotel

• When you arrive, check the floor carefully for medication. Dangerous pills are often dropped under the bed or behind nightstands.
• If your dog will spend time on the bed, use a blanket to guard against fur.
• Don’t leave your pets in the room unattended.  This is against most hotels’ pet policies.
• Be mindful of people and dogs you encounter in the hallways and elevator. As hard as it is to believe, not everyone wants to say hi to our pets!
• Pick up after your dog. People who don’t scoop poop are a major reason why many hotels start banning pets.

Parks

• Abide by park leash laws, as tempting as it is to let your dogs run around outside.
• Don’t leave bagged poop on the side of the trail. Even biodegradable bags take a long time to degrade. It’s preferable to carry out the bag until you see a trash can or burry the poop (without the bag) off the trail.
• Follow trail etiquette, such as yielding to passing hikers and keeping your pup close and under control.

Miscellaneous 

• Before you leave on your trip, make sure microchips and identification tags are updated with your current cell phone number since that will be your main point of contact.
• Carry a photo of your dogs so that you have it handy in case one of them gets lost.
• Look up the closest emergency hospital to the hotels you’ll be staying at along the way. This way you’re not scrambling to find a veterinarian if something happens.

Hope you and your pups enjoy a summer full of exciting adventures!