Taking your dog along on a vacation or holiday

Tinka on holiday

Why Take Our Dog Tinka On Vacation?

Tinka is a rescue dog, one of six dogs we have shared our home with over more than 45 years.

Most of those dogs have been of the rescued variety and all have been very loving.

Tinka is the smallest dog to live with us and in some ways has been the most problematic. After his owner died this little dog was passed around and became known as a biter. We were his last hope or he would be put to sleep.

Six years on he is mostly a very loving sociable dog but he hates going into kennels.

We decided a couple of years ago to take him with us on a one-week stay at a dog friendly apartment in Whitby.

It went so well that we have returned since for a two-week stay.

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Tinka Visited So Many Places With Us

Where To Stay
First things first then and where will you stay?

The Internet is a great research tool and should prove very helpful.
Simply search for Dog Friendly Accommodation and see what comes up.
Good options are-

• A Caravan
• Camping
• A dog friendly apartment
  
• A Holiday cottage
• And there are even some pet friendly guesthouses and hotels in the U.K.
  

We chose a pet friendly apartment simpkly because it was in our desired location.

Remember it is your vacation primarily and so ideally should suit you too.

Getting there
The next hurdle is planning your journey.

If you plan on driving your own vehicle fine but if you want to use public transport there are some things to consider.

Previously we visited Menorca and Tinka stayed in kennels for two-weeks. However we chatted with a lovely young couple staying at the same Menorca hotel who had brought their dog on vacation.

They were from Switzerland but it was proving to be a costly vacation for them.

They were travelling around the island of Menorca but dogs are not allowed on local buses. This couple did not drive so could not hire a car. This meant paying for taxis and worse still some taxi drivers would not transport their dog.

Their vacation was proving difficult as well as expensive.

This highlights the importance of researching all aspects of a vacation with a pet included before you book and before you travel.

In England:-

• Dogs travel free on trains
• The rules relating to dogs on buses vary
• Locally bus drivers charge 50p for a dog. However, although a small dog should be free some drivers ignore this and still charge
• In North Yorkshire all dogs are free to travel on buses, no matter how large the dog is
• Many taxi drivers in the U.K. will not transport a dog

There are various regional differences. Locally bus drivers often refuse to carry more than one dog if the animals are with different passengers. In North Yorkshire multiple dogs on buses were not a problem.

To be fair Whitby and the surrounding area is very dog friendly. Your pet will usually be allowed in shops, cafes, pubs and some restaurants in that area but it is always wise to ask first.
Not all parts of the U.K. are so dog friendly.

Remember Your Dog Will Need To Rest

Tinka and Hubby take a breather after walking those 199 steps up to Whitby Abbey

General Advice, Hints and Tips

• Most pet friendly accommodation will have some rules. Make sure that you are fully aware of them. It may be that your pet must not be left alone, will not be allowed on the furniture or perhaps in the bedroom. Prepare for this. We take one of Tinka’s small soft beds with us so he has a familiar place to sleep and rest. You could pack a throw or cover if you will be unable to keep your pet off the furniture. We opt to obey any rules in consideration of the owner and the visitors who will follow us.
• If in doubt double check the booking terms. Contact the accommodation owner to make sure it is fit for your purpose.
• Contact local tourist information in the area you plan to visit. They should have a good idea of what is accessible to visitors with a dog.
• Read any information booklet in your accommodation as it will include useful information as well as the house rules.
• Even if there is not a No Dogs Please Sign ask before entering a cafe, pub, shop or other attraction with your pet.
• Remember on such a vacation you may have to take your pet with you everywhere. If you are travelling as a couple or more that is workable. If you are travelling alone it may not be.
• When you pack for your vacation remember to pack for your pet. We take along a favourite toy or two, water, small treats for the journey, nappy sacks for....well you know what for, tissues suitable for cleaning, hand wipes or hand gel, a dog brush, small towel, some dog food to tide us over until we shop and one small dog bed. If the weight of your luggage matters bear this in mind.
• We also take a small plastic dish to enable Tinka to drink water during the journey.
• Our usual vacation apartment includes dog bowls for water and food but yours may not.
• If necessary use a pet carrier for the journey and, or, a muzzle for your pet.
• Make sure your pet has an identification tag on its collar. If heaven forbid it ends up lost this is important.
• It is also essential your pet has been microchipped.
• Ensure your dog can cope with the journey. Test him or her out on a short bus, car or train journey before you book your vacation.
• Will the distance to your destination be problematic for your pet? You must consider your pet in all aspects of your vacation. You are choosing to travel, the dog is not!

A vacation abroad
It is up to you to decide if it is fair and a good idea to take your dog on a foreign vacation. If you are taking an extended vacation it may be worth considering. The U.K. rules for taking a dog with you out of the country are the dog must-

• Be microchipped
• Have had a rabies vaccination
• Have a pet passport or third country official veterinary certificate
  
• Have had a tapeworm treatment
• Be travelling in an authorized carrier and on an approved route

More info on taking a pet abroad can be found here

Remember
Clean up after your dog!

• It is not fair or the done thing to leave dog faeces where it lands.
  
• Pick it up.
• A dog cannot clean up after itself but you can.
• If you do not clean up in the U.K. you could receive an on-the-spot fine.
  

Related Reading

• Whitby, North Yorkshire, and a Dog-Friendly Vacation
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• United Kingdom Vacation Tips
• Dogs, More Than Just a Hobby