Can’t Travel With Your Dog? Three Options to Consider

Can’t Travel With Your Dog?     |Published 11-16-2021

It’s difficult to imagine life without your pup, but if you need to go away for a couple of weeks and can’t find someone to look after your pet, what do you do?

There are several options, but before you make a decision, ask yourself if your dog would be happy in the new situation.

If he loves company and likes to play with other dogs, it may work out well. But if he’s shy or gravitates towards people more than animals, then that may not be the best place for him.

Care Options When You Can’t Travel With Your Dog

Family Member or Friend

It’s possible to ask someone you know if they can help out. Even if there are other pets in the house, your dog might be fine if he is used to them or gets along well with their type of animal.

Ideally, your friend will have experience with animals, and you should talk about how the animal carer will manage things such as feeding, walking, and grooming. You might be able to help out by supervising in the early days until the pet is used to the routine.

Pet Hotel

If you have enough money for this, it might not be a bad idea to find a pet hotel. You’ll come home to a neat, clean house with your little guy in the yard taking care of business. The only problem is that he may get lonely, and there’s no one to play with him all day.

Make sure to get a recommendation before leaving your dog in this type of facility. Do research online and ask friends for recommendations.

Some people make the mistake of leaving their pet in a pet hotel which is not great for him or them. If you have to board your dog, try to do it during times when he or she is likely to sleep most of the day so they don’t get too distressed by being alone all day.

If there is any question about what type of facility is best, talk with your vet about the options available in your area. Your veterinarian might have personal knowledge of local facilities and can give an unbiased recommendation.

Professional Pet Sitter 

There are lots of professional pet sitters out there. The problem with this option is that it can get expensive. You could put an ad in the local paper; you might be surprised at how many people responded and may even bring their pets to play with yours!

You should ask for recommendations and go visit the potential sitter several times before leaving your pup alone in his care. Some pet sitter agencies have their sitters insured, so take advantage of this service when selecting one. If possible, find out if they have any emergency numbers for when they are not available.

Be sure to make it clear when you are leaving how much exercise your dog needs and what food he eats. Be certain that they will adhere to your instructions. Don’t leave any valuables with the sitter unless you trust them implicitly!

Hire a House Sitter 

If you don’t have anyone who can take care of your pet, you could ask a friend to house sit for you. The advantage here is that the person looking after your home will also be spending time with your dog, and they’ll come home to an environment they are used to. The downside?

They may not take as good care of the rest of the house! But it’s still worth considering if this is possible.

Conclusion

Is there another option available? You might want to check out some doggy daycares or even work it out so one of your neighbors takes him for you for a few hours during the day.

This way he has company and gets out for some exercise too! Of course, you will want to get their references before hiring them.

If you have no choice but to put your pet in a hotel, do your research and get recommendations from friends and online. If there’s any question about whether the facility is right for your dog, don’t leave him there. There are lots of options out there; you just need to find the right one!