Dogs are a big part of our family (we have three, and a cat) and we have taken several steps to ensure all their needs are met while we are off on a trip. The expenses of your pet care while you are planning a trip can be easily forgotten or overlooked, especially for those that have just gotten a furry friend. The key is to not only plan your trip, but plan for their care – you should not put your travel on hold but take the time to put in the best solution for being away.
Our system did not happen overnight. Over the course of several trips we learned and developed it by mistakes previously made. The hardest part is finding a suitable solution for our dogs and cat while we are traveling. To avoid stress, which is a huge factor when the family is away, our goal is to keep them at home as opposed to a kennel or someone else’s house. Our two little ones are up there in age and being out of their environment would take a toll on them emotionally.
Where do you find a great dog walker/sitter? I would start your search by contacting your Vet. That’s exactly what we did and are super happy about it. Our sitters come in three times a day and they also are super skilled if one of your clan gets sick. This has happened to us and she was able to get a prescription to help our buddy out. (As you know, dogs can get very nervous being away from their owners and can physically make themselves sick if not properly cared for)
Checklist– We create a checklist for the dogs very similar to our packing list. This will ensure that you do not forget anything and saves time when you are preparing to leave. We have our master list saved on Dropbox and edit, as needed, whenever we go away. It is printed up and left with the supplies before we leave.
Vet information – Always plan for a Vet visit. At least one time in your travels something will happen and you don’t want to leave your walker unprepared. Have all the details readily available and have a plan in place for any emergencies. We actually have a credit card just for the vet and can easily pay for any visits while we are halfway around the world. Be sure to choose someone that has the ability to drive your dog to the vet, and if not possible, to have an alternate option of one that makes house calls.
Collars – Make sure all collars are updated with current information and they are on the dog. My little dogs tend to lose their colors after a bath. Petco offers a great service where you can engrave a tag right on the spot.
Dog Station– Everything must be extremely accessible for your dog walkers. We have created a dog station for when we go away. This is a place where everything is kept from the food to the checklist, to medicine, leashes and doggie bags. We go over the station with the dog walkers prior to leaving. The less work for them the better – you want to make this as easy as possible so they can spend more time keeping your pets happy.
Hunger Strike – Our dogs tend to go on a hunger strike just from missing us. We always boil some chicken in advance as well as to have some rice made as a just in case their nerves cause a case of diarrhea (which usually happens).
Consistency/Compensation – We try to use the same dog walkers so our dogs feel completely comfortable with them. This is something you cannot control however you can help by paying them really well. The cost is pricey however this is something that we just build into our budget. On our last trip to Dubai and Abu Dhabi, one dog had a bad case of nervous diarrhea and my little old guy had an ear infection. Hence, this was an extra workload for our dog walkers and we were sure to compensate them with a tip. We value our dog walker and really want to maintain the relationship so this is one area that we are not looking to save money.
Treats – You really need to limit how many treats are given. We have found that this is a big culprit to an upset stomach. The simpler the diet the better. Dogs are very sensitive especially when their loved ones leave on a trip. The separation anxiety is already a concern and with nobody home to constantly let them out, this could be a recipe for a mess.
Medicine – Even i your dog is not sick always have your stash of medications that cover the basic dog issues. For example, our little old man Rex is prone to ear infections so we always have ear drops out and available to use if needed. I do not recommend
Cameras – We have cameras all around our house and plan on putting them in the house for when we leave. This is a great way to provide you with peace of mind that the dogs are being walked regularly, as well as to keep an eye on the house in general. We are a huge fan of the Ring doorbell and the Blink outdoor camera system. Below are the camera systems we use – both have apps so we can review the videos at any time.
Plan B – Keep in mind your dog walker could get sick, fall or something happen that prevents them from coming over. They are great but what if something happens and they aren’t able to make it over? Make sure one of your neighbors has a key to your home (or code) and have a teenage neighbor on standby just in case. We have some great doggy friends who are willing to take our crew in an emergency situation. It is also important that on your walks, your neighbors have met your animals so there are no issues if they do need to help out.
Keyless Entry- We have a front door with keyless entry. We can set a code for the dog walkers and then change it when we get home. Again, have a backup key with a neighbor in case there are issues.
Cleaning House – In addition to the dog walker, we still have our house manager stop by the day before we get back. She will give the house a deep cleaning being the dogs were in the house more than usual. It is so nice to come back from a trip and your house is spotless, new sheets on the bed and no sign that your dogs basically owned the house for a week.
Our goal is to make this a pleasant experience for our pups in hopes it will reduce the anxiety. If you can, keeping them at home is the best solution but if you need to board them, make sure you have visited the facilities in advance, as well as to ask questions about their service.
I hope our system has helped you figure out how you can still maintain your traveling while having a fur family. I would love to hear about your tips for travel accommodations for your pups. Please share in comments or Instagram! Am sure there will be some great tips to adjust our checklist.
