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What to Do With Your Dog When You’re On Vacation

You love your dog. You really do. They’re your best friend, your constant companion, practically a member of your family. The problem is, you love going on vacation too, and there are some place that simply do not understand that dogs are people too. How can you enjoy your vacation and still ensure that your faithful friend is getting the care and attention they deserve?

You have a number of options available to you, and the one that will best suit your dog relies greatly on the size and temperament of your individual pet. If you have a friend or a relative nearby with whom your pet is familiar and who has the space and resources to allow your dog to live in the manner to which they are accustomed it may be easiest to allow them to simply spend the course of your vacation with someone else. Dogs are extremely social creatures, particularly dogs who are used to having a house full of people, and staying with a friend will enable them to have the human companionship they crave.

If you do not have a friend nearby with whom you are comfortable leaving your pet you may wish to simply allow you dog to stay in your house alone and ask a friend to come by once or twice a day to ensure that they are fed and allowed to go outside. This will work best if you have a small dog that will not object to being left in the house for extended periods of time or you have a fenced in yard accessible through a doggy door. If your pet is prone to fits of depression and property destruction in your absence, this may not be a prudent course of action.

Another option is to board your pet for the length of your vacation. There are a number of facilities across the country who perform this service for dog owners. The costs will vary depending on the facility you choose. There are doggy spas which will board your dog and treat them like a king. Your pet may find themselves enjoying their vacation more than you do as they are fed, groomed, bathed, massaged and pampered to within an inch of their life. These spas represent the high end of the price scale when it comes to temporary canine housing. Any boarding facility will provide your pet with plenty of personal attention, as well as grooming, feeding, one on one time with a trainer and sufficient play time to ensure that they do not become restless from being cooped up in an enclosed area.

When you are examining a facility with the intent of boarding your dog there, there are a couple of things you should look for. First, your dog should have their own personal space to sleep and eat. The facility should be large enough that the animals have room to run without tripping over each other and enclosed spaces for any dog that becomes a discipline problem around the other animals. The facility should be safe, without any electrical or water hazards that your pet could stumble into unawares, and there should be a veterinarian on call at all times.

While ideally you would be able to take your pet on vacation with you, by following any of the options listed above you can ensure that your pet is happy, healthy and safe in your absence.

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