Motel and Campground Etiquette for Your Dog and Cat! |
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Home Page Think your pet's too old to Travel? Pesticides and Fertilizers Even when you're traveling, you need to be aware of the dangers posed by pesticides and rodenticides. Many hotels and shopping centers are forced to use these to control pests. They're frequently tucked around a corner - out of sight; but your pet may find them when you're not watching. Save the plastic bags that you get when you're shopping to use for "pooper-scoopers"! Just wait for the 'deposit', scoop it up, tie the top of the bag and deposit it into the first garbage can! Can't get much easier than that! No pooper-scoopers to wash or dig out of the trunk and Whitney Veterinary Hospital |
If you're going to stay in motels, look online or get one of those inexpensive little paperbacks that list motels that accept pets. Not all of them do. Call ahead and make reservations. (Most hotels have a limited number of 'Pet Rooms') Check into their policies. Some motels accept only pets under 20lbs. Some will accept only one pet per room. Most will want a damage deposit. Some deposits are non-refundable. Request a ground floor room at the end of the hall so other guests aren't bothered by any possible noise and to make late night bathroom runs easier. Some dogs are frightened of elevators - some aren't. It isn't safe to take your pet on an escalator unless it's in its crate. Tails and feet can slip into the track. Ask how much grass there is for "Evening Constitutionals". Are there areas where they don't want your dog walked? Don't walk your pet near swimming pool or in the flowerbeds. Where do they want you to deposit the dog doo? Always, always pick up after your pet! Children and other adults walk on that grass too. No one wants their trip spoiled because they stepped in dog doo and no dog is so small that it doesn't matter. Pack a supply of plastic bags so that you can clean up after your dog. Here's the location of an excellent handout about cleaning up after your dog.Heartland Dog Training Clean-Up Handout Take some old towels or a box of those little wipes sold to clean up babies so you can wipe wet or muddy feet before taking them back in the room. Ask if your pet may be left unattended in the room. Be sure they're in a crate or kennel when you do leave and put a "Do Not Disturb" sign on the door. The maid may open the door to clean and your pet could escape. Pets that never cause damage at home may suddenly develop a taste for "soufflé of bed cover" or "leg of table". Carry an old, clean sheet to spread on the floor under the crate and set the crate away from the drapes and chairs. Expect to pay for any damage caused by your pet. Ask about ant and roach poisons that the motel may be using. Don't let your pet annoy others. No barking, whining or jumping on other guests. The other people in the motels are also travelers. Your dog's friendly greeting may have just ruined their only good outfit for the duration of their trip. Don't take your dog into restaurants or gift shops. Keep the leash short in motel lobbies and other public buildings. (You will be expected to pay for any lamps or flower arrangements that get knocked on the floor by your dog's leash!) Don't encourage strangers, especially children, to pet your dog. A sudden lunge or grab or their part can startle your dog and cause them to react by biting. Even the gentlest of dogs can be provoked. Be aware that some communities have breed, noise and clean-up restrictions. What time of day does your dog eat? What time does he need to go out? Can you alter the feeding time to prevent possible accidents in the car or motel? Allow a week or so to make this change gradually. When feeding your pet in the room, put the food and water bowl on a mat in the bathroom. Keep your cat's litter pan in the bathroom. Campground Etiquette Camping with a pet can present other challenges. Raccoons, snakes, possum and other wildlife frequent the outdoors. The smells are sooo enticing to some dogs and so frightening to others. Your cat may be positively beside herself when she smells wildlife. She may try to run and hide, or she may endeavor to "run free". Most of the above animals can give a very nasty bite and are not protected with the proper shots. You did check with your veterinarian about flea, tick and heartworm prevention, right? Make sure your pet is on leash and in sight. One of those twist in the ground stakes can help here. Do not - ever - go off and leave your dog alone while it's tied to a leash or your car bumper. This leaves them helpless to defend themselves from stray dogs, children and wild animals. Think about the other campers that you're sharing the campground with. Read the section about picking up after your dog. Don't let your dog use your campground neighbor's campsite for a bathroom. Plan ahead and bring plenty of disposable plastic bags. Put a small, lidded garbage can near the car tire so that cleanup is easy. Campgrounds may limit the number of dogs or forbid dogs entirely during the busy season. Some state and federal parks ban dogs from some trails. (The scent of a dog may attract and provoke bears or other predators that you really, really don't want to defend them from!) Some Typical Park Rules This is a link to the park rules for Yellowstone National Park Other national and state parks may have different rules. Be sure to contact the park that you plan to attend and get their current rules. Here are some general park rules:
Friend and Relative Etiquette Are you planning on staying with friends - or relatives? Do they really want your pet to be in their home? Or are they just trying to be nice about it? How much does their friendship mean to you? Make sure your pet is welcome. Read All of the tips under the motel section and keep in mind:
How about that folding crate. Take it along. Eliminate the stress. Make sure your pet is in it when they're not outside. Do Not let your pet dig in your friends/relatives yard, claw at their doors or "wet" or their evergreens. No matter how casual they seem about it, when you leave, someone will be cleaning up the mess. Selecting a Crate and Using it Get a sturdy, well-ventilated crate or kennel that's:
There are several types. There are wire or plastic crates that fold and are preferred for travel. There's quite a variety of "soft" sided kennels that fold, but are not secure enough to hold an animal that's determined to escape. Look on the Internet under pet supplies or at your local pet supply store. Set it up at home and get your pet used to it. Put his toys and food in it. Never put his leash in the crate with him. He could get caught in it. Use the crate inside the car so that your pet has a personal space and is more secure in case of accident. Dogs and cats have been lost or hit by another car because they were free during an accident and ran away rather than come to rescue workers. If you place the crate on a seat, slip the seatbelt through it to hold it securely. Use the crate when you stop at a rest stop for lunch. Tuck it next to the picnic table while you eat. Pets moving around a car or van can be very distracting to the driver. In case of a sudden stop, they will be thrown forward and perhaps get hurt badly. They may try to get under the drivers' feet or on their lap, blocking visibility and ability to control the car. They can get tangled in the brake petals or accelerator. If there's no room for a large crate, get a dog harness for your car. Teach them to ride quietly in it. It could save their life during an accident. If you have space, you may want to consider a mesh gate across the back of your car for your dog. Cats must be in a carrier when traveling. They may become fearful and try to climb on the driver or under the seats or bolt through a door when it's opened and get away. Page 1 | Packing to Leave - Page 3 Copyright©2005 | ||||||||