How to travel with your dog for a staycation or day trip

Conkers could kill your dog
Take your pooch on your staycation (Picture: Ella Byworth)

We might all be staying a little closer to home for holidays this year but one good thing is that it means you can bring your dog with you.

Whether you’ve got a few days away as the summer comes to an end, or just a bank holiday day trip, it’s nice to take your pet.

But travelling, a new environment and change in routine can be a little unsettling for your pooch so you need to make sure you prepare.

Rodney Zasman, a vet at pet food brand Lily’s Kitchen, has some tips and advice.

Getting there

Before you go, he recommends ensuring that your pet has a collar that is engraved with their name in case they wander off to explore their new environment.

When it comes to travelling to your destination, Rodney added: ‘Dogs can get a bit over-excited in the car which can prove very distracting to the designated driver!

‘So, it’s a good idea to give them their own assigned space just like the rest of the family – situate them in a dog crate filled with their favourite toys for a sense of familiarity.’

Of course, bring some spare towels along in case of any accidents or in case they get a little travel sick.

Plan in plenty of breaks on your route to let them out of the car for a little while.

INTERESTING FACT ABOUT YOUR PET: Your dog can smell your feelings. In fact, your dog’s sense of smell is approximately 100,000 times better than yours. So it shouldn’t be shocking that they can in fact, smell things such as fear. When a human is fearful, they perspire, and a dog is easily able to pick up on this change.

You can also get lots of different portable water bowls or bottles to keep your pet hydrated but try it out before you go – pets can be very fussy about what and how they drink and you don’t want to discover they refuse to use it when you’re sat at a motorway service station.

The trip

When it comes to the trip itself, it can be tempting to throw the normal rules out the window but it’s much harder for your dog to adpat.

Rodney adds: ‘While pet parents use holidays as an excuse to over-indulge, pets need to follow a stricter regime to avoid wreaking havoc with their digestive systems! Keep your pup on their usual food wherever possible.’

And you might be in different surroundings but it’s important to keep their walks as close to your normal routine as possible.

Rodney explained: ‘Holidays might seem like an excuse to lounge around, but dogs – especially energetic breeds – need to let off some steam and keep active.

‘Apart from being an important part of your dog’s routine to keep healthy, it also means that pent-up energy won’t come out in full force at a civilised restaurant or a calm beauty spot.’

You might also be tempted to stay out in the heat and enjoy any sunshine when you’re away but that can be very uncomfortable for pets.

INTERESTING FACT ABOUT YOUR PET: Have you ever wondered why your dog curls up in a ball when they sleep? It’s actually an age-old instinct to keep themselves warm and to protect vital organs while they sleep.

The normal rules for hot weather apply, even when you are on holiday.

Rodney added: ‘Dogs will overheat on walkies in the midday sun. If the ground feels hot on your hand, it’s probably too hot for their paws.

‘Instead, go for an early morning stroll or catch the golden hour in the late afternoon, and don’t forget your pupper’s portable water bowl.’

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