pet friendly roommates

If you are like most pet owners, you consider your pets as part of the family. That makes it especially difficult to leave your pets at a boarding facility when you go away on a vacation. Plus, you miss the chance to share some fun and exciting experiences with your furry friends.

Luckily, many hotels now allow pets to stay in rooms with their owners. Call ahead and ask when making reservations. Some properties do charge a small additional fee for pets in the room. This is understandable when considering the time involved in cleaning pet hair from the furniture.

If your pet is accustomed to having a rug or blanket to sleep on, then by all means bring it along. This makes your pet feel more “at home” and comfortable in new surroundings. They know where they are supposed to lie down because they have their familiar item to designate the space that is “theirs.” If your pets are crate trained, you have the perfect “luggage” to bring along. My own spoiled terrier sleeps on the bed at home, so I always bring an old sheet to cover the hotel bedspread, protecting it from his shedding.

Visiting new areas can be very exciting for your pet. Dogs will tend to pull on a leash more when they have so many new sights and smells to absorb. When I undertake a hike with my dogs in a new environment, I typically switch from a collar to a harness. It causes less stress to the dogs necks and gives me an added sense of security should one of them get to close to the edge of an overlook or perhaps a bridge. It may be silly, but should I need to haul a dog back up to safety, I know the harness won’t slip off.

Always carry plenty of fresh water for your pets in a plastic container with a tight fitting lid. A smaller empty container fits easily into a day pack and can be filled from your own supply of bottled water. It is as important to hydrate the animals as it is to hydrate yourself. You may want to slip a couple of hard dog “cookies” into your pocket to reward your pet being such a good traveler.

Avoid a change of diet while on the road. Different types of food than what your pet usually eats can cause gastric distress, as can adding a lot of “samples” from your own meals. If you choose to ignore this advice, you may have a more fragrant roommate than you anticipated. This can be especially bad in a vehicle during a rainstorm when you can’t open the windows. Beware.

For the most part, pets are happy simply because they are with you. With days full of exploring, you will both sleep well when the day has come to an end and wake up ready to experience a new day filled with experiences you can share.