In my last post, I talked about different options for your four legged friend should you not be able to bring them along on your holiday. Of course, that's just part of the equation. There's also preparing for the big day ... just like you have to pack your bags, have a valid passport, bring your camera, remember to have your ticket handy, you have to do the same for your pooch. Sometimes packing for the dogs makes me think of mom's travelling with their babies. It seems like you have to pack an entire house worth of stuff even if your only gone for a day or two!! Here's a checklist of things to consider no matter what doggy care you've chosen:
If you have opted for in-home care, I would also leave a "schedule" of your pup's typical day to minimize the amount of disruptions in their routine. My Java is very sensitive to changes in routine. Her internal clock tells her it's time for bed around 9 p.m. If we're out for the evening, she will start whimpering to go home. Needless to say, the days of partying to the wee hours are long gone!
If the caregiver is not familiar with the area, I also leave a map of the area that includes nearby parks, grocery stores, etc. - anything that will make their stay more comfortable. With 3 pups at home, it's sometimes tough to get someone to come to the house to dog sit so I need to keep them happy so that they'll be willing to dog sit again!!
Of course you will need to show the in-home dog sitter where you keep things. My last trip, I almost forgot to tell my dog sitter where I kept the leads! Walking the dogs would have been quite a challenge without them. I also showed her some of the games I play with the pooches when the weather isn't conducive of a long walk. Again, anything to help make her time at my home with the dogs easier. At the end of the day, I left what I thought I would need if I were the dog sitter.
I'd love to hear your thoughts on this ... until
- dog food and treats
- your contact information while you're away should they need to get a hold of you
- your vet's contact information. I also leave their hours of operation.
- medications and supplements along with dosage and frequency (make sure your caregiver is comfortable with giving your dog it's medication especially if it's injections)
- your dog's favourite toy(s)
- if your dog is sensitive to certain situations, you should ensure your caregiver is aware of them. Afterall, you want to ensure that Rover's vacation is a happy one!
If you have opted for in-home care, I would also leave a "schedule" of your pup's typical day to minimize the amount of disruptions in their routine. My Java is very sensitive to changes in routine. Her internal clock tells her it's time for bed around 9 p.m. If we're out for the evening, she will start whimpering to go home. Needless to say, the days of partying to the wee hours are long gone!
If the caregiver is not familiar with the area, I also leave a map of the area that includes nearby parks, grocery stores, etc. - anything that will make their stay more comfortable. With 3 pups at home, it's sometimes tough to get someone to come to the house to dog sit so I need to keep them happy so that they'll be willing to dog sit again!!
Of course you will need to show the in-home dog sitter where you keep things. My last trip, I almost forgot to tell my dog sitter where I kept the leads! Walking the dogs would have been quite a challenge without them. I also showed her some of the games I play with the pooches when the weather isn't conducive of a long walk. Again, anything to help make her time at my home with the dogs easier. At the end of the day, I left what I thought I would need if I were the dog sitter.
I'd love to hear your thoughts on this ... until
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