It’s not just the Grinch who hates Christmas… for many pets, it’s worst time of the year too! With all the travelling and new places involved, Christmas holidays can be a stressful time of year for our furry friends – and that translates into stress for their owners, too. Dr Harry’s sharing some tips to make sure your pets enjoy the festive season just as much as you do.
For most people, a pet is a family member, and a family holiday isn’t complete without our furry companions. While it may seem difficult to find holiday ideas and locations that are suitable for pets, there are actually many hotels, sites and transport companies that cater to travellers with pets. However, it’s important that you carefully think about whether or not this holiday is right for your pet. If you plan to be out and about without your pet a lot of the time, this may not be the trip for them.
Anneke van den Broek has many years’ experience working within the pet industry, and is the founder and CEO of Rufus & Coco, a pet care and accessories business. We asked her for her advice on holidaying with pets, and how it can be made easy.
“Camping or travelling in a campervan/motorhome is the perfect opportunity to bring your pet along. There are countless campsites that are pet-friendly around Australia, just be sure to check ahead that everywhere you plan to go is pet friendly,” says Anneke. “National parks are a no-go zone for dogs in Australia, to protect our wildlife.”
“Many hotels and holiday homes now cater to pets, and accommodation booking sites now have a filter for pet-friendly properties. Takeyourpet.com.au is an excellent source of information.”
According to Anneke, more preparation is required if you’re travelling by air.
“Pet transport experts like JetPets can smooth the process and guide you through what’s needed to get to your destination. You’ll need to take your pet for a vet check-up to ensure they are fit to fly, an if your pet is too young or old, or not in full health, your airline may restrict their travel,” says Anneke. “You’ll also need to check the pet weight and height restrictions of your chosen airline. Your pet transporter should help you organise paperwork including transit health certificates, permits and quarantine provisions. Find out what style and size of the crate they’ll be travelling in, and if you have an anxious pet let your mate get comfortable by spending some time in the crate before the big day, taking them on short journeys and filling the crate with their favourite snuggle toy or blanket.”
Anneke’s top tips for making your holiday purr-fect
- Spend some time creating a pet resume, including things like vaccinations, flea and worming treatments, and training courses; you’ll find that most properties will be more than happy to accommodate you.
- Pets need to be kept safe and buckled in too, and drivers may be fined for having an unruly or unsafe pet in a vehicle. If you’re taking your pet on a road trip, pack a comfy harness with a seatbelt attachment.
- Fun can be messy, and washing your pet can be a challenge on the road. Take along a dry shampoo for pets, which will keep them clean and fresh without the hassle
- Be sure to pack enough food and water for your fur baby too if you’re venturing to remote locations.
- Make sure your pet is microchipped! You can check your chip’s contact details at petaddress.com.au . Pop an engraved ID tag on your pet’s collar, too. The risk of your pet losing their way or escaping is much higher in an unfamiliar environment, and the quickest way to have them returned safely to you is through an ID tag with a phone number.
- ‘Accidents’ do happen, especially if your dog is out of routine and not sure where they should go to the toilet, so take your pet for regular toilet breaks.
- Pack a ‘parking’ style lead, which will allow you to clip your pet’s lead onto chair legs, fences or trees if you need to secure them while you’re out and about.
You might also like:
Why you need to vaccinate your pet
5 ways to keep your pet away from the vet
What to do when your Airbnb goes wrong
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