Even if you love spending time with your dog and traveling together, there are likely going to be times when you’re going to need to travel without your dog. Regardless of if you’re traveling for work, family commitments, or a vacation, you’re going to need to figure out what to do with your dog when you can’t bring them.
Before leaving town, you must ensure that your dog will be well cared for in your absence. In our world, where dogs are increasingly seen as members of the family and children, there are a variety of options for making sure your dog is well cared for when you need to leave town and can’t bring them.
In-home dog sitter
A popular option for caring for dogs while their owners are away traveling is to have a dog sitter come to stay in your home. An experienced dog sitter coming into your house and caring for your dog is often the best option for dogs who frequently are more comfortable staying in their familiar surroundings while their owners are away. An in-home pet sitter may come by multiple times a day to check on your dog, feed, walk, and potty them but stay away from home.
Alternatively, you can have a dog sitter who will stay at your home while you are traveling, effectively moving in with your dog during your trip. This allows your dog’s routines and daily life to be mostly the same, which can help dogs to be more relaxed while you travel and display fewer symptoms of stress if you can’t bring them with you.
Boarding kennel
Probably the best-known option for making sure your dog is being cared for while you are traveling and can’t bring them with you is to bring your dog to a boarding kennel. Boarding kennels are professional facilities that watches dogs for people. At boarding kennels, dogs are generally kept in dog runs outside, inside, or indoor and outdoor areas.
At a boarding kennel, dogs are cared for by kennel staff and brought out for walks or playtime a few times per day but otherwise spend most of their time in kennel runs. The types of care and services available at a boarding kennel will differ depending on the facility, amenities, etc. Some boarding kennels have dog trainers on staff and may also provide training opportunities to dogs staying at boarding kennels.
Doggy daycare
If your dog regularly attends a doggy daycare, it may be possible to stay overnight at daycare while you are traveling. Talk with your dog’s daycare facility to find out if they provide overnight daycare hotel options for dogs who attend daycare. This style of play boarding can work well for dogs and social dogs who are already used to attending daycare. For these dogs staying overnight at daycare can help to adjust to you being away.
Daycares that offer overnight care generally have separate areas for dogs to stay overnight, different from where they play during the day. These overnight areas might look like kennel runs or suite-like rooms with furniture for dogs to stay in.
Stay away sitter
Another option for what to do with your dog when you’re traveling and can’t bring them with you is to send your dog to stay with a private sitter who watches dogs in their home. This sitter may watch your dog individually or multiple dogs at a time at an in-home dog daycare. This in-home environment can be calming for some dogs, while other dogs find it stressful to stay in a new place around new people. Make sure to let the sitter know your dog’s routine and to bring their food, and any favorite toys they may have.
Checking qualifications
Regardless of what type of pet sitter or boarding option you decide is going to be suitable for your dog, it’s crucial to ensure whoever is watching your dog is skilled, experienced, and able to provide your dog with the care they will need while you are away.
Before boarding your dog or hiring a pet sitter, check references for a sitter, daycare, or boarding facility before leaving your dog in their care. You’ll also want to ask what kind of communication you’ll receive while away about how your dog is doing, including updates, photos, and/or videos.
