I love going on vacations, we all do! I remember a time though, just a few years ago, when the idea of going on vacation with Manzo and Piper seemed daunting. I remember pleading with Jake and promising him that it would be fun! Whether you live with a reactive or sensitive dog, or a dog who doesn’t have behavioral challenges, vacationing with your dog takes a certain kind of dedication. You know what I’m talking about! Their constant care can be overwhelming, especially for those of us who have dogs with special needs or require special accommodations. We have been taking our dogs on vacation for the last 4 years. Here I’ll walk you through all that we consider before we hit that booking button on our vacation rental.
Furniture
Look, I understand that some people don’t want dogs on their furniture. As I write this Manzo is fast asleep on his side of the couch. Be sure to read the house rules when making your decision. Most pet-friendly rentals allow dogs on the furniture but may request they stay off certain things. Regardless of the rules, bring all your flat sheets and blankets! We cover all the furniture before we let our dogs in to protect them from fur, mud, and nails. It also makes cleanup a breeze! You wrap up the sheets, do a quick lint roll and you’re good to go!
** Reactive Dog Tip
Consider the layout of the furniture. Can your dog peek out of the windows from the couch and bark at the neighbors? Use the photos to look at what is outside the windows to help decide if it will be a problem. When in doubt, close the curtains.
Flooring
Our apartment is fully carpeted. Initially, I hated this, so much cleaning up, but as Manzo has aged I am grateful for the traction it provided him. When shopping for a rental we have found that most places do not have carpets. This may be good or bad for your dog but here are our considerations. Our dogs are used to carpets and don’t do well on slippery surfaces. If your dog’s paws are particularly hairy they may slip and slide. Regardless, the last thing anyone wants on vacation is an injury! We bring 2-4 yoga mats to roll out onto the most trafficked areas to provide the dogs with traction and it protects the flooring too!
Stairs
This is one of my biggest concerns when selecting a rental property. Piper was the queen of stairs but Manzo is just so careless with his body and he’ll throw his body around, it’s not pretty. We check a few things. Are there stairs required to get into the property? Or into the main bedroom? Whenever possible we select a rental where the bedroom is on the main floor to minimize their doing the stairs. Now if your home has plenty of stairs and your dog is a pro, this may not be of concern at all. Use caution though for all of our senior dogs or dogs who struggle with movement. On our last trip, we ended up carrying Manzo up and down the stairs outside just to make sure our 13-year-old puppy didn’t injure himself and could continue to enjoy his swimming.
Neighbors
Your dog will be used to their environment. If you stay a week in a home where the neighbors are very visible, even the most social of dogs may be tempted to run off and say hello or shout their happiness from afar. Make your selection based on your dog’s needs. Our dogs require the most privacy and honestly, we prefer being surrounded by nature. Some listing photos can be hard to decipher whether or not neighbors are visible. Check out the reviews to get more information about this. AirBnB allows you to search reviews by keyword so I’ll often search “pet,” “Dog”, or,” privacy.” Happy people leave happy reviews and it’s nice to hear about another family's experience with their dog.
**Reactive Dog Tip
I’m so cautious about neighbors with my dogs. Manzo is so sensitive to his environment so I try to make sure that our space is as private as possible. On AirBnB you can message the host and ask them directly. Each person I’ve been in contact with has always been so helpful! One person even went as far as to let me know that the trees would lose their leaves and increase the visibility of neighbors, a point I hadn’t considered. Lastly, check Google satellite or street view to help you gauge more efficiently the proximity and visibility of neighbors.
The Yard
We’ve been lucky enough to find places to stay with our dogs that had fenced-in yards. One even had a dog door! Never trust a fence that is not your own though. They are such a nice amenity but do your inspection upon arrival to make sure your dog won’t do that bit for you. If your dog isn’t used to a fenced yard you may want to let them drag a leash just to be safe. If your dog has a lot of energy you are going to want to make sure there is enough for them to do to stay occupied and enjoy this trip too! Our last trip didn’t have a huge yard but it was on a lake which meant for hours of swimming fun. Another spot did have a yard but it was very steep which meant we had to walk the dogs for exercise.
**Reactive Dog Tip.
Some yards leave a way for dogs to see passersby or the neighbors. If the yard is fenced you may be able to drape parts of the fence with sheets to prevent your dog from barking excessively as people go by. Additionally, you can strategically park your car to block the view of something too exciting. Just take care not to accidentally drive where you are not allowed.
My last tip for all dogs is to create a relaxation routine to help your dog settle in and adjust to their new home. Here are my top suggestions.
Bring their familiar bed.
Teach your dog to relax when they hear calming music. For the weeks leading up to your trip whenever your dog is at rest play a calming soundtrack. We like Meditation Music. Then, once at your destination and unpacked, you can help settle your dog down by playing their calming soundtrack.
I know this is a lot to consider but by making sure your dog is relaxed and safe, you’ll be more likely to enjoy your vacation with your dog! There were plenty of times we went away and left Manzo and Piper behind but as they got older it felt more important to me to do fun things that could involve them, I am so very glad we did. One last thing! Do you want the list and links to all our favorite dog-friendly AirBnBs? We’ve put together a list of the ones we’ve personally visited and would love to share them with you. Click here and I’ll email you the list right away!
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