Dogs First! The Key to a Relaxed Holiday
Hello, and welcome back.
As I’m about to head off for a dog-free (eek!) week myself, it feels appropriate that today I’m sharing with you my top tips for preparing your dog to be cared for by someone else.
While as dog parents we want to spend as much time with our canines as we can, a break apart can actually be great for your relationship. It allows you time to enjoy the freedom of ‘no-one to get home for’ and, more importantly, makes you miss them! As the saying goes, ‘absence makes the heart grow fonder’… and boy is that right when it comes to our dogs!
Time away from anyone you love can give you that unique perspective that only distance can provide.
But how best to prepare our dogs to stay with family, friends, or a professional pet sitter?
Get booked in advance! Good pet professionals get booked up quickly - and family/friends will likely fill up their own diaries too. Before you even think of booking your flights, make sure your dog’s care is in place.
Do a trial run. Where possible, book in a few shorter visits and at least one overnight stay before your dog stays anywhere for a longer period of time. This not only helps your dog to feel comfortable there but also allows the caregiver to see if there might be any challenges they need your support with.
Ask important questions. While the most important thing is that your dog will feel comfortable with the person looking after them, we can sometimes forget the finer details. For example, will this person be happy feeding your dog raw food? Are they ok to administer medication? How many other dogs will your dog be with? How will they travel to walks? Think about what’s important in your dog’s daily life and ask those important questions.
Take familiar objects. As our dogs are SO reliant on scent to help them process the world around them, having items that they not only like to sleep on or play with - but that also SMELL familiar - will help them feel more relaxed. Don’t be tempted to wash toys or bedding - let them take that stinky blanket, as they’ll feel comforted by the familiar smell.
Book out a couple of post-trip days. If your dog has found being away from you to be quite exhausting, they might find it harder for you to dive straight back into your usual routine once you get home. Having a couple of days booked out to not only recover (and postpone the post-holiday blues) yourself but also to be able to guide your dog back into their routine can be really helpful.
Wherever your travels are taking you, knowing your dog is having fun and feeling relaxed will mean you can do the same yourself. Preparation is key when making plans for your dog’s own vacation - so get started today!
Until next time, happy planning!
Caroline