Traveling with Dogs
- Caitlin Brazil
- Apr 9, 2022
- 4 min read
Traveling with a dog can be chaotic and overwhelming. It can also be fun, rewarding, and lead to amazing memories. Last year I took about 7 road-trips with Oban. It was so fun to see him in different places, and I think it helped him gain a lot of confidence. While I won’t lie and say it was all easy, I definitely don’t regret a single trip I brought him on. I thought I would share a few of the lessons learned along the way, and hopefully make traveling with your dog seem a little less daunting!
Planning Your Trip
When thinking about your trip give some thought to your dog’s personality - do they do well in crowded areas, have they been exposed to busy cities, is the area you’re traveling to dog friendly? For example, Oban is easily overstimulated which leads to stress for both of us. I don’t think I would travel with him to a city. When traveling with Oban, we generally stick to outdoor oriented trips - hiking, wandering around small towns, and hanging in cabins.
House vs. Hotel
Ok, so now that you know where you’re going, time to decide where you’re staying! My personal preference is to stay in an Airbnb or other home rental. It gives us more space to spread out, and I prefer being able to eat some meals in. To keep costs down when we travel, we usually do breakfast in the Airbnb, pack lunch for the trail, and decide on dinner based on what is nearby and how tired we think we’ll be at the end of the day. For hotels, we have had the most positive experiences staying at Marriott Residence Inn hotels. For either a hotel or a home rental, the most important thing is to look at the reviews. There is a major difference between a place that allows dogs, and a place that is dog friendly. Take a read through to see what others have experienced - were the hotel staff welcoming, is there an area for the dog to go to the bathroom, does the home have a yard - think about your dogs needs and normal routines, and how they will fit into the space.
Either way, it is important to keep the space tidy, so it stays dog friendly! A few things I always pack to help keep it that way:
King size sheet: I throw this over the bed to keep the linens clean
Natures Miracle Enzyme Spray: if Oban is sniffing an area too much, I usually spray it down, just in case another dog had an accident previously. It’s also great for minor messes on fabrics
Bowls / feeders: Oban eats from a raised feeder, to keep his routine consistent, I bring his raised feeder and bowls with us
Toys/chews: To keep Oban busy and avoid him searching for other things to play with, I always bring a few things to keep him occupied
Getting There:
I have not flown with Oban, and think it would be very overwhelming for him. So while I won’t go into detail on that, if you have any tips on air travel with dogs, please add them to the comments below!
As for roadtripping with a dog, there I have lots of experience! My best advice is to try and get some exercise in before hitting the road. I take Oban out to go to the bathroom anytime we stop at a rest area, and we usually walk around the parking lot a bit for him to stretch his legs. Make sure to also have water available for them and treats! Everyone loves a roadtrip snack!
Planning Activities
Obviously hiking is high on our agenda for travel, especially when traveling with Oban. While outdoor activities in general will be easier with a dog, but be sure to check local rules! For example, beaches in the northeast have different hours for dogs in the summer vs. off season. Bring Fido is a great place search for dog friendly activities, restaurants, and cafes. Finding new coffee shops is always a fave of mine, and most have some outdoor seating where you can sit with a pup. I always find this to be a really fun way to check out local spots! If you are planning to leave your pup behind at a hotel or rental home, check the rules before you go! Some places have restrictions on leaving dogs alone!
Packing for your Pup
When we travel there are a few things I always bring for Oban:
Food: I bring his food plus 2 extra days worth, just in case we got stuck anywhere
Treats & Chews: Oban has a sensitive stomach so I always bring his treats that his stomach is used to, plus chews to keep him occupied in the room
Toys: Stuffies and tugs to give him some comfort of home and things to occupy him
Pulling it all Together
The most important thing to remember when traveling with your dog, is to go with the flow. You‘re out there to have fun and create memories. I have some of my best Oban memories are from our travels together, and watching him explore new places. It is definitely worth trying at least once! Let me know how it goes!
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