A Destin vacation is always exciting, but when traveling with your pet getting there isn’t always as easy. With some careful planning on your part and some expert pet friendly travel tips from us traveling with your pets just got easy.
Preparing for Your Pet Friendly Vacation
A comfortable pet is a happy pet. Taking along some of your pet’s favorite items will help to make your vacation much more enjoyable for you both.
- Food and Water Bowls
- Blanket or Bedding
- Favorite Toy
- Leash
- Collar
- ID Tags
A clean, fresh smelling pet always makes a much more enjoyable trip for everyone. Dirty dogs can quickly stink up a small car. Give your pet a bath or take it to the groomers before you leave and be sure to treat your pet with flea and tick medication before you leave.
Be sure that your pet is fit to travel, a motion-sick or stressed pet is sure to make the trip unpleasant for everyone. Visiting your vet’s office before you leave can provide solutions to these common problems. If you are flying you will need to schedule a pre-trip appointment with your vet anyways. Most airlines require a health certificate issued by your vet dated within ten days of travel.
Whether traveling by car or plane, your pet should always be wearing an ID tag which contains accurate contact information with both your home and vacation addresses and phone numbers. Be sure to also bring along current vaccination records and health certificates as well as a recent photo of your pet.
Destin Pet Friendly Vacation Rental “Pet-iquette”
Pet friendly vacation rentals offer all the comforts of home and make great vacation accommodations for both pets and their owners. The vacation rental owners make special provisions to allow for your pet, to ensure that the vacation rental remains pet friendly and that you and your pets are welcomed back year after year it’s important to follow the “house rules”.
When you arrive, it’s a good idea to help your pet adjust to its new surroundings: show your pet where their food, water and favorite toys are, walk them around the house and property, and enforce the same rules that you do at home. You wouldn’t appreciate Fido to chewing on your furniture, staining your carpet, or digging in your yard – and neither would the vacation rental owners.
If your pet is allowed on furniture at home, be sure to bring along sheets or blankets to use as protective coverings. If your rental has a pool or hot tub, please remember that they are for humans only. Many vacation destinations have beaches or lakes where Fido can swim. Just be sure to bring along some extra towels to dry him off prior to letting him inside. Before leaving make sure that your pet hasn’t left any souvenirs behind, most vacation rentals will come with cleaning products and vacuums for a reason.
As much as you love Fido, others may not always feel the same way. Let’s face it; a big dog springing at you can be a little frightening no matter how loveable he is. When away from your vacation rental always keep your pet on a leash and have complete control over them. Whether away from your rental or not, be sure to always clean up after your pet and dispose of waste in a proper container. Hopefully, your courtesy will spread, just not on the bottom of shoes.
Even the best behaved pets can bark or be destructive when left alone in a new environment. For short outings make sure your pet is well acquainted and comfortable with your vacation rental. If your pet is crate trained, bring it along as your pet will feel more relaxed in it while you are out. For longer outings a good pet sitter or doggy daycare will be able ensure that your pet is well taken care of.
