Water bowl? Check. Natural dog supplements? Check. Leash? Check. With their beady eyes, moist noses, floppy ears, and soft fur, it’s not challenging to see why most dog owners see their pets as an extension of their human family members. And like you wouldn’t leave your child or partner behind (if you can help it!), you wouldn’t leave your four-legged friend behind when going away for a week.
Thanks to the increased popularity of staycations over the past couple of years, more and more of the UK population choose to take their canine companion on their travels instead of leaving them with friends/family members or in kennels. However, for those who’ve never taken their pets away, many complexities must be handled to ensure your furry friend is ready for a week away.
From choosing a dog-friendly location and finding suitable accommodation to packing any medications/dog supplements and planning your journey, there are several ways to prepare for your week away and ensure it is paw-fect for everyone involved. Fortunately, we’ve compiled some tips on holidaying as a larger, furrier family to make your preparations easier in our article below.
Choose Where You’re Going Carefully
Fortunately, the UK lives up to its reputation as a nation of dog lovers, meaning there are many ideal locations to take your four-legged friend for all kinds of budgets, personality types and more. Deciding where to retreat for a week away will hugely depend on your and your dog’s personality, but their age, breed, and health might also play a part in your choice.
For instance, if you have a three-year-old Labrador, they are more likely to thrive in an environment with lots of open spaces, like the beach or the countryside, due to the energy their breed is renowned for. On the other hand, if you have an elderly toy breed like a Chihuahua, Pug, or Yorkshire Terrier, they might prefer a quieter holiday where they can relax as much as you!
Some of the most popular dog-friendly holidays for dog owners include Cornwall, Suffolk, Cumbria, Shropshire, Gloucestershire, and many other destinations. All of these have a selection of activities for you and your four-legged friend to participate in, from beaches, mountain hikes, and much more – so don’t forget to bring a lead!
Pack Any Raw Food/Natural Dog Supplements/Treats
If your dog is raw-fed, you might feel a little intimidated regarding how to continue your dog’s mealtime routine during your week away. Fortunately, you’ll be pleased to learn that raw food and healthy dog supplements are just as easy to take away on your staycation as canned food or kibble – it just requires a bit more preparation!
Aside from planning how much supplements/raw food you’ll need for your trip, you’ll also need a high-quality cooler, containers, reusable ice packs, gloves, and cleaning agents to ensure everything is safe and hygienic. On the other hand, if you’d like to avoid travelling with all this equipment in the first place, you could consider ordering your natural dog supplements raw-fed from online suppliers.
Whether you’re looking for dog supplements, natural remedies, or natural dog treats, raw feeding your dog couldn’t be easier. If you have ever thought to yourself, ‘do raw fed dogs need supplements?’, the team at ProDog Raw can help. You can order your dog’s supplements from their site straight to your home.
Find Paw-Fect Accommodation
 Imagine the horror of showing up to your pre-booked Airbnb only to discover that it’s not dog-friendly! Yet, mistakes like these are easily made when trying to sort all the preparations for your week away, so ensure this doesn’t happen to you and your four-legged friend by ensuring that you look for the best dog-friendly places to stay and inspect each one.
Whether you require a dog-friendly stay with plenty of enclosed outdoor space for your adventurous puppy or if you’d like something beachside for your water-loving four-legged friend – ensure that you take the time to read the description of each property thoroughly before looking at the next property.
Some properties might only allow one furry visitor at a time, whereas the next might enable multiple. On the other hand, another stay might not allow your four-legged friend to curl up next to you on the bed or sofa, whereas the next might enable your pet to indulge in all the luxuries you can and more.
Depending on your needs, it is best to read the description of each stay, and the reviews from people who’ve stayed there previously. Check the house rules so that you can ensure the booking is suitable for you and your dog. Failing to do so could make you and your four-legged friend in trouble, and the last thing you want is for your week away to be ruined by a simple mistake!
Watch Out For Them While You’re On The Road
Whether you’re taking your four-legged friend for a short drive to the neighbouring town or if you’re planning to take them on a hundred-mile round trip, it is essential that you watch out for them while you’re both on the road. From ensuring that they are suitably restrained while riding shotgun (or in the boot!), to checking that they’re not experiencing any symptoms of car sickness, there are certain aspects you’ll need to be watchful for to ensure you both have the smoothest car ride possible.
If they’re prone to the latter, you could consider trying some dog-friendly home remedies, like giving them a ginger-infused dog biscuit before leaving for your trip. Or, if they’re not the best passenger, you could consider incorporating regular breaks at pubs, garden centres, or cafes and avoiding service stations with very little green space for them to enjoy.
Suppose they’re well into their golden years. In that case, you could make their journey as comfortable as possible by kitting out your vehicle’s backseat (or the boot) with blankets and cushions, or even their own doggy bed, making them feel less homesick and more relaxed until you reach your destination.
Help Them Settle When You Reach Your Destination
As you turn into your home’s driveway for the next week, we’re sure that you will breathe a sigh of relief accompanied by a howl from your furry friend. However, if this is your four-legged friend’s first time away from home, they might find the experience overwhelming or even terrifying! Therefore, you might find them regressing to their puppy years and lacking their usual amount of energy.
However, if this is the case, there are multiple ways that you help them settle. Whether you choose to take them for a wander around the garden or entertain them with a few toys you’ve brought from home, you’ll find that they’ll be back to their old self after letting off some pent-up steam from the car journey, and they’ll be ready for a good snooze by your side.
Depending on your chosen stay, you might find that they come equipped with bowls, blankets, toys, and treats for such occasions. Or the owner might have left you with some guidance on the best areas to take your pooch, like pubs, restaurants, and beaches meaning that you have more time to enjoy your week away together as a larger, furrier family.
