Going away for holidays is a ritual everyone needs. Running away from the routine of everyday life, escaping pressure at work and all the stress we face everyday.
However, if you are a dog owner, you probably know that stress tends to stick around even on the beach, while you are trying to sip your margarita and focus on the calm, blue horizon. Is she feeling alone now? Is he tearing the furniture to pieces? These are just some of the questions which fill our heads and never let us rest properly.
This article will try to solve the problem by addressing a couple of main concerns pet owners might have and offering solutions.
The bond between a dog and its owner is something that does not need further elaboration. Dogs are terribly attached to the hand that feeds them and plays with them and they will not understand if their loved one goes away, as far as they know, forever.
This is why you need to make sure that they feel their sorrow as little as possible. Ask someone to visit them every day and take them for a walk and feed them (multiple times a day is recommended), but when you are picking the person make sure it is someone your pet is already acquainted with. It does not have to be the person you like most – it needs to be someone your dog considers to be part of everyday life. Neighbors are usually the best solution: their smell is something your pet will not consider foreign.
The other possible solution is to take your pet with you. If you are travelling by car and if the resort you are visiting allows pets to stay with their owners, this might even be the best option. The only problem with this is the journey itself. Dogs can get anxious in the car, especially if they did not receive any training in this respect. The possible solution is to keep your dog busy (if you are not travelling alone) or, if you are alone, bring a couple of its favorite toys. If you own a Fuzzyard dog bed, bring it with you and place it in the back seat. This way you will make sure your dog feels at least partially at home while on the road.
In case your dog has to stay at home, make sure you provide the person who will take care of it with all the things necessary to avoid any possible incident. If the dog has some medicine it needs to take, put them somewhere where they are easy to find and inform the appointed guardian of their location.
In any case, tell yourself that everything will be all right and try to enjoy your holidays. Remember, your dog will feel your stress and will suffer it with you, so it is in everyone’s best interest that you have some great time and come back home fresh and ready for new challenges!
Mark Osbourne is a traveler with a passion for mountains and high altitude in general. He is also a blogger and a full time football fan. Koni, his black lab, is a faithful companion during his work hours at home.