By Sara B. Hansen
Headed to grandma’s house but she doesn’t have room for your precious pup? No worries, you can still plan a dog-friendly trip with a little help from the folks at GoPetFriendly.com.
GoPetFriendly.com not only helps you find dog-friendly hotels, but also the tools to plan your ultimate road trip complete with destinations and activities.
“Our mission is to make traveling with pets easier and more enjoyable,” said Amy Burkert, founder of GoPetFriendly.com. “By highlighting destinations throughout the U.S. that have proven themselves to be pet-friendly, we hope to encourage more people to include their pets in their travel plans – whether they are headed across the country or across the state.”
Step 1: Prepare
Once you’ve mapped out the route for your dog-friendly trip, you need to make sure your dog is ready for the car ride. Nothing would spoil the fun more than a nervous traveler.
If you haven’t taken your dog on many long car rides, consider taking some short trips — maybe a day trip to a favorite hiking spot — to get your dog acclimated to spending more than a few minutes in the car.
Make sure your dog feels safe in the car. Consider using a harness or crate to keep your dog secure.
Step 2: Pack dog-friendly trip essentials
And don’t forget a few of essentials to ensure a dog-friendly trip:
* Bring your dog’s food and water from home. Just like people, dogs can occasionally have tummy troubles when you change what they eat.
* Bring favorite toys or blankets. Dogs not only are creatures of habit, but they also love their comforts. Just like with a toddler, you might have a sleepless night if you forget to bring along a stuffed toy your dog usually sleeps with.
* Bring along the leash and plan to take frequent breaks during your trip so your dog can stretch his legs and go potty.
Step 3: Expand your horizons
What if you’re planning a more exotic dog-friendly trip?
If you’re planning to travel outside the U.S., the helpful folks at Greyhounds as Pets, have put together this beautiful graphic with tons of helpful information about international pet travel.
Sara B. Hansen has spent the past 20-plus years as a professional editor and writer. She decided to create her dream job by launching Dog’s Best Life. Sara grew up with family dogs, and since she bought her first house, she’s had a furry companion or two to help make it a home. She shares her heart and home with Sydney, an Australian Shepherd-Corgi mix.
You can reach Sara @ editor@dogsbestlife.com.
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