Springtime is here, which means vacation season is, too. Whether you are planning to head to the beach for Spring Break or to take a summer vacation elsewhere, if you’re a pet owner, you’re also trying to figure if you should arrange a sitter, kennel, or bring your pet along? There are pros and cons to each of these decisions; however, if you decide to bring your pet along, make sure to plan and be prepared to ensure a stress-free pet travel experience.

Make Sure Your Destination is Pet Friendly

This may sound like common sense, but make sure your accommodations are pet-friendly. Your destination should be as well; you do not want to take your dog on vacation with you and end up leaving them in the hotel or vacation house the entire trip; they will get lonely and might do property damage given the unfamiliar environment.

Note that if you are going to beach, you shouldn’t take for granted that all beaches are dog friendly; many are not. Make sure to check where dogs can and cannot go. After all, even if your dog cannot frolic on the beach, they might be able to run along nature trails, through parks, and around lakes.

Prep for a Long Car Ride

If your trip is going to be a long one, you need to get your dog used to riding in the car if they are not already; take a few rides around town beforehand to help your dog acclimate to the car. Additionally, you need to plan regular stops so your dog can run around, eat, and go to the restroom.

Avoid giving in to the temptation to let your pet roam around the car; cats and dogs alike need to be restrained. Wandering pets are distracting and potentially dangerous especially if your cat gets under the driver’s feet or if the dog bounds in to the driver’s field of vision.

Another reason to restrain your pets in the vehicle is that pets can escape when you take quick restroom breaks. The best restraint is one that gives your pet room to move around, to access his or her food and water, and to lie down comfortably.

Plan ahead for Air Travel

If you’re going to fly and you intend to take your pet with you, there are several things you’ll want to do before arriving for takeoff including:

Have documentation that your pet’s vaccinations are up to date (contact the airline or look at their website to see what they require.

Use a shipping crate that is large enough for your pet to roam, eat, and sleep. It should have some kind of bedding. If you have a small breed, your pet can fly with you and can stay under your seat in a carrier.

Label your pet’s carrier with “live animal” as well as proper names, addresses, contact information, etc. Include a photo of your pet in case he or she escapes.

Bring Pet Supplies and Information

Just as you have a packing checklist for you and the family, you should also have a packing checklist for your pet. Make sure you bring:

• Enough Holistic Select Natural Pet Food
• Pet treats or snacks
• Pet bedding
• Litter box and litter
• Pet medication and pet medical records (in case of emergency)
• Pet ID tags
• Leashes
• Pet carrier
• Toy

At the end of your trip, make sure you leave no mess behind. This will ensure you get any pet deposit back and that you are a welcome guest next time you want to travel with your pet.

Holistic Select realizes your pet is part of the family, so we understand why you want to bring your pet on vacation. With planning and patience and making sure your pet’s needs are met, traveling with pets can be a fun, stress-free experience.Springtime is here, which means vacation season is, too. Whether you are planning to head to the beach for Spring Break or to take a summer vacation elsewhere, if you’re a pet owner, you’re also trying to figure if you should arrange a sitter, kennel, or bring your pet along? There are pros and cons to each of these decisions; however, if you decide to bring your pet along, make sure to plan and be prepared to ensure a stress-free pet travel experience.

Make Sure Your Destination is Pet Friendly

This may sound like common sense, but make sure your accommodations are pet-friendly. Your destination should be as well; you do not want to take your dog on vacation with you and end up leaving them in the hotel or vacation house the entire trip; they will get lonely and might do property damage given the unfamiliar environment.

Note that if you are going to beach, you shouldn’t take for granted that all beaches are dog friendly; many are not. Make sure to check where dogs can and cannot go. After all, even if your dog cannot frolic on the beach, they might be able to run along nature trails, through parks, and around lakes.

Prep for a Long Car Ride

If your trip is going to be a long one, you need to get your dog used to riding in the car if they are not already; take a few rides around town beforehand to help your dog acclimate to the car. Additionally, you need to plan regular stops so your dog can run around, eat, and go to the restroom.

Avoid giving in to the temptation to let your pet roam around the car; cats and dogs alike need to be restrained. Wandering pets are distracting and potentially dangerous especially if your cat gets under the driver’s feet or if the dog bounds in to the driver’s field of vision.

Another reason to restrain your pets in the vehicle is that pets can escape when you take quick restroom breaks. The best restraint is one that gives your pet room to move around, to access his or her food and water, and to lie down comfortably.

Plan ahead for Air Travel

If you’re going to fly and you intend to take your pet with you, there are several things you’ll want to do before arriving for takeoff including:

Have documentation that your pet’s vaccinations are up to date (contact the airline or look at their website to see what they require.

Use a shipping crate that is large enough for your pet to roam, eat, and sleep. It should have some kind of bedding. If you have a small breed, your pet can fly with you and can stay under your seat in a carrier.

Label your pet’s carrier with “live animal” as well as proper names, addresses, contact information, etc. Include a photo of your pet in case he or she escapes.

Bring Pet Supplies and Information

Just as you have a packing checklist for you and the family, you should also have a packing checklist for your pet. Make sure you bring:

• Enough Holistic Select Natural Pet Food
• Pet treats or snacks
• Pet bedding
• Litter box and litter
• Pet medication and pet medical records (in case of emergency)
• Pet ID tags
• Leashes
• Pet carrier
• Toy

At the end of your trip, make sure you leave no mess behind. This will ensure you get any pet deposit back and that you are a welcome guest next time you want to travel with your pet.
Holistic Select realizes your pet is part of the family, so we understand why you want to bring your pet on vacation. With planning and patience and making sure your pet’s needs are met, traveling with pets can be a fun, stress-free experience.