Holidays You Can Have With Your Dog

Taking Your Dog For Holiday

So why would you want to go on holiday without anyone but your furry friend? Once we welcome our canine friend into our home they become family members. Just because you’re heading off on holiday doesn’t mean your canine companion should be left behind.

Saying goodbye to your furry friend especially when going for a vacation can be tough. When your pet is part of the family, it’s only right that they come on holiday with you. Planning before your trip can go a long way – from what to pack to how to prepare. Nonetheless, bringing your pet on holiday doesn’t have to be a hassle.

At Rangersdog we have compiled quality pet-friendly holiday activities. Holidaying has been made easy as we have many establishments that now have dog-friendly properties all over the world.

How to Prepare your Dog for Holiday Trip

Not only, does nature brings the best in everyone even your dog but also has a more relaxing way for you to unwind and have fun together.

A bit of planning for your dog ensures the trip is safe for everyone and stress-free. Pack treats, crate, carrier, shower compressor, bed, and leash. Anything to keep him comfortable away from home.

Get Documentation ready when traveling abroad.

In addition, when making reservations ensure the place is pet-friendly this will ease your burden of packing a lot for your dog. Particularly, you can travel light if all your pet essentials are catered for by the establishment where you will stay.

What You Should Know When Taking Your Dog on Holiday

For safety get your dog an ID tag as well as a tracker in case of getting lost it will be easy to get your dog back

Create positive associations with the car so your dog feels relaxed and happy to jump inside especially if you will travel by car.

Some dogs suffer from separation anxiety and it might be hard to transport them in a crate or kennel. First, train them as they might only be used to walking around the neighbourhood.

Put their favourite blanket and treats where he will seat. Indeed, put the seat belt on him and just relax beside him to get used to the car atmosphere before the trip.

After several days turn the engine on and go for a short drive for instance to the park.

Importantly, stay calm even when the dog gets excited and reward good behavior with a treat or praise.

Dogs are good at reading body language hence stay calm and give orders with a low voice.

If you do this a few times before you go on your holiday, increasing the distance each time, your dog will very quickly associate the car with the payoff of a fun time.

Dog-Friendly Holiday Activities

Without a doubt, there are plenty of dog-friendly holiday activities from forest trails, mountain hikes, camping to museums, etc.

Dogs can enjoy the outdoor trails and below are some of the exciting activities your dog can enjoy.

Holidays you can have with your dog can include:

• Road Trips

From hiking to camping to cuddling, vacation is far more fun and more memorable when your most loyal best friend comes along on road trips. It takes a lot of planning to make the trip memorable.

Research for pet-friendly accommodation and plan ahead to avoid disappointments.

When stopping on the way do not leave your dog in the car locked in, it can be dangerous.

Ensure your dog is comfortable being in a car before going for the road trip. Train the dog until he is fine when in a moving car, you do not want an excited dog while driving.

Despite this, you can install a dog guard to restrict your dog from disrupting you as he is away from other passengers. This is only effective after training to stay calm in a moving vehicle and give your dog a memorable time.

Pack treats, water, poop bag for your dog. Keep your dog well fed and hydrated and leave the environment clean when your dog poops. Have regular stops for bathroom breaks and do not overfeed your dog.

Invest in a good bed for your dog to relax on if the journey is long or crate. Keep your buddy comfortable as driving all day can make his joints stiff and muscles cramped.

I would recommend you plan for emergencies. In fact, packing a pet first-aid kit for any injuries. Your dog will visit many places from beaches, historical towns, forest trails and in case of an accident may need first aid.

Lastly, remember to carry a copy of your dog’s medical and vaccination records and get your dog microchipped beforehand for easy identification.

• Beach Visits

Walk, run and play on any of dog-friendly beautiful beaches around the world. Even so, ensure the beach welcomes dogs, you can lead the whole family to adventures on your coastal retreat. Summertimes and during holidays many of us are excited to bring our dogs to the beach. Here are planning tips to keep the dog safe as well as have fun:

To make sure it is fine to bring your dog to the beach always check the local rules, which are usually posted publicly.

To start with choose a dog-friendly beach, and teach your dog to swim. Some breeds are not good swimmers and need training do not assume he knows how to swim.

Have a water bottle and carry enough to keep him hydrated. If the temperature is high outside keep your dog on a shade and avoid exposing him to direct sun rays. This can lead to heatstroke which may be fatal.

Absolutely, keep your dog cool with a compressed shower and rinse well all dirt and sand from their fur.

Regardless of all the fun, you will have known anything that can harm you can harm your dog too. Check what your dog drinks, eat or steps on from salty water, jellyfish to broken glass which can harm and injure him.

A stunning beachside location can make a holiday site popular with surfers who can check out the conditions from their tents before deciding whether or not to take the plunge. A good site is all about the beautiful view from your caravan as you enjoy with your dog.

• Park Visits

Dogs (and their owners) need a place where they can run free, without/with leashes and do “doggie” things.

Undoubtedly, dog owners take the dogs to the park to play, socialize and meet other dogs.

Dog parks provide a safe space in which people can exercise their dogs, and watch them play, facilitate socialization with a variety of breeds and breed types.

When holidaying with your fluffy companion a park can be full of picnic spots especially if it has a lot of acreages.

Along with this, it can have a lakeside view, wide-open space where your dog can run freely or a more secluded spot where you can enjoy some peace and quiet.

Parks offer a beautiful location in nature, meaning you will always be able to go on the most beautiful walks with your dog/pet when you want.

• Go Hiking

Spend hours hiking in the country with your leashed canine companion. Most holiday resorts have miles of dog-friendly trails or guided hikes where he can join.

Dogs, too, need food and equipment for the holiday, please plan this into your travel preparations.

Most walking regions dogs have to be on-leash, and on top of that in parts, dogs have to wear a muzzle. This is especially important to be aware of if there are transfers (bus, cable car, and boat) included in your tours.

Please inquire about any requirements and regulations in this regard for any country applicable before your holiday.

If your holiday activities involve boat riding and canoeing keep your dog safe in the water by using a life jacket with a handle. Definitely, this will allow you to lift him back to the boat if he falls overboard.

If paddling with a dog is new to you, opt for the introductory class to ensure enjoyment and safe paddling.

• Camping

While camping in national parks is generally off-limits for dogs, there are some exceptions and plenty of campgrounds in state parks that are pitch-perfect for pets.

Your dog may enjoy being with your family in the great outdoors If an activity like camping is on the agenda.

Double-check that your vacation is pet-friendly, though, as many places, including parks and beaches, is known for “no dogs allowed” policies.

Alternatively, if your pet loves to travel, a pet-friendly vacation could be a nice change of pace.

For camping get a cottage or a park where dogs are welcomed in all the outdoor areas. As well as have indoor space devoted for your pooch to relax after a long walk.

• Forest Trails

Most state forests and regional parks welcome furry friends (on leads) to wander park tracks and trails. Moreover, forest trails are ideal for long walks with your dog.

Train your dog for forest trails and races as it involves tough terrain and many miles.

Before heading out in the backcountry, make sure your dog has the right vaccinations and you’ve brought appropriate gear, a medical kit, and sufficient food and water for you both.

Be on the lookout for rattlesnakes and keep your dog close with a leash while on the trail.

Trails bring out the thrill and fun for your dog as you chase them with your bike up and down the mountainside or trail.

A nice walk in a quiet trail makes bonding with your dog more fun as you enjoy the beautiful scenery together.

• Historical Sites Visit

Most museums do not allow dogs indoor. A walk in a historical city or town is good enough than leaving your dog at home alone.

Exploring an old town is a great activity to do with your dog. As you’re spending most of your time just viewing buildings from the outside, issues of dogs not being allowed don’t usually come up.

Most (but not all) museums that allow pets have outdoor exhibits.

As well as that, they have sculpture gardens, ghost towns/abandoned mining towns, state parks with historic sites that your dog can enjoy.

Final Thoughts

Before going away, one of the biggest decisions for pet owners is what to do with their pets.

While pets have been a rarity in the past, more properties are welcoming furry friends each year making holidaying with them easy.

Subsequently, most establishments are making this a reality now as your canine companion will be welcomed with house-made dog biscuits, ceramic food and water bowls, special towels for muddy paws, and balls for a game of fetch, all waiting for him in the room. Crates and dog beds are also available by request.

It can be fun to travel with your pet in certain situations and is becoming more feasible as the number of pet-friendly hotels grows.