28 Jan How to Travel When You Have Pets
Olive and Nola Mae are our children. Now, they might have more fur than kids generally have…because they are dogs…but that doesn’t mean that we don’t stress about their wellbeing, comfort, and safety. Because we travel so much (at least pre-pandemic) we’re constantly asked what we do with our dogs when we’re away.
As a pet owner, you have several options when it comes to finding a loving, safe, and fun environment for your pets while you travel. Your decision will be based on how long you’ll be gone, how much cashola you’re willing to drop, and how much you trust others to take care of your pets.
Remember that when you’re searching for someone to care for your pets when you travel, hold them to a high standard. They’re taking money to care for your family member – so they should be a professional at what they do. Anyone in this position should have knowledge about animal body language and never resort to managing animal behavior with pain or fear.
Here are the five most common choices when it comes to caring for pets when you travel.
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In-Home Pet Sitter
This is always our first preference when we search for someone to care for our dogs while we travel. Pets – especially dogs – experience great stress when you leave them behind, but that can be alleviated by staying somewhere familiar – like home – and keeping a routine.
Not only are Nola Mae and Olive more comfortable with their usual surroundings, but this also gives us the added benefit of someone to look after our house while we’re away. This means that the mail gets checked, packages don’t sit on the porch for long, and any solicitor’s notes put on the door don’t pile up.
It Might Not Be More Expensive
While this option might be more expensive if you have only one pet, it is worth checking out if you have multiple pets because it could be more cost-effective. We’ve used the same pet sitter since we moved to Las Vegas and for us, this was definitely the case. Boarding facilities cost about $60/day for our two dogs and our beloved pet sitter costs a fraction of that. We know Olive and Nola are being taken care of and loved by someone we’re closer to than many of our family members.
However, If You’re A Government Spy…
If you are a super private person or a government spy, consider that this person will have access to your home in addition to being responsible for the safety and happiness of your pets while you travel. You’ll want to make sure that the potential pet sitter has demonstrated trustworthiness, comes with many five star reviews, and ideally has the recommendation from your friends or family.
Boarding at a Pet Sitter’s Home
Our second preference when it comes to taking care of our dogs when we travel is putting them up at our pet sitter’s home. We like to call it Doggie Vacay.
When we first moved to Las Vegas we searched Rover.com for suitable pet sitters. We knew what we were looking for: good reviews, work from home or retired, and preferably no other animal in the home.
We found a wonderful woman who alternates between watching the girls in her home and ours. Even when they’re not at home they’re still relaxing in a stress-free, home environment and are stimulated by new surroundings (and our pet sitter has a pool which Nola Mae loves!). I also love that she sends updates and pictures every other day (proof of life!) which usually makes us incredibly homesick for our pups.
Before you commit to a pet sitter, go and see their home and establish whether or not other animals will be boarded at the same time or if they have animals of their own. If they do have pets of their own, schedule a play date to get your dogs acquainted and make sure to have them meet on neutral turf.
If your dog has any triggers – like men in baseball hats – make sure to tell your sitter so they can tell boyfriends, husbands, sons, etc to remove them before coming into the home.
We love seeing our girls go wild when we turn onto our pet sitter’s street; they know they’re about to have a little vacation of their own! It completely lessens our stress and guilt at leaving them when we know they love hanging out with her so much.
Staying with Friends or Family
Staying with friends or family is definitely a fine option, but it comes with some hurdles. One is that your friends or family might think they know what’s best for your dog…even better than you! “Oh, that little piece of cheese won’t hurt Fluffy!” Next thing you know, your aunt’s calling you in the middle of the night about emergency surgery for your dog.
That’s why I like to leave friends and family out of it whenever possible. However, if your pet spends a lot of time with your family and friends and you trust them to prioritize their care then 1) this is a wonderful option and 2) call yourself lucky.
Kennels & Doggie Daycare Facilities
There are some positive – and some negative – aspects of boarding your dog at a kennel or doggie daycare. On the positive side, your pup gets socialization during the day with other animals that are there for the day. However, if your dog isn’t great with constant stimulation or noise (Nola Mae is like this), they may become overly stressed and anxious.
There are some really great facilities that promise long walks multiple times a day and puzzle toys to keep your pup’s mind active. But it’s so important to not judge the facility based on some flashy website. Make sure to go by and take a tour. You don’t want to hear dogs barking constantly, or smell stale urine or any other overpowering smells – like bleach.
Your Vet's Office
Unless your pet has a chronic illness or special needs, boarding your pet at the vet’s office should be considered the last option. Staying in a vet’s office will cause your pet to have a lot of stress (imagine listening to cries from other dogs and cats in emotional distress and physical pain all day and night!) and the socialization and activity levels probably won’t be inspiring.
Your healthy pet simply does not need to be subjected to residing in a cage and hanging out with animals that are sick.
Checklist Before You Drop Your Pets Off to Travel
Y’all it’s free! Get this printable information sheet to help your sitter keep all of your pet’s information in one handy place.
Health & Safety
- Microchip: Make sure your pet’s microchip information is up to date
- Veterinarian: Give your pet sitter your veterinarian’s contact information and medical guidance about how to make decisions in an emergency. If you have a longstanding relationship with your vet they will be able to help with decisions as well.
- Medication and instructions on how and when to administer.
- Emergency Contact: Leave an alternate contact as well in case your pet sitter can’t get in touch with you in an emergency. Don’t forget to tell them all the necessary information! Consider leaving a credit card with your emergency contact as well.
Food & Supplies
- Food stored in a heavy-duty, reusable container. I love this bag from RuffWear. It holds 42 cups of food and is perfect for doggie daycare, road trips, camping, or just hanging out with the pet sitter for a few days. It also collapses as the food empties which is such a wonderful perk when you travel with your pets.
- Be sure to include enough food for as long as you’ll be away. I always add a little extra just in case of flight delays or anything else that arises.
- Instructions on how much to feed and at what times.
- It’s always a good idea to let your pet sitter know what kind/brand of food your pet eats in case disaster strikes the food supply. Olive turned into a ninja once and pulled her bag of food off the kitchen island (which was there for the pet sitter) and helped herself. We leave her food in the pantry with the door closed now.
- If your pet is on a prescription diet, leave your prescription cards with the pet sitter in case they need to make a purchase.
- Leashes / Harnesses / Collars
- Treats. Provide information on how often your pet receives treats and whether or not people food is allowed. Nola loves these Sweet ‘Tater and Salmon treats from Carolina Prime. (We find them at TJ Maxx all the time, too, but these on Amazon are the same price.)
- Favorite bed and/or blanket
- Bowls: When we take Olive and Nola on the road with us, we love these collapsible bowls. They save so much space and are super easy to clean.
- Favorite toys
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Oh, Hey There!
I’m Sarah – a southern gal who found her way to the Las Vegas desert! Welcome to my travels with my husband, life with our two dogs, and all the things in between. learn more >>
Let's Be Friends
Browse By Category
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