My Worry-Free Dog Vacation Check-List

Yay! You've booked the vacation of your dreams. Now it making sure it is worry-free and guilt-free. High quality pet care is hard to find but it is out there. Planning ahead is key to finding the right spot where your Dog (or Cat) doesn't feel emotionally bereft or left to face fearful situations without you.

Here is a Worry-Free Dog Vacation Check-List. Use it to help plan a successful trip away where your dog is set up to be well-cared for:

1-2 Months Before Your Tropical Vacation

• Check out your options for overnight vacation care:  Live-In Pet Sitters, Kennels, Dog Camps, and full-service Pet Resorts. Look beyond your neighborhood as some country-side Pet Resorts offer affordable quality care and will provide door-to-door pick-up and drop-off.
• Set up a tour, or virtual tours of the boarding facilities, sometimes called 'Camps" for Dogs, Cats or Pets. If they don't show you where the dog's sleep, walk away.  You are looking for non-wooden sleeping accommodations, as wood cannot be sanitized. With multiple dogs using the same spots over and over, it is essential to be able to scrub them free of potential harmful disease and nasty parasites.  Pet Resorts generally want to show off their accommodations, but this is not a strict rule.
• Ask to speak to the person who will be caring for your dog. If they are not available, ask for the credentials of the person who will be caring for your dog. Also, if the same person will be providing the care throughout the vacation period.
• For facilities where your dog/cat will stay, check how many dogs/cats will be on site at any one time. Also, ask what the ratio is between human to pets to ensure overcrowding is not a risk to your Best Friend. We recommend a maximum of 1 human to 6 Dogs, but again it is based on the process of each business.
• Ask potential Pet Sitters if they have any training in pet care. For example, Pet First Aid, a Vet Tech, or a Pet Sitters Certificate.  Interview them for how they intended to engage with your pets, how often, and if they are bonded. Worry-free vacationers know their Pet Sitters are fully-insured while in their home and have no criminal history.

1-Month Before Your Amazing Skiing Vacation

• Review cancellation policies with your Pet Care facility of choice, or with a Live-in Pet Sitter. 
• When satisfied, reserve your spot as soon as possible. Request an email for the exact total cost based on what you have requested. This helps to reconcile your vacation budget when you get home. But beware, there may be incidental costs that can be added to the bill. For example, if you run out of food for the Sitter, or the Dog, and the Sitter has to fork out money and time to get more.
• Plan on leaving a deposit with either the facility or the Sitter. Most Pet Sitters will ask for payment in full a day before they arrive as the market is riddled with Pet Sitters who were never paid for several days of care. 
• Most Pet Care facilities and Pet Sitting Services are small businesses and need time to organize themselves and desirable spots/sitters book up fast, so the earlier you book the better.

2-Weeks Before Leaving on your Cruise

• Pick up extra dog food, and calculate how much you will need to leave with their Vacation Caregiver. Add in two additional meals as a safety precaution should there be a delay on your return.
• Include treats that you would normally give your dog during the day. Treats are important and you don't want them to have any further deprivation than missing you. In the highest quality care facilities they will look to engage your dog in a new pleasurable experience, and treats are necessary part to encourage a dog to not be fearful. Don't hold back on the treats.
• Check that the facility/sitter can obtain the food should your return be significantly delayed. Make sure they have the brand, flavor & protein type, and the store that carries it.  
• Add your Pet's Caregiver's name to your contact list on your phone. You want their business/home/cell, for texting, calling and of course, emailing with any updates.
• Check on any medication that your pet is on, and refill it if necessary, ensuring there is extra just in case you are delayed returning home.
• Decide if you want to Skype© with your dog while on vacation and ask the facility or sitter if it can be arranged and how much it will cost. Most will try and accommodate this request which is good for your dog and good for you too!
• Write a list of the dog's normal routines including when they normally eat, defecate and urinate. Also any ground-rules you want to keep enforced during your away time. It will help to ensure your dog's routine and patterns are not disrupted too much. Note the dog's favorite toys and activities.
• If using a Sitter, clean up any clutter in the house, and make up the bedroom with fresh linen and put out fresh towels. Stock the house with toilet paper, and other normal pantry and household items one would expect. 
• Sitters will need a spare key cut, or know the pin for your front door lock. If you have made a new key, check that it works. Then arrange for your dog and Sitter to meet ahead of time and to pick up the key.

1-Week Before Catching a Train to see the Countryside

• If you are taking your pet to a facility make a list of what you will be taking and then tuck an inventory list into the Pet's traveling bags. The Facility will ensure they re-pack it on check-out.
• For a Sitter, purchase an agreed pre-arrange list of groceries. While your delicious Meatloaf may be great, to a vegetarian is very unappealing and unappreciated. Stick to a pre-arranged food list.
• Sitters will use your WIFI. Write a list of passwords and processes to allow access to the internet. Also, include emergency vet's numbers and trusted friend's numbers, just in case the worse should happen. Also make note of any of the house oddities that the Sitter may need to know, for example, the need to jiggle the handle on the toilet to stop it making noise.
• Add clear instructions on medication to be administered. Check if there are any additional costs to administering as some do add on more.

​1-Day Before your Kayaking Trip in Belize

• Drop your pet off or have him picked up when using a facility. Do this before you begin packing to avoid any unnecessary upset. Pets do recognize luggage if you have left before and it raises their anxiety.
• If using Live-in Pet Sitting, arrival can be on the day of leaving BUT ensure you have scheduled enough time to do a walk-through of your notes/lists, a tour of the house, and especially take the time to show them how everything works. Plan to pay the Pet Sitter in full for their services.
• If you are dropping your dog off, try not to change their schedule up to the point of departing for the care facility. Missing their morning walk is confusing, and only adds to the upset of you leaving during their first few days away from you.
• Makes sure you let your Pet Caregiver knows where you will be staying just in case the worse was to happen. Reaffirm your expected time to arrive home and if you need the outside lights turned on.

The Day of Travel to Somewhere Gloriously Relaxing

• Sit back, enjoy a long cool drink, and know your Best Friend is being well-cared for and you have set him up for success. You may even get a quick ping on your phone with a picture of your pet enjoying a massage, or in play.