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Planning a vacation for you and your pet is certain to get them excited, especially if they have previously not been permitted to join you on your adventures. Rather than see them sulk and have to say goodbye for a few weeks, you get to bring them with you, and this helps you build even more memories together.
However, going on vacation can only be fun and games if you understand the importance of keeping your pet happy and healthy wherever you go. If this is your first time traveling anyway with your pooch, cat, or birds, it’s important to understand how to make it a success that keeps all of you safe.
Questions to Ask
After deciding to bring your pet along for your next trip (while keeping it secret from them so you don’t ruin the surprise), there are a few questions you need to ask yourself and others before you start to pack.
Is the Trip Pet-Friendly?
No matter where you plan to go, you need to ask yourself if the trip is pet-friendly. Is there a place that will accommodate your pet when you arrive? Does the hotel or cottage accept pets when people book to stay there?
It’s always best to do your research before you go anywhere, so you can check out websites that outline accommodations that accept your pets when you arrive. You don’t want to plan a whole vacation only to be turned around when you arrive, as this will be a disappointment for everyone involved.
Photo by Artem Beliaikin on Unsplash
Is Your Pet Ready to Travel?
Even if you find a place to stay that is perfect for your pet, you shouldn’t go ahead and book the next available room immediately. Instead, you need to make sure your pet is ready to travel. If they are slightly older and less boisterous, this should be okay. They should already be comfortable in your car. However, younger pets – especially puppies – might have more trouble staying comfortable and patient for the journey.
While this shouldn’t cause you to cancel the trip altogether, you should start to introduce your pet to the vehicle and get them comfortable on journeys. Start small with a few laps around the neighborhood, and then slowly increase the distance so they become familiar with how the car moves.
How to Prepare Them
Once you have the answers to these questions, you can start to prepare yourself and your pet for the adventure. This can take a while, so don’t expect to be ready and out the door within a week!
Take It Easy
Your pet won’t want to be thrust into any situation they’re not familiar with straight away. So, it’s best to take it easy and not force them to face anything too intimidating too soon. If they have never spent time in the car, then introduce them to it gradually, as this will prevent them from acting up. As they can get stressed, theft might need to take a bathroom break, too, so make sure you have the car prepared for any accidents.
The gentler you are with your pet, the more comfortable they will be when in the car. You might even get lucky, and they will take to travel better than expected.

Plan Ahead
Planning your trip will make everything much easier for you and your pet. You will be able to keep to a schedule, you’ll know where you’re going and how long it will take to get there. This enables you to prepare your pet for the journey.
You can bring along snacks and water to keep them happy, and you can also stop off at different locations along the way to give you both the chance to stretch your legs. If there are fun parks along the way, you can aim to get there in decent time so they can have a sniff around, and then get back on the road.
Look Out for Restrictions
While many places will be accepting of pets, some parts of the country – and the world – may have restrictions. Typically, this is to do with accommodation, but you should have found somewhere without these. What you might encounter, though, is breed restrictions, and this could be a problem.
Some dog breeds are considered bullies, and some places will deny entry for them if they see the dog in your vehicle. Ideally, you don’t want to give them an excuse to confiscate your dog or turn you around, so it’s best to plan a route that avoids such restrictions so you can enjoy a stress-free vacation.
Pack for All Weather
Even if you’ve planned for the sun-kissed coastal shores, there’s no guarantee that the weather will behave. Because of this, you must make sure you pack for all weather. Bring your sandals, but also don’t forget waterproof coats and sweatshirts in case the temperature takes a sudden drop.
It’s not just your comfort you need to worry about, though. You must also think about your pet’s comfort so they enjoy their vacation as much as you do. Some pets love getting wet, but others are not so fond of it. Don’t forget to bring a raincoat for them, and even little booties to keep their paws dry and warm if you go on an adventure.
Check with the Vet
You and your pet want to have the very best time ever on your vacation, so the last thing you want is to encounter any health issues that could cause problems. Before you go, speak with your vet about what you plan to do, and ask them if they think it is suitable for your pet.
If your poet is healthy, then you shouldn’t have a problem with anything. However, some dogs, such as Pugs, aren’t as capable of going on long, arduous hikes compared to Dobermans or German Shepherds. Besides this, you should ask about vaccinations in case you’re going to a completely new environment, as you don’t want your pet getting sick and suffering from an infection.
Remember Any Medication
You can take this a step further by making sure you bring medication along with you. Any responsible pet owner would do this anyway, but it’s still worth mentioning. As you’re planning the trip, make a lift of all the medicine your pet needs (if it needs any at all), and put it in a safe spot.
It might also be worth taking bigger precautions. Stocking up on this medication will save you plenty of stress and trouble if you lose the medicine or need to use more than you expected. While many places can help you out in a bind, this won’t be much use if you’re in the middle of nowhere and need to get a refill for your pet quickly.

Bring Their Favorite Things
Comfort is one of the most important elements that can affect how successful your vacation is. With this in mind, you can put your pet at ease by bringing their favorite things along for the ride. This could be their favorite blanket, toy, or even their bed, as it minimizes the risk of them acting up while you are away.
Their favorite things will remind them of home, and this will reduce stress and homesickness. It will also encourage them to calm down when in the car, which will make your drive much easier, as you’re not worrying about what they are doing every five seconds.
Think About Safety
When going somewhere completely new, safety is a significant issue to consider. You want to keep your pet as safe and secure as possible, so keep them on a leash and keep them close by, especially when you first arrive. It might be worth getting your pet microchipped if you haven’t already, as this will give you more confidence when venturing out.
You should think about the types of poisonous plants that you may encounter, too. As dogs love t0o explore new environments, there’s a risk of them eating something that won’t agree with their stomachs, and could even be deadly if you don’t get it treated quickly enough. By understanding what plants to look out for, you should avoid any medical emergencies.
In Case Of Disaster, Be Flexible
While you might hope that everything goes smoothly, you can never fully plan for the future. Disaster can happen, so you need to be flexible. You mustn’t let these disasters ruin your vacation, so have a backup plan just in case.
Of course, your pet won’t mind any changes in your adventure, they will be happy to spend time with you regardless. Still, you want to give them a fantastic experience. So, wherever you go, make sure you have something else planned just in case. If you do, you can enjoy every moment of your vacation with your pet, and this is likely to be the first of many.
Success!
Vacationing with your pet should be something that you both enjoy, so it’s always crucial that you identify the most efficient and effective ways to make their first vacation a success. If you remember to do everything on this list, you’ll not encounter any problems, and you’ll be more than prepared for any issues that occur along the way.