Camping With The Family Pet

Whether you have a pet already or are thinking of getting one, you will want to know the Pros and Cons of Traveling with a Pet before embarking on your next adventure together.

First are the pros, since coincidentally, there are more cons than pros when it comes to traveling with a pet. This is mostly due to the simple fact that having another living being traveling with you, whether human or animal, there is going to be more to do, worry about, and bring with you, than if you were on your own.

Pros:

• Ensure you get exercise– someone’s got to walk the furry beast wherever you go with them.
• Security/Safety– they will likely bark when someone is lurking, lingering, or otherwise making them/you uncomfortable.
• Part of the family– you won’t feel as though someone is missing and will likely have a feeling of completion.
• First time for them to experience new things– some examples include snow, wildlife, lakes, wilderness, etc.
• Companionship– you have a built-in partner in crime/companion for any outings you have planned.
• Comic relief– Animals have a way of making you smile, laugh, and enjoy life more fully.
• You won’t have to worry about having to leave them at a kennel or with a pet sitter who may not give them the very best care.
• They won’t be lonely since they will be with you.

Cons:

• Carsickness– some animals have the tendency to vomit when on a car ride.
• Drugs might be necessary– some animals need to be tranquilized when traveling.
• Cabin Fever can set in– Some animals are just very rambunctious and need lots of breaks when they get antsy and stiff on longer car rides.
• Rest stops can be unattractive and the designated areas for dogs can be dirty, unsafe, and let’s face it, disgusting.
• Fox tails and burrs– there will be lots of unknowns along the way, which can mean you are stuck picking fox tails, burrs, and even ticks out of dog’s paws, ears, and tails.
• You need to plan ahead for extra stops– to walk them, feed them, and let them out for potty breaks.
• Dogs don’t always drink on command– you’ll not only need to bring extra jugs of water for them, you will also need to offer them water often enough to keep dehydration at bay but not so much that they have an accident in the RV.
• Rental OK with dogs? Extra down payment for animals can sometimes be necessary.
• Rest stops along the way for when you are hungry may not be pet-friendly– not always the easiest to find pet-friendly restaurants, hotels, and campgrounds. Extra charges may apply.
• When visiting family/friends, you have to consider if its dog-friendly and if your animal is good with kids and other pets.
• Pack extra bags for animal– If you are already tight on space, realize you’ll likely need an extra suitcase or two with their food, toys, treats, bed, harness, leashes, poop bags, poop-scoop, waste disposal, dog gates/fence, dog bed, etc.
• Cold weather requires added needs– Dog coats, extra blankets, and such may be required if it will be especially cold where you are headed.

Taking the family pet along can be fun, but also requires extra space, attention, and definitely more stops.  So taking into account all of the pros and cons of traveling with a pet (listed above), you can decide for yourself if it is worth it in the long run to have your trusty side kick by your side on your future travels.