Summer’s end is fast approaching. Are you planning one final trip of the summer, or maybe thinking ahead to fall break, and planning to take your dog? You’re in luck! We asked our resident travel pros for some travel tips to help you and your furry family member out!
From the desk of Jiffy and Corsa:
Hi Friends,
During our 9 years on earth, we’ve been lucky enough to rack up quite the number of miles! From major cities, to oceans, to mountains, and lots in between, you could say that we’ve been around the block once or twice and know the ins-and-outs to navigating pawsome adventures! So, we thought we’d share our favorite tips to having a great trip (maybe Mom and Dad will listen too!)
Finding a place to stay is sometimes hard when not everyone thinks we’re as great as Mom and Dad do! If you’re looking for a place that will welcome you, our favorite hotel to stay at when we’re travelling is Aloft Hotels (they have yummy treats, comfy beds, and fun toys just for us — a whole package is always waiting in our room just for us 4-legged visitors!) If there aren’t any Aloft’s, we also like VRBO for pet-friendly accommodations, and lots of options to choose from, rather we feel like exploring a city, or stretching our legs somewhere with lots of room to run! There are also options to choose from with LaQuinta hotels, Kimpton Hotel Group, and Doubletree hotels, among many others!
Once we’ve found our place to stay, we need to plan some outings! If you’re looking for parks, restaurant patios that welcome pets, and anything else that is available in the area where your dog can join you, download the app BringFido! There’s lots of great suggestions for whatever area you may be visiting that will make you and your family feel welcome! Pro tip: lots of micro-breweries have pet-friendly patios! Many have even turned their patios into dog parks!
Once you have your plans in place, it’s time to hit the road! To make the most of your trip, plan ahead! First stop, we’re going to need some time to stretch our legs during the car ride! Plan to stop every few hours, even if just for a couple minutes! Don’t forget to carry a copy of vaccination records with you, in case you need them for access to a stop along the way! All the fun of the car will also make us thirsty, so don’t forget to pack our essentials, including an AquaDog water bottle, perfect for the car, the park, or wherever our trip may take us! Speaking of the car…to prepare for trips, we like to go on car rides to nowhere. Mom and Dad take us through drive-thrus, to pet friendly stores, and sometimes even just for car rides around town! Not only do we get spoiled with treats at drive-thrus, we also get used to being in the car, so when our longer trip comes and we’re in the car for hours, it’s easy-peasy….car rides are FUN!
This one is very important for travelling…Don’t forget your manners! Knowing how to Heel around other people and dogs (and Auto-sit at crosswalks!), Lay Down and Stay there until the pawrents say it’s ok, come back to Mom and Dad when they call, and stay on a Place are all essential to making sure you’re safe away from home. We’re even fluent in off-leash manners, so we can go explore on hikes or play in the water, without Mom and Dad having to worry about us getting into trouble or getting lost. We’ve worked hard on our training in lots of environments, so we’re well socialized and are at ease in any environment we’re in! There’s nothing to be scared of if you’ve already been exposed to it! We have confidence that we can handle it! Plus, the better you behave, the more places you get to go with your family, and the more fun you get to have! If you need help with your manners, we can help you learn, just check out our website to get started!
We hope these tips help you enjoy some extra time with your family! Let us know about your adventures!
Wags and Kisses,
Jiffy and Corsa
PS, if you’re looking for somewhere nearby to take your pawrents for the day, check out Montrose Dog Beach in Chicago! It’s our absolute favorite spot!