During the holidays we often do a lot of traveling. Some of us drive and some of us fly. But many of us wonder what to do without pets during these travels. Should they come with us? Should they stay home? Should they stay with a friend? Read on to find my answers to these questions and more!
The Pros and Cons of Traveling with Pets
As with many things in life, there are pros and cons to taking your pets with you during holiday travels. First let’s go through the pros.
Pro, your pet will be with you. This can be important if your pet has a hard time being separated from you for long amounts of time, or if your pet has specific health or behavioral requirements.
Pro, you will get to enjoy their company. It can be fun to include your pets in the family gatherings and travels, so bringing them with you can be a fun addition to the holiday family get togethers.
Pro, it is more cost effective. Taking your pet with you means that you don’t need to pay a sitter to take care of them. This can be a great way to save money during the holidays!
Next let’s look at three cons. Con, traveling can be stressful for the animal if they have never been taught to be comfortable moving from location to location. Animals get used to living life a certain way and some animals are better at dealing with a change in scenery than others. If your pet does not like to travel, or has never done so, it can be stressful and possibly be emotionally exhausting for the animal.
Con, traveling with a pet can be dangerous. For example, if you are flying somewhere, there is a major risk putting a dog in the cargo hold of the plane. While many pets have done this with no problem, it can be a very stressful experience, and some pets have even passed away. While I am not trying to scare anyone, I must say that I do advise trying to avoid putting your pet in the cargo hold of a plane.
Con, if the animals are not comfortable in the new place, they have nowhere else to go. At home the animal will feel safer and more comfortable and will most likely be able to find a place to relax. However, in a new place with lots of people, they might not be able to find a place to relax. This means it can be harder for them to relax and some might be a little more on edge than usual.
Ask your Pets
With these pros and cons in mind, make the decision of whether or not you will take your pet with you based on what you know about your pet specifically. If you have traveled with your pet before and they enjoyed the process, then taking them with you might be a great option! But if this is the first time, I would recommend doing some training first. Teach your pet to remain in its crate for extended amounts of time or to ride in the car. I will say again that I do not recommend putting your pet in the cargo hold of a plane, so I will focus on car travel (if you have a dog who is small enough to be allowed in the plane with you, work with them on remaining in their small carrier for long periods of time while remaining quiet).
Some pets get car sick. This is also something to consider. Get them used to being in the car by training them to lay down on their blanket and relax in the car first while it is parked and off, then while it is parked with the engine running, then while you are driving (once you get to this stage, I would have someone else drive while you work with the dog in the back). Make sure you will have plenty of opportunities on the way to your destination to let them out for exploration and relieving themselves. If your pet gets car sick, you can ask your vet if there is anything you can give them to calm their stomach or help them sleep during the process. It is also best to make sure that your dog is secure. The safest way to travel with your dog in a car is in its crate or with a harness designed to be connected to a seatbelt. Make sure they have something fun to do (like chew on a bone). If they tend to get car sick, make sure they have something they can chew on without eating it, as having too much on their stomach can result in them throwing up. Some animals find music relaxing, others find sitting next to someone helpful. Sitting next to someone is a good option if there is someone else in the car with you. However, I advise against letting your pet sit in your lap while you are driving as this can be very dangerous.
Other Options
If your pet does not like to travel, getting a pet sitter can be a great option. There are few ways to find a pet sitter, but if you are hiring a new pet sitter, I always recommend having them take care of your pet at least once before you leave to make sure you like how they interact with your pet and to make sure your pet is comfortable with them. If you have friends with pets, you can also ask them to pet sit, or ask if they know anyone that they trust with their pets.
Another option is to go through a company such as Rover. While I have never used Rover.com myself, I have heard wonderful things about it! One thing that is great about Rover is that it provides reviews you can look at to see how well each person is liked by previous clients. If you go with this route, I would recommend finding someone who has as many good reviews as possible and repeat clients. The more experienced and the more liked they are by previous clients the better. You can also often look at photos each person posts. If the animals with them have relaxed features and open mouths, they are most likely happy and enjoying themselves. This joy is a good sign! While you might not be able to know for sure based on these photos and reviews, this is a lot of good information and a good sign that the individual is more likely to be a good option. Once again, it is always a good idea to have the individual pet sit or walk your dog before you need to leave your pet with them for long periods of time. This will help both you and your pets be more comfortable during time apart.
I hope all your holiday travels go well for both you and your pets!
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