Traveling with your puppy can be an exciting adventure! Puppies are learning to interact with the world around them, so new places and faces provide ample opportunities to expand your dog’s horizons and help him practice good behavior. Whether you are bringing home a new puppy or taking a leisurely vacation, Here’s what you need to know about having a great time on your hotel stay the next trip you take.
Always Clear Travel with Your Veterinarian
Your new friend needs to be strong enough to handle the rigors of travel and be up to date on all vaccinations before embarking on a journey. They need to be at least 8 weeks old and weaned for five days at the absolute minimum if you are traveling with a puppy on an airplane according to the US Department of Transportation. If you are traveling internationally, some countries require your puppy to be at least 12-16 weeks. Different airlines will have varying policies on age and breed, so check to see if your puppy fits their guidelines. For example, some snub-nosed breeds may also have limitations on flying due to potential breathing problems, so it’s crucial to know the airline policies before booking any flights for local pickup.
Only healthy pups should travel no matter how old they are after the minimum required age. Your veterinarian will be able to perform a check-up, administer any needed vaccinations (especially the last vaccine dose for the parvovirus at 12 weeks), provide travel tips, and may even have recommendations for a hotel that allows puppies.
Choose your Hotel
These days, the informal definition of a hotel can include any room you rent while away from your primary residence for business or pleasure. With the popularity rising of owner-owned rental properties and apps, travelers have never had so many options conveniently at their fingertips when choosing a place to stay.
What’s your style?
If you’re traveling for leisure, you will have more options to choose from since the sky is the limit for your adventure! If you’re attending an event with a room block, you can start your search there. Sometimes you’ll have to stay overnight on your way to your destination, so you’ll need to consider multiple facilities in one trip.
Types of lodging accommodations that may be available to you:
- Roadside motel
- Standard class hotel
- Luxury boutique hotel
- Shared house with a rented room
- Bed & Breakfast
- Resort
- Entire house, cabin, or condo
- A hotel alternative such as a glamping experience
Which hotels are pet-friendly?
Take the guessing out of finding pet-friendly places by using a website specializing in the perfect place for your puppy or do a search engine inquiry like “pet-friendly hotels <insert city>.” You already may be familiar with a booking site, so select a pet-friendly filter in your search to narrow down your selection. If you are a rewards member of a hotel group, check there to keep racking up points. Friends and family are also great sources for finding a place to stay.
Be sure to check the fees so there are no surprises in pricing. Some hotels include a free pet stay. Others will implement a daily surcharge, and others will have a pet deposit (refundable or non-refundable). Some hotels also offer perks for your pup when you book a stay.
In addition to specific hotels and vacation rental sites, here is a list of some popular sites offering ways to book hotel stays with your puppy:
- Petswelcome.com is “the only pet-friendly hotels site that shows pet policies, pet fees, breed, weight and pet types (dog, cat & other pets) accepted for each hotel in the USA and international destinations.”
- BringFido features a directory that includes “more than 150,000 hotels, vacation rentals, bed & breakfasts, and campgrounds that welcome pets in more than 100 countries worldwide.”
- The American Kennel Club offers a comprehensive list of pet-friendly hotels in the United States that roll out the red carpet for owners staying overnight with their puppies.
- TripsWithPets helps pet parents with “all they need to find and book the perfect place to stay with their pet including detailed, up-to-date information on hotel pet policies and pet amenities.”
- Vacation Pet Friendly allows pet parents to make travel plans from one place to find the best pet-friendly hotels and hotel chains that allow pets.
Questions to ask
Once you’ve narrowed down your lodging style and a few locations you know to be pet-friendly, it’s time to do some digging. Does the room have easy access to the outside? Inside room with a hallway and elevator, or direct outside access? What are the policies and fees? What are the consequences of breaching policies?
Humans need to follow the rules, too
We cannot stress this enough–you must abide by facility policies. Never disregard the rules and sneak in a pet. Never lie about your puppy being a service animal in training to get around any requirements of what types of dogs may stay. Be respectful of other guests and employees, and be responsible for any messes or damages. Pick up all waste and dispose of it properly. Following the rules ensures a smooth stay for all involved, including travelers, housekeeping, other guests, and owners.
Pack your bags
To ensure a smooth stay away from home with your four-legged friend, pack the following items:
- A copy of current vaccinations (electronic or paper form) for both your pup and other dogs’ safety
- A collar with tags stating your name, pet name, and contact information
- Check your pup’s microchip for current information
- Leash and harness if you need one
- Medications, a simple first aid kit, and any calming products
- Food, water, and bowls
- Waste cleaning supplies (scooper, bags, products, etc.)
- Appropriate travel crate if flying or using one in the car or room
On the Road Again
Taking time to plan out travel logistics creates a positive experience for everyone. Mapping out rest stops along the way that have designated pet and picnic areas with restrooms, vending machines, or fast food restaurants for easy convenience can take the panic out of scrambling to find an accommodating place after you’ve already left home. Frequent stops can help provide fresh air, address motion sickness, or keep your car clean in case of accidents.
Calm down, puppy!
Your puppy may experience motion sickness or anxiety. Be proactive by making your car a fun place to be. Before you begin planning your big journey, take small trips to the dog park so your puppy associates riding in a car with a fun activity rather than just trips to the vet to reduce any fear associated with a vehicle. Tiring out your puppy immediately before traveling can result in puppy snoozes. Administering safe amounts of calming products or medicine (always check with your vet first) before being in motion may help. Some puppies respond well to weighted clothing like a thundershirt for dogs that applies gentle pressure to help calm any fears, overexcitement, and anxiety.
Accidents happen
Whether you are on the road or have just settled into your hotel room, have a clean-up kit at the ready containing disposable gloves, paper towels, plastic bags, and upholstery cleaner. Some dogs grow out of motion sickness, and others are just that way by nature. While your puppy may not throw up each time, excessive drooling can be a side effect, so be prepared to clean windows and upholstery, or keep a towel nearby to wipe your pup’s mouth periodically. Limit feeding the morning of traveling.
You may still be potty training your puppy. Have realistic expectations and be proactive about your puppy’s bathroom needs. Cleaning up any mess immediately reduces stains and lingering odors.
Planes, trains, and ferries
Familiarize yourself with pet policies before booking expensive tickets if you take a plane, train, or ferry. Consider how you will get to the hotel from your airport. Are you taking a ride share or taxi service, utilizing a shuttle to a car rental place, or getting a ride with a local friend? Is your pup allowed to walk the train aisles or around the ferry? Know these things beforehand to secure the comfort of you, your pup, and other travelers.
Safety and security
It’s always a great idea to provide a designated, secure space for your dog to be both in motion and at your destination. A soft travel carrier, a crate, or a portable corral are all great options for ways to contain your puppy during travel and when you get to your destination. Practice with your puppy first, making it a positive place where your pup feels safe before you travel.
Contain or restrain your animal via crates, doggy seatbelts, or dividers while in motion. If using public transportation, consider other people’s comfort to ensure a smooth journey for all. If traveling on the road, take a few safety precautions for a successful road trip. Roaming around the cabin can interfere with the driver's focus and doesn’t protect your dog very well in case of an accident. Employ the child locking feature on the doors. Don’t roll down the window too far. Beware of flying objects like rocks, insects, and trash from litterbugs when your puppy sticks his head out the window.
Make an Itinerary
Some people take comfort in planning every minute, and others are more of a go-with-the-flow type of adventurer. No matter your style, it’s helpful to plan your days in chunks of activity time to help keep the puppy on a schedule and maximize your time spent away from your home.
Anticipate your puppy’s needs
When you travel, you have to put your puppy’s needs first and foremost when planning your trip. Choose accommodations with enough space for a small puppy or big dog. Keep a list of emergency vets in the area so you aren’t searching during a crisis. Keep your cleaning kit nearby.
If you are traveling with a young puppy, you can expect your puppy to whine. Be patient, especially if this may be his first time away from mama and littermates, so the night may be a bit rough. Your pup will require a lot of extra attention and patience during the adjustment. Perhaps the breeder may give you a blanket with mama’s scent on it, or you can provide something that smells like you to comfort him.
Take your puppy outside frequently to be proactive with his bathroom habits. Keep his eating times and play routine the same as much as possible. Will you be leaving your puppy alone, and if so, for how long? Will you be taking your dog with you most places, and is he welcome? Considering these factors will ensure everyone has a good time while meeting needs.
Scope out the room and grounds
As you have probably experienced, puppies get into absolutely everything! Take a minute to look around your hotel room as soon as you get there. Make a note of any hazards like electrical cords and check for any furniture legs your puppy may like to chew. Create a safe space with his crate/carrier, a special blanket, toys, or pee pad on a non-carpeted surface, and scope out possible exercise and potty areas.
Fun things to do
It’s fun to carve out some time for bonding with your pet! Walk around a quaint downtown, find an amazing park or walking trail, or participate in a local event where dogs are welcome. Plan in accordance with your other activities in case you need to tire out your puppy or provide stimulation after solo time.
For the ultimate puppy paradise, find experiences specifically for dogs. Are there stellar dog parks in the area? Did you know there are food trucks with doggy menus? Certain breweries and restaurants have special areas just for dogs and even offer non-alcoholic doggy beer. How about dog beaches where they can frolic in the waves, play fetch, and roll in the sand to their heart’s content? Dog festivals are a great place to mingle with other canines, participate in events, and leave with some great swag for your pup.
Be reflective
Take lots of pictures and videos during your trip to preserve your memories! Post on social media platforms using appropriate hashtags and geotagging to let others know how much fun you can have with your puppy while traveling. You may even want to start planning your next trip. After you’ve unpacked, evaluate how the experience went to tweak future travel plans. Writing reviews to let others know how your experience went can be very helpful to potential guests. Try to resolve any conflict during your stay before leaving negative reviews after the trip.
Our Travel Team is Here to Help
Bringing home a puppy may be the best road trip to ever happen to you or your family! After you browse our puppies for sale and select your new friend, we’ll help you solidify your plans for travel. We’ll send you frequent updates via SMS text messaging and email during the finalization process.
Puppies typically travel to their new home around the 8-week mark. Certain small puppy breeds cannot leave home until they are at least 2 pounds or 12 weeks of age. This weight threshold will not be determined until the puppy reaches the 8-week mark.
We’ll help you take care of local pickup arrangements for your puppy between you and the breeder at their preferred location or a nearby public place. For safety reasons and to protect the kennel from any germs or diseases, buyers will not be meeting at breeders’ private homes. In most cases, you’ll need to provide a travel crate or carrier for transport but check with our team first.
At the time of delivery, you will be presented with our Delivery Confirmation and Transfer of Ownership form for your review and signature along with vaccination and health records. We also require a picture of you and your fur baby at the time of delivery. We love these moments! We ensure the health and well-being of every puppy placement with our Puppy First Approach.
Now that you know how to prepare for a hotel stay with your puppy, adventure is waiting!
