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Have a Fit and Fun Vacation with Your Dog

written by Jessica Brody


Traveling with your dog is great. Bringing your pup along with you on vacation provides a sense of security, as well as some structure. While you don’t have to have a moment-by-moment itinerary, with a dog in tow, you do have to make time to meet their needs. Traveling with your dog also ensures your vacation will be fit and active. Even the laziest dogs need walks, but active breeds can join you on excursions such as hiking, kayaking, and biking. 

When it comes to the types of vacations you can take with your dog, the possibilities are endless. However, you want to choose a destination that will afford your furry friend plenty of space to move around and play. For this reason, taking an adventure into the great outdoors is ideal, whether that’s camping, staying in a lake house, or something similar.

While there are numerous benefits to traveling with your dog, it’s not always easy. Use the following advice to keep your precious pup safe and make the most of your vacation together. 

Safety Tips when Traveling with Your Dog

First and foremost, you want to do everything in your power to make sure your pup is safe for the duration of the trip. Whether you’re roughing it on a camping trip, or just scouting the local dog parks of your destination, your dog should be microchipped while also wearing some sort of identification on her collar. Download your microchip company’s app so you can look for your dog in real time, should you become separated. And if your dog ever gets into a scruff with another, be mindful to not get in between them. Instead, work to distract your pup and get her attention to avoid injury.

Before your trip, take your pup to the veterinarian for a checkup and grab a copy of her vaccinations record. Be up-to-date on whatever parasite prevention you use to stop fleas, ticks, mosquitoes, and heartworms from harming your four-legged friend. It’s also a good idea to do some research ahead of time and find a 24-hour veterinary emergency hospital near where you’ll be staying. Program their number into your phone, along with the office and emergency number for your vet back home. While you don’t want to think about worst-case scenarios, it helps knowing you’ll be prepared in the event one does arise.

Should You Fly with Your Dog?

Whether you should fly with your dog is a personal choice. For lap dogs that stay relatively calm in unfamiliar situations, it’s pretty doable. You can keep your small pup in a carrier and bring her onto most airlines as a carry-on. However, if your dog has problems with anxiety or is a larger breed, consider how your dog might react to being crated and shipped as cargo in an airplane. The cargo hold of an airplane is a loud, dark place—and experts advise against sedating dogs when flying. Because of this, flying can be a traumatic experience for many pups.
More Travel Tips for Dog Owners:

  • Bring your dog’s food with you. Even if you buy a national brand, you can’t guarantee you’ll be able to find it easily wherever you’re headed.
  • If traveling leaves your dog with an upset stomach, make sure she stays hydrated by putting a bit of low-sodium chicken broth in her water. The tastiness will encourage your dog to drink more, and chicken broth contains electrolytes that can help your pup recover.
  • Find a local doggy daycare that can watch your pup whenever your plans take you somewhere she can’t join you. Contact the daycare before you arrive to make sure they have all the medical records and information needed to care for your dog. 


Traveling with your dog makes a vacation both fit and fun. However, safety should be your number one priority. Make sure your dog has proper identification and find a vet in the area you can visit in case of an emergency. Flying with your dog is possible, but consider the risks before buying that ticket. Finally, make sure your dog is happy and healthy by bringing her favorite food and ingredients to soothe an upset stomach, and finding additional help for care in case your plans divert you from each other. 

Jessica Brody
info@ourbestfriends.pet


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