Planning Travel: What About the Dog?
Travel planning always begins with logistics—tickets, timing, weather, luggage. But if you live with animals, there’s a question that quietly sits underneath every itinerary: What about the dog? It’s never a simple question, because the right answer depends on the dog, the household, the length of the trip, and the emotional reality of leaving.
Here are the four main options, with the real pros and cons of each, and how to decide which one fits your situation.
1. Boarding the Dog
Pros
Professional supervision. Staff trained to notice distress, illness, or behavioral changes.
Predictable routine. Feeding, exercise, and social time happen on schedule.
Safety. Escape-proof environment; no risk of the dog slipping out when someone opens a door.
Good for high-energy or social dogs. Many thrive with structured activity.
Cons
Stress for sensitive dogs. Noise, unfamiliar dogs, and constant activity can overwhelm anxious or elderly dogs.
Cost. Boarding adds up quickly, especially for long trips or dogs needing medication.
Exposure. Kennel cough, parasites, and general overstimulation are real risks.
Best for
Dogs who are confident, social, adaptable, or accustomed to boarding; dogs who need more supervision than a casual sitter can provide.
2. Leaving the Dog at Home With a Sitter Who Stays Overnight
Pros
Dog stays in familiar territory. No disruption to routine, environment, or sleeping habits.
Human presence. Someone is there to notice problems immediately—vomiting, limping, anxiety, escape attempts.
Good for anxious or elderly dogs. They get continuity and calm.
Cons
Quality varies. A sitter’s reliability is everything; a flaky sitter is worse than no sitter.
Cost. Overnight care can be more expensive than boarding.
Household trust. You must be comfortable with someone living in your space.
Best for
Dogs who are routine-driven, anxious, elderly, or medically fragile; households where trust and reliability are established.
3. Leaving the Dog at Home With Drop-In Visits (Food, Water, Litter, Walks)
Pros
Lower cost. Usually the most affordable option.
Minimal disruption. Dog stays home, but without someone occupying the house.
Good for independent dogs. Some dogs genuinely prefer solitude with predictable check-ins.
Cons
Gaps in supervision. If something goes wrong at hour two of a six-hour gap, no one knows.
Escape risk. A dog who bolts when the door opens can get out during a visit.
Not ideal for dogs with separation anxiety.
Best for
Dogs who are calm, independent, and accustomed to being alone for stretches; short trips; situations where the dog is behaviorally stable.
4. Taking the Dog on the Trip
Pros
No separation stress. The dog stays with you, which solves the emotional problem entirely.
Good for dogs who travel well. Some dogs genuinely enjoy new places, car rides, and hotel rooms.
Useful for long trips. If you’ll be gone for weeks, bringing the dog may be simpler than arranging extended care.
Cons
Logistics multiply. Hotels, flights, rental cars, restaurants, and activities all become dog-dependent.
Stress for sensitive dogs. Travel can be overwhelming, especially for dogs who dislike noise, crowds, or confinement.
Weather constraints. Hot climates, cold climates, or long days out can make dog travel unsafe.
Best for
Dogs who are adaptable, calm, and experienced travelers; trips that are dog-friendly by design.
How to Decide: A Practical Framework
1. Know Your Dog’s Stress Profile
Does your dog handle new environments well?
Does your dog panic when routines change?
Does your dog get along with other dogs?
Does your dog have medical needs that require monitoring?
A dog who melts down at small changes should not be boarded. A dog who thrives on stimulation may love it.
2. Evaluate the Trip Itself
How long will you be gone?
How physically demanding is the travel?
How predictable is your schedule once you arrive?
Will you be able to give the dog meaningful attention?
A three-day trip is different from a three-week trip. A conference schedule is different from a cabin weekend.
3. Assess Your Household Infrastructure
Do you have a sitter you trust?
Does your dog already know the sitter?
Is your home secure enough for drop-in care?
Are there escape risks, other pets, or special needs?
If trust is shaky, boarding may be safer. If trust is strong, home care may be ideal.
4. Consider the Dog’s Age and Health
Puppies need supervision.
Seniors need stability.
Dogs with chronic conditions need monitoring.
Dogs with mobility issues may struggle in new environments.
Age and health often decide the question for you.
5. Be Honest About Your Own Stress
Sometimes the right choice is the one that lets you travel without worrying every hour. Sometimes the right choice is the one that keeps the dog happiest, even if it’s inconvenient for you. Both are legitimate.
The Bottom Line
There is no universal answer. There is only the dog you have, the trip you’re taking, and the infrastructure you trust.
Boarding works for some dogs. Sitters work for others. Drop-in care works for a few. Traveling with the dog works when the dog is built for it.
The real decision is not “What do people usually do?” It’s “What will keep this particular dog safe, calm, and cared for while I’m away?”
If you start from that question, the right option becomes clear.
image and some content generated by AI
post inspired by Travels with Elly by Larry MacDonald, recently #16 in the Amazon bestseller list for travel with pets
Book Description: A modern, Canadian Travels with Charley.
Discover Canada like never before -- from a personal perspective, similar to John Steinbeck's view of America in his 1960 book Travels with Charley. The author travels from coast to coast in a trailer with his wife and pets, including their Standard Poodle, Elly, in order to gain a better understanding of his adopted country. Interspersed between descriptions of history, cultures, places, and icons are the author's reflections on various things such as Elly's antics, signage, ferries, political injustice, environmental issues, and animal instincts. To provide a canine's perspective, Elly reflects on things of interest to her, including cats, cows, and other critters...but especially cats!
Where was Canada's first settlement? What is its prettiest town? When and where was its most devastating shipwreck? And who was its greatest hero? Find out by reading this account of the author's journey through a unique and wondrous country, brimming with marvelous natural and man-made icons. But above all, the author's interactions with its hospitable people make him justifiably proud to be Canadian. An informative read for armchair travelers with a spirit of adventure, for those wanting to learn more about Canada, and for any cross-Canada traveler, especially RVers and dog lovers.
Keywords:
Canada travel memoir, Cross-Canada road trip, Traveling Canada by RV, RV travel with pets, Travels with dog in Canada, Canadian travel narrative, Coast to coast Canada journey, Standard Poodle travel, Traveling with a dog, Dog-friendly road trip, Pets on the road, Dog's perspective travel book, Travels with Charley style book, Personal travel reflections, Nonfiction travel stories, Canadian culture memoir, Humorous travel writing, RVing across Canada, Adventure travel with pets, Books for armchair travelers, Canadian history and culture book, Books for Canadian RVers, Books for dog lovers who travel
American Book Fest Best Books Award finalist
Read more posts about the Larry and his books, click HERE.
Travels with Elly is also available as an ebook and an audiobook.
For more posts about travels with pets, click HERE.
Read more posts on dogs HERE.
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