While I love travelling, one of the things that I find really hard about being overseas, especially on longer trips, is leaving my dogs behind. Thankfully I’ve found a great place for them to go that they love, so I don’t feel as bad, but when you’re going to be away for a while you really do need to keep your pets in mind. Here are my top 3 tips for caring for your pets when you’re travelling.
1. Don’t Shock Them
If you’re going to put your pets into a kennel or animal caring situation, be sure to start them off slowly. My dogs go to a kennel that they go to three times a week to play for the day, so they’re more than familiar with all the staff, how everything works and what their lives are like when they’re there. I started them off with spending the day there, then eventually a weekend and slowly moved onto longer stays as they got older. I think it’s really important to gradually get your dogs used to whatever situation they’ll be in while you’re away. If you’re planning to have some home care for your pets, then it could be a good idea to have the carers come over for a weekend first to ease your animals into it.
2. Ensure They’re Entertained
Both of my dogs are very high energy animals, and that’s one of the big reasons we prefer to put them in the kennels than have someone come to our home. They need around two hours exercise a day and that’s a lot to ask of a friend or family member. Most dogs will actually become destructive when they’re really bored, so it’s a big help knowing our dogs will be tired while we’re away. If you’re choosing to have someone come in to care for your pets, be sure to leave plenty of toys and treats like Wonder Chews so that they can be properly entertained while you’re away. This will make a big difference and ensure that your pets are on their best behavior while you’re away.
3. Have a Backup Plan
If you’re relying on someone to come in to care for your animals, make sure you have a backup option in case something goes wrong. Pet sitters have to cancel all the time for unforeseen reasons, such as a personal health emergency or something preventing them from travelling. Having a backup plan will mean that if something does go wrong, you have someone else who can help you with your animals so you can go on your vacation. Likewise, issues can crop up with kennels as well. If there’s an outbreak of Kennel Cough you might not be able to leave your dogs there for your trip, as kennel cough spreads and can be dangerous in older dogs. While it’s unlikely you’ll need to follow your backup plan, it’s so important to have some ideas just in case something goes wrong.
I hope these tips help you prepare for what you’ll do with your animals while away.
