Our lives today are stressful and exhausting amidst all the chaos. It is essential to take out some time to unplug yourself from the world and what better way than taking a vacation to travel around.
Lots of planning and preparation goes into achieving the perfect vacation. You have to choose a holiday destination, look for comfortable yet budget-friendly accommodation, book flights and make sure you get the best deals. There is a lot that goes into planning a memorable holiday trip. But as much as all these factors need to be considered, what matters the most is finding the right travel buddy.
Even the most well-thought-out vacation can turn into a disaster if you travel with someone who has different interests or isn’t compatible with you. For these reasons, many people prefer vacationing alone, but at times we do want someone to be there with us in those special moments without any additional drama of course. Well, I may have the solution to your problem – take your furry companion along. Yes! Even though it may sound difficult, with a few extra preparations it is possible to travel with your dog. The effort is worth it and here are ten reasons why!
Your Dog is Always Up for an Adventure
A perfect travel companion is one that is ready to head out and explore with you and who would love adventures more than our furry friends. They are always excited to discover new places, take strolls around the town, window-shop for long hours and meet new people and dogs. Even if you are being lazy and want to stay in, your canine will compel you to head out and make beautiful memories- just the sort of motivation one needs!
They Happily Agree to Our Choices Especially for Food
I love my family and friends, but I can’t think of one trip when we didn’t have a disagreement. Someone wanted to go to the museum while the others wanted to go to the beach. If I wanted to try Italian, my friends would want to have Chinese and such arguments would ruin the fun. With dogs, you wouldn’t have to worry about these disagreements. You can eat out wherever you’d like but make sure it is a pet-friendly restaurant so you can take your bud along.
Dogs Can Help You Socialize
Dogs are social magnets and are great ice-breakers. Whenever I go out with my pooch, I have people coming up to us wanting to pet Oscar, and that becomes a means of initiating conversations. Some people will also mistake you as a local when you are out with a dog which is a smart way to protect you from scams and con artists.
You Wouldn’t Have to Worry About Being Away From Your Furry Companion
We all love our pets and even the thought of spending time away from them can be upsetting. If you do manage to find a perfect place to board your dog or a trust-worthy sitter you will still find yourself worrying about your dog’s well-being, whether he misses you, had his food, was taken for a walk and what not. Wouldn’t it be better not to have to worry about these things and entirely unplug yourself from the world? Well, that can happen when you take your dog along, you can be stress-free and enjoy time bonding with your pal.
Dogs Don’t Complain
When you travel with pets, you don’t have to listen to anyone criticize your driving or complain about the drinks you brought along, that there aren’t enough snacks (I could go on and on about the rants I have heard.) But if you want to unload and whine about how unfair life has been, well your pet can be the perfect listener.
You Get the Best of Both Worlds
Many people like to travel solo to stay away from any drama and get some time to themselves, but there are moments when you wish to share the experience with someone you love. Some memories aren’t complete if you don’t have someone by your side. Fortunately with your furry companions you can get the best of both worlds. You can have a fantastic time with your pooch without being on your own.
Dog’s Provide Security
With your pooch by your side, you wouldn’t have to worry about unwanted visitors that don’t mean well. Your dog can be the perfect alarm system to notify you of any suspicious activity or person around you. So head out to the beach and doze off without any worries- you have your furry friend guarding you!
You Get to Explore Places You Never Knew Of
When I travel with my pup, I try my best to make sure we visit pet-friendly destinations and consider his interests. I have often discovered unique places that wouldn’t have been on my list if I was traveling alone. Since Oscar is a nature lover, we spend time sight-seeing, exploring the great outdoors, and chilling at coffee shops. I also try to look for dog-friendly destinations that offer exciting activities for both of us such as enjoying a delicious meal with my dog at the “Yard Bar” in Austin. You can find out plenty of dog-friendly cities and the activities they offer, so both you and your furry companion have a fantastic time.
Dogs Don’t Kill Your Vibe
A vacation is all about relaxing; you want to chill and do things your way. With humans that can be a problem at times. You want to spend time reading a book peacefully in a roadside café, but your partner wants to rush to the hotel. Well, this won’t happen when you travel with your pooch. Also, you wouldn’t be at the risk of getting stuck in the car with someone who has terrible taste in music or keeps nagging about how far the destination is since that can kill the entire vibe of the trip.
You Don’t Have to Worry About Your Dog Canceling on You Due to Other Commitments
I can’t even begin to whine about the plans that have been ruined because the people I wanted to travel with weren’t available and had to cancel at the last moment. You can’t blame them as most of us have hectic schedules. It does get challenging to find out a time of the year that suits everyone. The best solution is to bring your dog along; he will happily accompany you without any excuses or particular demands (except for a few essential preparations.)
When I travel with my pooch, I carry a few essentials such as travel documentation, a crate, my pup’s favorite treats and flea & tick preventives for my dog (I don’t want to risk his well-being.) Yes, it does cost more than what solo travel would and I do have to put in some extra effort, but the peace of mind and the entire experience the two of us have is worth it.
AUTHOR BIO:
Jenny Perkins is an Animal Behavior Specialist and a passionate writer. She loves to write about the nutrition, health, and care of dogs. She aims at providing tips to dog owners that can help them become better pet parents. She writes for the blog Here Pup.
Mark's Travel Journal 