With the holidays just around the corner, it’s time for pet parents to start asking themselves that all-too-familiar question: how are we going to bring our furry friend on our trip? In this article, we’re going to cover everything you need to know to take a pet-friendly hotel holiday — from planning and packing to travel and lodging!
What’s a Hotel Holiday?
Whether you’re visiting family and friends or not, your whole family will love to get away from it all with a quick hotel holiday trip with your pet. It’s pretty self-explanatory — a hotel holiday trip is just a chance to get some new scenery and hang out with family without all the stress of a full-fledged vacation.
That’s perfect for dog owners who might otherwise worry about keeping their pets in someone else’s house or hiring a pet sitter. Instead, you can just hang out in a pet-friendly hotel and explore the area. This is also a great option for longer vacations where it just wouldn’t feel right to leave your dog behind!
Planning Your Dog-Friendly Hotel Holiday
First, figure out where you want to go and what activities your whole family can do once you’re there. I recommend using Google Map’s street view feature to see how walkable the area is. Key things to look for are dog park availability (to get some of that anxious energy out), the dog friendliness of nearby shops (signage and outside water bowls are a good indication), and the availability of dog-friendly hotels.
When it comes to hotels, it can get a bit tricky. Read carefully about what specifications dog-friendly hotels have. Some, for instance, only allow dogs under 50 pounds. Others only allow breeds that they consider “non-aggressive.” It can be a bit frusterating, but make sure your pup will be allowed in once the time comes to check in! That isn’t a surprise anyone wants after a road trip.
Finally, remember to have all of your dog gear packed. That includes medication, potty bags, bowls for eating and drinking, enough kibble to last the whole trip, a leash and harness for walks, a seat cover or blanket for coziness and stain resistance, relevant paperwork like vaccinations, and plenty of treats to reward good behavior!
Tips for a Flawless Holiday with Your Dog
While it introduces plenty of new considerations, if you’re bringing your dog on your holiday trip, then it’s going to be a lot more fun too! Let’s go over a few best practices and pet etiquette tips to make sure your holiday is as smooth as possible.
Bag it Up: Always, and I mean always, have potty bags available. You never know when your dog is ready to go. I find it helpful to tie two to the leash handle so they’re always nearby!
Anxiety Means Exercise: If your dog is being anxious, moody, or high-maintenance, remember that they aren’t just deciding to be that way — they need help and don’t know how to ask for it! Nine times out of ten, my dog just needs to burn some energy to get back to her fun-loving self.
Leashed and Attended: If you’re in public, then never ever leave your dog unattended. Don’t hand them to a stranger while you grab a quick coffee or tie them to a post. It’s scary and could put them in danger (or others if your dog gets reactive from being left alone!)
Make it Home-y: To help your dog settle in at the hotel room, bring a familiar blanket, dog bed, and toys. The familiar smells always help ease my dog’s tension, and it helps them understand that this is going to be home for the next few days.
Restaurant Etiquette: Pretty much all food establishments won’t allow dogs inside, so expect to eat in outdoor seating areas. It’s key to bring treats and long-lasting dog chews in this situation. If your dog is easily distracted, dining during off hours might help too!
Learn More About Service Dogs & Animal-Assisted Therapy
Your dog will be thrilled to come along on your trip—and they’d be happy to help you in other ways too. Animal-assisted therapy is a great way to strengthen your bond with your dog (or a therapy dog!) and learn more about what you need in life to be happy. If you’ve been thinking about getting an emotional support animal, training your dog to become one, or exploring therapy, then I’d be happy to give you more information. Feel free to read more here or contact me.