I recently saw a conversation on Facebook about traveling with dogs, and the consensus was that the more you love your dog, the less you want to travel without them. Of course, this hit home hard for me as I've been trying really hard not to feel guilty about traveling without my dog. It was also very timely as she was preparing to be away for a week from Charlotte and Mercury at a conference and then do a few more days of sightseeing with her partner.
My dogs are my children and even though they and their three cat siblings have a reliable pet sitter and we all have fun together, I stay away from them. I hate it. My dog is central to much of my daily life, and I believe that if I were to take on the responsibility of owning a dog, it must come first. But I guess that doesn't mean you shouldn't travel without it.
Vacationing with a dog can be fun, or it can be completely impractical. Our family likes to split our vacations between experiences we can share with our canine children and trips our humans take on their own. When planning a trip, deciding whether to take your dog with you comes down to evaluating how much fun, or not, your dog will have.
Especially for people who have anxiety and are a bit attached to their dogs, it's important to assess whether they want to take the dog because they'll have a good time, or because it's not fun. think. I don't want to leave them. If it's the latter, you should call a pet sitter.
Vacations that involve a lot of time outdoors, such as camping or trips to beach towns, are great times to spend time with your dog. Do I explore a new city or go to Disney World, a favorite destination for my partner and I? Those aren't the best for dogs. My dogs are much happier in the comfort of my home with a pet sitter than being left alone in a hotel room.
So if your vacation includes a lot of experiences that aren't suitable for dogs, I think it's best not to drag your dog along just to get into a hotel. Disney has dog kennels right on property where guests can leave their dogs while at the theme parks. I really don't understand why anyone would choose to do that and not leave their dog at home.
I have complete abandonment issues. Add to this my obsession with dogs, and the result can be stress and anxiety about going on vacation without a puppy, especially my youngest dog who has special needs. My dog doesn't have separation anxiety (thankfully), but I definitely do.
A few years ago, I expressed my separation anxiety in terms of dog behavior that made sense to me, and I was able to begin my own emotional training. Thanks to this, I can not only travel without my dog, but also enjoy traveling with my dog. That way, you can minimize the guilt of having a great private vacation.
The most important thing to eliminate guilt is to understand that traveling without a dog doesn't mean I don't love it, it doesn't mean I'm a bad guardian, and that my dog feels abandoned by me. I realized that there was no such thing. When staying with a sitter. It sounds a little silly to say that out loud, but it's a thought that goes through your mind when you start preparing for a trip. After talking with a friend who is also a dog-obsessed parent, I realized I wasn't the only one who felt this way. In fact, I think traveling without a dog is really good for me. I love spending time with dogs, but I also really enjoy activities that aren't dog-friendly or dog-appropriate.
My favorite tips for calming yourself while traveling without a dog:
1. reliable sitter:I always tell myself, we have a sitter who loves our pets and adores our dogs (and cats). Being able to trust my sitter to take good care of my pet is the number one reason I feel comfortable traveling without my dog.
2. Care guide: Leave detailed instructions. The latest edition of our pet care guide (includes 3 cats and 2 dogs) is 12 pages long and includes morning, noon, and night charts with information on feeding, treats, playtime, walks, and more . Our sitters have extensive experience with animals, but I can relax knowing there will be no confusion about who eats what, when, or other details of daily zoo life.
3. Emergency contact information: In addition to routine veterinary hospital information, I also use our dog-savvy friends (in our case, the dog trainer I work with) as local emergency contacts in case something goes wrong. ) would like to be included in the guide. When we adopted a dog, our sitter needed immediate support.
4. Check-in: One of the biggest things that makes a dog-free vacation enjoyable is daily check-ins with your sitter. I am very transparent with my pet sitters about the need for regular communication. What usually works for me is a daily text message to see how everyone is doing. With daily updates, you can enjoy your vacation without having to worry about your furry kids.
5. Make friends: Whether it's in the hotel hot tub or in the breakfast line, dog people seem to find each other. I love talking about dogs from my hometown and sharing photos with people I meet. I especially enjoy the opportunity to make friends with local dog people.
6. Souvenirs: One silly thing to do that will help you feel connected to your dog while you're out and about is to buy him a special souvenir to take home. I like finding unique toys and treats that are hard to find at home. I had a really fun time doing this when I went on a book tour in Europe a few years ago. I'm going to New Orleans next week, so I'm thinking of finding some alligator treats to take home.
Concerned pet parents unite! If you travel without your pup, how can you manage the nervousness of being away from your dog and enjoy your vacation? Let us know in the comments!
