This post may contain affiliate links. We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post.
Your dog is a member of your family, and one of the hardest decisions you will have to make is how to leave them behind when you travel.
You want them to be safe and comfortable without you, which is why it’s a smart idea to plan for such travels well in advance.
Whether you’re headed to the beach for a weekend, or are planning a month-long holiday, this article will help you ensure that your dog is well taken care of while you’re out of town.
Why Not Bring Your Dog with You?
Vacationing with your dog has plenty of advantages — nobody will care for your dog as well as you, you’ll save money on boarding fees, and your dog will be able to explore the world by your side.
It’s the perfect situation, right? Not always.
Some dogs just don’t travel well. They are anxious in new situations, don’t get along with other dogs, or aren’t able to adjust to your vacation schedule.
Dogs aren’t allowed in many hotels, most restaurants, and should never be left alone in the car.
Your dog will also take up a lot of your time and energy as you try to accommodate their needs while traveling.
This isn’t a big deal if you’re going on a camping trip or a road trip, but many holidays and vacations just don’t work well with the family dog in tow.
What Type of Care is Best for Your Dog?
Of course you want to make sure your dog receives the best care possible while you’re away, and there are several options available to you, depending on where you live.
The important thing is to find the situation that will work best for your dog — one that closely resembles their home environment.
A nervous dog who is the only household pet will probably not feel secure in a highly social environment with lots of other dogs.
On the other hand, your dog’s happiness should not be your first priority.
When you’re weighing your options, the most important considerations are keeping your dog safe and well cared for. Happiness, while important, isn’t critical.
Let’s discuss your boarding options and the pros and cons of each one:
Board Your Dog with Your Local Veterinarian
Many veterinarians offer boarding services for cats and dogs.
This is a great option if your dog needs regular medical attention or careful monitoring. Otherwise, there is no reason that your healthy dog should be kenneled with animals that are sick, injured, or in distress.
I know you love your dog’s veterinarian, but you can find a better option for boarding your pup.
Leave Your Dog Home with a Dog Sitter
If there is someone that you trust to stay in your home, this is a great choice for your dogs (and cats too).
Your dog’s routine will change very little, and they will likely receive top notch care. Having someone in your home while you’re away will also minimize security risks.
Friends and family members make great house and pet sitters, but you can also hire a professional.
In the USA, you can hire a certified pet sitter from the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters, whose members have a reputation for ethical behavior and professionalism.
The downside to professional pet sitters? They’re relatively expensive.
Bring Your Dog to a Sitter’s Home
Another great option is bringing your dog to a pet sitter, for care in their home.
This allows your dog to experience the comfort of routine in a home environment, and this option is also less expensive than paying someone to stay in your home.
Once your dog establishes a relationship with your trusted sitter, they may actually look forward to their own “vacation” away from home.
Leaving your dog with a friend, family member, or professional pet-sitter is a great choice for well-behaved, well-socialized dogs.
If your dog has behavioral issues or doesn’t get along with dogs, cats, people, etc., this might not be the best option.
DogVacay is a website that helps match dog owners with sitters all over the United States.
Board Your Dog at a Kennel
Kennels were once the only option available to folks who wanted to travel without their pets.
Are you picturing a row of tiny cages, all full of miserable, barking dogs? While this scenario hasn’t entirely disappeared, the modern dog kennel has been totally re-branded.
Now you can bring your dog to a clean, spacious kennel in just about every good-sized town. You can also board your dog at a rustic retreat, doggy spa, or upscale resort if you live close to a metropolitan area.
Kennel offerings are available for every type of dog at every price point.
Standard kennels will still make use of individual cages or rooms for your dog, but well-socialized dogs will normally be allowed out for playtime, and most kennels provide plenty of exercise for the pups who stay with them.
Because every kennel is unique, it’s important to do your research. References and reviews from people you trust will help you decide which kennel is right for your dog.
Here are a few tips from the Humane Society of the United States for choosing a boarding kennel for your dog.
Kennels are often the cheapest option for boarding your dog, and the price drops even further when you board more than one. Many kennels are also a good solution for dogs who are untrained, poorly socialized, or aggressive.
Preparing Your Dog to Be Left Behind
Are those puppy-dog eyes making you feel guilty as you pack your suitcases? I can totally relate, but with a little advanced planning you can make your trip easy for both of you.
Here are some tips for helping your dog prepare:
Leaving Your Dog When You Travel: Puppies
If leaving your dog behind when you travel sounds difficult, it’s even harder to think about leaving a new puppy.
There is a silver lining though — your puppy is learning how to integrate into your family life, and if traveling without your dog is normal for you, it will also become normal for your pup.
Acclimating your puppy to whatever boarding option you decide on is much easier than acclimating a full-grown dog.
Here are some tips for leaving your puppy when you travel:
- Work on training and socialization from day one. No matter where your dog ends up when you travel, they will be offered more privileges, exercise, and opportunities if they are trained and socialized. Your dog sitter will give your dog longer walks if they don’t pull; your kennel will allow your pup frequent play times with other dogs if they are well mannered; and your helpful friend or family member will be more likely to bring your dog to the park if they are easy to manage. You can find lots of information about socialization and training on this site, but if you’re just starting out, read these: How to Socialize a Puppy and Raise a Happy, Confident Dog and Why Training Your Labrador is So Important .
- Crate train your puppy. Crate training ensures that your dog will stay out of trouble when your sitter can’t watch them. A crate is not a prison – it is a place where your dog can go to feel comfortable, safe, and secure. A crate is also a very useful tool for helping your dog relax when you’re away from home, and using it now will make it easier for your dog and your sitters later on. We have many crate training resources to help you get started.
- Don’t board your puppy until they are fully vaccinated. Animal hospitals and kennels are magnets for disease and illness, and most won’t allow your dog to visit unless they are fully vaccinated. If your dog is staying with a pet sitter, this is less of an issue. Here are the recommendations for your puppies first vaccinations.
Tips for Leaving Your Dog While on Vacation
Sure, you’re going to miss your best friend while you travel, but you also want to be able to relax and enjoy your vacation.
Here are a few suggestions to make leaving your dog just a little bit easier.
- Write down your dog’s schedule for the sitter. Kennels will likely stick to their own schedules, but a sitter can be more flexible. It will be helpful for them to know when your dog wakes in the morning, takes bathroom breaks, eats meals, and goes for walks. This way they can stick as close to your dog’s normal routine as possible.
- There’s no need for long goodbyes. Get your vacation off to a good start by scratching your dog behind the ears and heading out to enjoy yourself. If you leave with confidence, you will set the tone for a good vacation – for you and your dog.
- Don’t worry about your dog while you’re away. Dogs don’t have the same concept of time as humans. Whether you’re gone for an hour or a week, your pup will greet you enthusiastically when you return. To them, it’s not so much that you’re leaving — it’s that you’re coming back.
A Packing List for Your Dog
Whether you’re boarding your dog at a kennel, a friend’s, or a pet sitter’s, you’ll need to pack an overnight bag for your pup.
If your dog is staying home with a sitter, you don’t have to pack at all.
- Pertinent phone numbers – your cell number, a close-by emergency contact, and the number of your dog’s veterinarian.
- Food and water bowls
- A 6-foot leash for in-town walking and a longer leash for exercise sessions
- A record of your dog’s vaccinations
- Your dog’s bed
- Your dog’s favorite toys and bones
- Treat pouch for training (if you use one)
- Dog food and treats
- Brush and nail clippers for grooming
- Poop bags for easy clean-up
- Medications and instructions to go with them
Final Thoughts on Leaving Your Dog Behind When You Travel
When it comes down to it, dogs are probably more adaptable than we think, and many will enjoy the change of pace that is inevitable when their family members leave them for a well-deserved holiday.
Whether your dog is spending the week at home or a modern dog boutique, a bit of research and advance planning will ensure that they’re safe and well cared for while you’re away.
As an added bonus, you can look forward to lots of tail wagging when you return.
Top Picks For Our Dogs
- BEST PUPPY TOY
We Like: Calmeroos Puppy Toy w/ Heartbeat and Heat Packs - Perfect for new puppies. Helps ease anxiety in their new home. - BEST DOG CHEW
We Like: Bones & Chews Bully Sticks - All of our puppies love to bite, nip, and chew. We love using Bully Sticks to help divert these unwanted behaviors. - BEST DOG TREATS
We Like: Crazy Dog Train Me Treats - One of our favorite treats for training our service dog puppies. - BEST FRESH DOG FOOD
We Like: The Farmer's Dog - A couple months ago we started feeding Raven fresh dog food and she loves it! Get 50% off your first order of The Farmer's Dog.
For a list of all the supplies we get for our new service dog puppies check out our New Puppy Checklist on the PuppyInTraining.com blog.
40 comments
It’s great that you talked about crate training your puppy. I’m going to tell my friend this later today when I get home. He is currently thinking about teaching his dog some new tricks. Something like this would be really helpful for him and his family. After all, everyone wants a dog who loves its den.
Crate training is super helpful to taking your pets on trips or to the vet…helps them not be so scared and untrusting. And that’s not just for puppies but cats as well.
Thanks for sharing tips. Me & my wife going to las vegas next week. So, we are thinking about our dog. Now, we are clear. Thanks for great article.
It’s great that I found your article about leaving dogs when on vacation. I liked that you mentioned on your article about training your dog to socialize so it’s easier to manage him. My dog absolutely loves making friends and I’m sure that he will cooperate with the sitter. I am scheduled to leave the country by next week for some business trips and nobody will be left home. I’ll be needing to find options on where I can leave my dog. He’s such an important part of me so I like to make sure that he gets the proper care and treatment.
My westie is almost 11yrs ive never had a holiday since he was a young pup .i want to book up fr a 2 wk break abroad and leave him at home with my son .hes a sulky dog and im worried he may over sulk when ime gone and become ill.i do over think things simply because hes my only dog nw since loosimg my other 2 westies and ime scared to be honest . Could he stop eating when im gone
Hi Lisa
you may indeed be overthinking the situation and your dog may be just fine with your son. Try testing your dog by leaving him for some time alone in a room.
Cheers
I like that you provided some tips when leaving your dog behind such as leaving him in the good hands of a dog sitter. If you’re going to travel, it is recommended that you leave your pet to someone whom you can fully trust and rely on. This could either be a family member or a friend. This way, you would be able to provide some of the most important instructions about caring for your pet without worrying that your dog will be neglected. If I were to travel minus my dog, I would make sure to keep this in mind. Thanks.
My dogs are staying with my friend that has two dogs. My one dogs is 3 and my other is a 3 month old puppy. I will be gone for 2 months. They had trouble me adapting for the first week but now all the dogs are loving and cuddling on one another and playing. When I go to pick my dogs up and take them home will they be ok? Will they miss their friends that they made? How do I handle that? Also they play their all day and go all over the house where at my house they have boundaries. Are they gonna be ok when they go back home ?
thank you for the article, my problem is one of my 3 dogs is a dominant male and he’s a bit over attached and aggressive towards anyone coming close to the other 2 female dogs, am scared that his behavior will make it hard for anyone to accept them at a boarding facility, not to mention that he won’t let anyone into our home while we are away, what should I do?
Thank you for leaving these tips. I live in the same area where the nation heard the story about 21 dogs who died at a local dog boarding facility. It was heart-wrenching to hear about it on the news and I couldn’t fathom being one of the dog owners. Everything looked good in appearance, but the truth of how the dogs were taken care of was a much different story. I offer dog boarding myself and provide care, love and a safe environment. Yet, my first suggestion for anyone looking to board their dog is to have them stay at home with a sitter if at all possible. If it isn’t, then, of course, a dog boarding facility is a good option. However, it is really a good idea to do your homework, get to know the facility and people who will be with your dog before making your choice. Look at reviews and get recommendations if possible. No one wants to get that dreadful news that their dog had died while being boarded.
Thanks for these tips.
It is really a headache for me whenever i need to travel.
The tips you have given will surely aid me in my next traveling.
Great tips to choose foods for the dog. I love that. Really thanks for sharing.
Keep it up.
I always keep my Aggy in my cousin’s house. You know, my cousin has a pet too and I think that house is also safe and comfortable for my lovely puppy. Aggy gets some friend their too. And it’s really good things for me to keep my pet in my cousin’s house. Nowadays it’s really hard to match a good place for our pets by the way.
I send my jojo to my parents house. My parents are pet lovers like me and they have three dogs. Jojo gets a friendly environment there. And i don’t have to worry about him also.
I think pet kennels are the best options. Because it feels safer to me. I always keeps my dogs to pet kennels while i go to vacation
Thanks for these tips.
I am also an owner of Pomeranian Dog, Most of the time it happened to me that leaving a dog at home. If I leave 2-3 days then for his care I leave him to my relative. But the problem is, he does not take the meal properly.
But by the reading of this port, Now I realize what mistake actually I was doing.
once again thanks to you for sharing us.
thanks for sharing you thoughts. thanks for these kind of information.
I really appreciate it that dog kennels are no longer all cages and bored dogs, having been rebranded as dog retreats or doggy resorts and spas. Mom would surely be more confident to leave Blacky and Browny in a boarding dog kennel when the family travels to the Bahamas this summer. Although there are still the standard dog cages, the puppies would be able to enjoy a lot of playtime and exercise routines with all the pups that are boarding with them.
I really like it that you mentioned that getting your dog prepared for dog sitting means packing him an overnight bag for the sitter. Mom would surely be more confident leaving Blacky and Browny with the sitter if she gets all of their things–including all our numbers and the vet’s, too, just in case–packed in one handy bag. The sitter would surely appreciate it if he gets the dogs’ treats, poop bags, medications, and toys within reach and organized.
This is so timely with so many summer vacations coming up — and I have found that our dogs are most comfortable with a dog sitter but if I had a friend close by that could manage the three I would opt for that as a first choice Great tips — this is a good evergreen article!
It’s great that you mention here that a household doing will probably not feel secure in a highly social environment with lots of dogs. I will definitely take this into consideration when finding a boarding place for my dog. My chihuahua is such a nervous dog and finds it hard to socialize with other animals and even to other people. Apparently, we can’t bring him on our out-of-town trip next month. Hopefully, I can find a place that will assure my dog’s comfort.
I have got 2 dogs that I rescued one month apart nearly 2 years ago the beagle is 3 & the terrier cross is 6 months younger..they have been going to Righteous pups once a week now for 18 months, where they socialise with other dogs…I have been offered by the lady that owns the org my dogs can stay there,i will be gone for 3 weeks. love these 2 boys so much just thinking about leaving them gives me anxiety ..I feel they will think I have abandoned them just like there previous owners..i feel so confused :(
I’ve had my dog for five years (got him when he was six) and I’m so bonded with him. I work from home so we are together nearly 24/7. He’s totally fine to be left on his own for hours on end and does not have separation anxiety. It’s ME who has the separation anxiety! The few times we have went abroad for trips or shorter local stays where we can’t him we do have an in-home dog sitter. It is the best for sure. Too many horror stories from kennels etc. from dogs being lost, injured, picking up lice etc. My fur baby is safest at home. Another great tip is if you have your pet stay stay elsewhere, leave a piece of your clothing with your scent on it for them to cuddle and sniff.
Yep, I get separation anxiety from my fur babies too :) Great tips! I’ll have to remember to leave a piece of my clothing next time I take my dogs to the sitter.
You made a great point about writing a schedule down so that your puppy will be as comfortable as possible in their normal routine while you travel. My parents and I are going on vacation to Hawaii from our home in Plano, TX, and we need to put our puppies in daycare while we are gone. We will keep these tips in mind as we search for a professional to help us out in keeping our puppies comfortable.
Its always hard for me to leave my dog and go on vacation. My sister always takes great care Of her and loves dogs but I still worry and miss her. I’m always worried my baby is missing me and worried about where I am. I usually on go away once or twice a year and normally no more than 5 days. I know My Paris is always in good care but still know no one will take care of her the way I do
Thanks for mentioning that when traveling, one of the hardest decisions you’ll make is leaving your pet behind because they’re part of the family. My wife and I are thinking of looking for a dog boarding facility because we’re considering going on an all-inclusive vacation to a resort that doesn’t allow personal animals on the premises. It seems like a good idea to consider taking our dog to a reputable establishment that can take great care of him while we’re away.
Thanks for your guidelines on how to find pet services. I like that you suggested about the most important consideration is to keep my dog safe and well cared for. Since my boyfriend and I will be celebrating our anniversary, we are planning to leave Oliver, our Labrador Retriever to a pet service.
Great initiative, I do marketing job due to that needs to travel a lot, your guides and tips helps a lot. My pet will be safe at home. Thanks alot
Hey,
I read a lot of blog posts and I never heard of a topic like this. I love this topic you made about the blogger bucket list. What a fantastic post! It’s so great that you talked about crate training your puppy.i lot of travel with my pet. I love traveling. my pet very cute. I lot of information red this post.
thanks for sharing this useful article with us and I am looking forward to your next post!
I have a vacation planned and I am pretty anxious about leaving my furbabies behind with a pet sitter. We have booked barkindustries.com so we are pretty much in safe hands but since this is the first time I will be away from them for so long, I am worried. You have made some pretty helpful suggestions and I will be sure that I have everything planned and ready with a proper schedule.
It really helped when you said that planning in advance can help me look after my dog better if I were to leave him for the holidays. I’ll be out of town for three days and since my friends can’t look after my terrier, I might have to look for other options. I’ll try to look for doggy daycare facilities around our area and inquire about their rates.
I just got done dog sitting for a friend. This dog had social issues with other dogs. During the dogs time with me I was able to socialize her with my dogs. I never crated my friends dog while she was here . When my friend came to pick her dog up the dog ran outisde but than wanted to come back into my home. My friend called me and said that she went to pet her dog while it was being crated and it tried to bite at her. It has started to bite other people when they come to the house. I tried to ask my friend how long she was being crated and was it when you just came home from work. Anyone know how I can try and help. I thought maybe the dog is having some separation anxiety . I did I do wrong by not crating her when she is use to that doing the day when they work and at night for bed time.
What about leaving the dog outside with access to a large shed for shade, etc. and leaving a large bucket of water and food for a week? I have a fenced in yard, and it is not humid where I live so the temperature is quite pleasant. My dog refuses to pee or poop on a leash, or if we’re near her, or watching her. So she will hold it for 2-3 days and that’s worse for her health than leaving her home. When we moved 2000 miles away I thought her bladder was going to rupture. She absolutely refused to go to the bathroom the entire time. She is normally inside most of the time but she is a 70 pound lab mix, so she’s not small.
I just recently left my 2 year old pup at a sitter’s house for 10 days. She really likes the sitter and has other dog friends to play with when she’s there. I have tentative plans to be gone for two more 2 week time periods this year – one in November and one at the end of December leading into the new year. I’m feeling anxious about leaving her for multiple 2 week time periods one month after the other. I know you said dog’s don’t have the same concept of time but I feel like I’m not being a good owner because I’m prioritizing what I want to do over “taking care of her.” I know she’ll be in good hands with the sitter and that she really seems to love him but I feel bad leaving her. Like I’m a bad dog mom, which is silly. Any words of advice? Going away for one two week vacation seems reasonable but being gone for three seems like a lot. (2 of them are for work so are unavoidable) Thanks in advance for your thoughts and help!
Dogs have an acute concept of the time, this article is totally misleading.
They also have great memory. You can teach them some tricks and ask them to execute those tricks only months even years after, and they’ll do them properly!
Hi all, I live in Australia. I am hoping to go away overseas for about 15 days. I have a 15 year old and a 13 year old. My 15 yo suffers from mild seizures and is on medication. I’m so worried about leaving her, that she’ll feel abandoned. I used to leave my dogs with a house/pet sitter all the time, but not for over two years and I’ve been unwell and really need a break. The guilt and indecisiveness is killing me
You should do a couple of test nights to get your dog used to it before you leave! You should add that, Thanks.
Thank you so much for the nice article. I am having Mommy separation anxiety, but my puppers has been going to day care at a facility that offers boarding (also grooming) and I know all the people there, and so does my pup (and loves them). This article, even five years old now, re-enforced for me that I’m probably more anxious than my pup will be when I go on vacation. Thanks for the reassurance. PS – I’m also glad I chose to socialize my puppy into a day care environment – seeing some of the other comments, I didn’t realize how much more anxious I might be if I didn’t feel like he’s got friends he can play with at this facility.
3 months ago I had gone out for a vacation and had to keep my dog behind. I found that having a personal sitter is the best option. As it’s mentioned in this article that they are flexible and also they listen to your instructions and take care of your dog.