If you’re heading away on vacation this summer, you might want to leave your dog with someone else for a few days or even weeks. There’s nothing quite like the anxiety of having another person care for your pet. When you hand over your pup, you might find it hard to say goodbye. Having some time away is 100% essential, though, and so you need to get used to leaving your pet in someone else’s care. Here are five tips that should help you along the way.
1. Give clear and concise instructions
If it’s the first time that you’ve left your dog with this person, you need to make sure that you leave instructions for the caregiver. The ways in which you care for your dog may seem obvious to you, but this person can’t read your mind. You need to make notes on everything from what times you feed your dog to how you discipline them. Doing so will mean that there are no grey areas.
2. Leave behind something that smells of you
There’s no way around it — your pup will miss you! Your dog loves you and wants you to be around. That’s why many pet dogs feel stressed when their owners go away for a day or two. So, what should you do about it? Well, you could leave something that smells like you to remind your dog of you. Sniffing one of your scarves or the like will help relax them.
3. Don’t forget the emergency contacts
Of course, most of the time, things will go without a hitch. However, you want to be ready for any given situation. So, you need to make sure that the caregiver has emergency contact numbers if anything goes wrong. Be certain to give them your cell number, the vet’s number, and at least one other contact. That way, they will always be able to get through to someone when they need to the most.
Related: 5 Ways To Remember A Pet That Has Passed
4. Hand over the vet’s records
In the same way that they need the vet’s number, they may also need the vet’s records. If your dog gets sick while you are away, the vet may need to see the records so that they can treat your animal. What’s more, it’s very useful for the caregiver to have these records for their own peace of mind. Print out a copy of them and put them somewhere safe ahead of time.
Affiliate links included below. Thanks for your support!
5. Don’t spend too long saying goodbye
Of course, it’s never all that easy leaving a pet behind. So, with that in mind, you might want to take along time over the goodbye. Don’t do it. Not only will this make it harder for you to leave, but it may also cause your pet anxiety. Yikes. Instead, keep the goodbye short and sweet. You won’t regret it.
hare your thoughts in the Comments section below, on our Facebook Page, Follow Our Twitter Account or Head Over To Our Pinterest Page!
I’m planning to go on an extended vacation, but I’m not completely sure what to do about my dog. He usually stays with my sister, but she’ll be out of town as well. Whether I leave him with a sitter or use pet boarding, it’s nice to know that leaving something that smells of you will help your pet relax while you’re gone.
Great tips. I don’t have a dog, but do have a rabbit and i’m worried about boarding him when we go on holiday, but I can use some of what you’ve said to help put my mind at ease. Thank you.
I never say too long goodbyes to my dogs, because they might feel abandoned and I don’t want to put more anxiety on them. I love all your tips and the vets papers are very important!
I appreciate that you explained that it is important to give our contact number or any emergency contact to ensure that they will be able to communicate with you if there are problems while you are away from your dog. I will definitely share this with my sister who needs to leave her dog at a pet boarding facility because they will be traveling for days. My husband and I can’t keep the dog even if we wanted to because our son has allergies with fur. Thanks for the tips!
I like your tip about making sure that you leave instructions for your pet’s caregiver when you leave. My wife and I would like to take a vacation soon, and we want to make sure that our cat is still properly cared for. We’ll be sure to look further into our options for leaving instructions with the caregiver to ensure that this happens.
[…] movie Rescued by Ruby is the perfect example of how a dog-related film can bring viewers to tears, without the dog having to die at the end. Meanwhile, the movie also encourages viewers to choose […]