
For some people, traveling without their dog is as unthinkable as traveling without their kids. As a result, they often choose not to travel at all. Travel, especially extended travel, is complicated. Traveling by yourself is the easiest way because you have no one else to worry about and no one else to please.
If you have taken day-trips with your dog, you already know many of the challenges and joys of traveling with pets. But everything is ramped up to a new level when you are traveling overseas, and for a long stay. It gets worse. There is a good chance that such a trip will include multiple locations. So all the challenges are multiplied by the number of locations you visit along the way.
Don’t travel the world without you dog, here are some ways to make life easier for you and your pup:
Activities for Dogs
Not all beaches are dog-friendly. And not all parts of the world are dog-friendly. So when you bring your dog with you on a long trip, you have to be sure to know which activities are canine inclusive. You are going to need to be willing to engage in more activity than you normally would if you have an active dog.
Lodging
Many hotels will not allow you to leave your dog in the room unsupervised. This can be a real problem if it is just you and your dog. Some extra research will need to be done to find pet friendly hotels. I’m not saying it will be easy, but depending on your destination you may be able to work something out.
You also have to carefully read the fine print. A pet-friendly hotel might restrict based on breed and weight. You don’t want to get there only to learn that your Dog is one Happy Meal over the limit. You also want to be sure you can leave your pet in the room while you go off and do something else. This is the kind of fine print that can make life difficult for travelers with pets.
Be Willing to Sacrifice
Having a canine companion is a lot of responsibility. It requires a lot of sacrifice. You will have to make twice as much sacrifice when you travel. It becomes a matter of managing limitations. Your choice of flights is limited to the airlines that have favorable pet policies.
Cleanup Duty
No matter how well-trained and house broken your pet is, being in new places has a way of bringing the worst out of them, and at the most awkward times. You have to be prepared with poop bags all the time. It could happen in a restaurant, or beach, or police station. “So sorry, constable.” Being a responsible pet traveler means always being able to quickly and thoroughly perform cleanup duty.
Traveling with a pet is more expensive, challenging to plan activities, imposes limitations, and requires a lot of cleanup duty. Even so, it is one of the most rewarding ways to travel there is. We hope this article helps in your quest to explore the world with your best friend.


