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We Travel Everywhere – With Our Dogs By Courtenay Rudzinski
Choose dog-friendly destinations. One key to stress-free pet travel is picking destinations with good weather and plenty to do outside. Beaches, parks and lakes are all solid choices. Pack a dog travel bag. We have our luggage, and they have theirs — a nylon string backpack that rides in the backseat with them. It holds essentials: leashes, a Nalgene water bottle, collapsible bowl and a comfort toy. Incorporate them into the trip. Our days usually begin with a slow walk — my senior dog, Daisy, moves at glacial speed — giving them time to sniff out new smells and get a feel for their surroundings. I read once that letting a dog stop to sniff is the same as how we feel scrolling Instagram, so I try to indulge them a bit before we move along. Book pet-friendly accommodations. Although we've stayed in hotels that allow dogs, we prefer pet-inclusive Airbnbs. They're less sterile and more comfortable, and we don't have to worry about elevator noise, barking neighbors or crowded hallways. When booking, I always use the "allows pets" filter and look for features that make travel easier: small, enclosed yards, full kitchens (because rinsing a dirty dog bowl in a bathroom sink isn't ideal), and hard floors instead of carpet.
Once my husband and I became empty nesters, we couldn't wait to travel alone. Not only would we save money, but my days of coaxing angsty teens into pleasant family dinners were over. Our new hurdle? We had no one to watch our dogs. Both pups were older rescues and had never been left at a kennel. And besides, my husband now worked from home and was used to having them around. He proposed we bring them along — we wouldn't be alone, as 55% of dog owners and 36% of cat owners tailor their travel plans to accommodate their pets, according to The American Pet Products Association (APPA). I wasn't so sure at first, but now they go everywhere with us. Here's how we make it work.
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