Planning trips as a pet owner adds a layer of complexity. Sometimes your pet can come with you and sometimes it’s best to leave them in the comfort of their own home. These are some of our ideas about travelling with pets.

When does the dog come?

We include our pup, Penny, when we travel by car whenever possible. She is an excellent and eager traveller. If she got anxious or car sick, then we would leave her with friends/family.

She is one of the reasons we signed up for trustedhousesitters.com as housesitters. We thought the slow travel option of housesitting would give us a chance to bring her to new places.

Here’s a post that describes why we joined trustedhousesitters.com

https://lifeafter50travel.net/2024/03/16/housesitting-slow-travel/

Penny has travelled to several places in Ontario, central Florida, northern Georgia, and Eastern Canada. We selected pet-friendly hotels along the way.

Hotel Pet Fees

We have learned that some places are more pet-friendly than others. For example, we had a one-time $50 pet fee to stay at the Delta in Saint John, New Brunswick for a 5-night stay. We felt that the pet fee was very reasonable. Penny learned how to navigate rotating doors and elevators there! Many restaurants allowed dogs on the patio so she enjoyed dining with us.

Sometimes, the cheaper hotels don’t always work out to be a better deal if the pet fee is charged nightly.

Some hotels where pets stay for free, aren’t always the best value. When you stay in a pet-friendly hotel, room selection is limited- often to the main floor with vinyl flooring-which is fine with us.

We have found that the acceptance of and charge for pets varies widely. It is important to research TripAdvisor or Booking.com to ensure a good fit. Don’t assume all hotels within a chain accept pets. They might say they are but their fee might be intentionally set high to deter pet owners.

Search below for pet-friendly places for your next destination:

When pets stay home

If it’s in everyone’s interest to leave your pet at home, here are a few ideas for their care:

• have a friend/relative care for your pet. In return, you can reciprocate for them when they are away. We have friends who love dogs but don’t want a full-time pet. They happily keep our pup when they can.
• find a housesitter- your pet is most comfortable at home and it ensures other small tasks (mail collections, sidewalk cleared of snow) can be taken care of too. Many young adults who live with their parents will jump at the chance to take care of your home and pet!
• If you don’t have friends or family nearby, consider creating a profile at https://www.trustedhousesitters.com/ to find a housesitter. It’s possible to search for sitters in your area before signing up. If you do decide to join, use this link for a membership discount before you build your profile: trustedhousesitters.com

We have had many positive experiences travelling with our small dog by car. Crossing the USA border from Canada was easy. We needed proof of an up-to-date rabies vaccination.

In May 2024 there was a new requirement for bringing dogs into the US.

As of July 23, 2024, here’s the latest information:  

Crossing the Border with dogs as reported in the Vancouver Sun.

Luckily, for now, there is a reprieve from these requirements. It is important to check before you plan a trip as the requirements may change again.

Travelling with our dog requires more research, planning and packing. We feel the extra work is worth it when our dog is so happy to be with us.

Would you consider taking your pet on the road or is your pet strictly a homebody?