Vacations are coming soon !

1) - Have we already planned our next vacation?
Are we going away with or without our dog and cat?

At these key times, too many animals are abandoned by owners who have cruelly taken the easy way out, without knowing all the possibilities on offer.
There are many ways to enjoy a relaxing holiday, but not all of them are compatible with the presence of a pet.
Taking a vacation cannot be improvised for pet owners, because making the deliberate choice to go away with Brutus and Minet, or not to take them with you, requires careful planning to ensure everyone's comfort.
Any change of life and a sudden break with the landmarks of daily life are always an upheaval for an animal, and not to recognize this would be to deny it any ability to feel. So if you plan your travel plans with or without your pet, you're already respecting him.

1. Travelling with your pet

- Well before departure
Make sure the hotel, campsite, gîte, vacation village, etc.... accepts pets, and which ones?
Are large dogs and certain categories tolerated? Under what conditions?
If so, let us know at the time of booking that you will be bringing your pet, and ask about the financial contribution that some campsites and hotels require.
If it's by the sea, are dogs allowed on the beach? The SPA website http://www.spa.asso.fr gives a list of authorized beaches (or tourist offices can provide information).
Note that wherever you go in France, the ban on dogs in public places, beaches, parks and gardens must be clearly indicated by the local mayor (otherwise you can contest the fine you may be fined).
When crossing a border, make sure you are aware of the regulations in force in the country you are visiting, and check with embassies or travel agencies (for droppings collection, muzzling, anti-rabies vaccination and certificate of good health (compulsory documents for the European Union)).
Beware of quarantine in certain countries: it's better not to take your pet with you, as it could spend your vacation in a cage!

- Travelling by car
For medium to long distances, there's no problem if your dog or cat is used to the car, but if not, as soon as you've made the decision, start taking him on short trips, with a walk as a reward (for the dog).
Don't overload your pet's stomach for the journey, to avoid discomfort and vomiting, and if possible, don't impose long-distance journeys on a sick animal.
Practical and reassuring, the transport box is ideal because the animal has ITS place: how many small cats find themselves under the accelerator pedal! How many dogs escape as soon as you open the car door, or get agitated and upset with children!
With his collar or harness (with a tag bearing your name and cell phone number) and leash, the dog is ready to go out and stretch his legs (and relieve himself!) every 2 hours during your relaxation stops.
Choose more secure stops away from traffic, and bring your water bowl with you. Minet, on the other hand, should stay in his transport box, which should be furnished for his hygienic comfort.

Never leave your companion alone in the car, even with the window ajar! A cat could slip through, a dog could get out and join you, and of course in summer, even in the shade, the passenger compartment becomes a furnace where too many animals die every year.

- By coach
Only cats and small dogs are allowed in their carrier bags.

- By train
The regulations are strict: dogs and cats weighing up to 6 kg are accepted in a bag next to the master, for a nominal fee. Above this weight, with a ½ fare ticket, dogs on a leash are also tolerated (unless a passenger objects) and muzzled for the 2 categories listed by the S.C.C.

- By boat
Some companies do not accept pets, while others accept them close to the master, or only in the car, or in cages provided by the company for low fares (inquire in advance).
Be careful in summer, when it's very hot, if the animal has to be kept in the vehicle.... Make sure you have all the information you need beforehand to ensure that your pet is as comfortable as possible in these conditions.

- By air.
Here again, strict rules apply: up to 5 kg, your pet can travel in the cabin in a bag at its master's feet. Above this weight, the animal will travel in the hold in a crate sold by the airline (check ticket and crate prices).
You really must take your pet with you on a plane, as it's the least pleasant mode of transport for them, and the most expensive for you.
Note that recent anti-terrorist measures have made the conditions for transporting a pet in the cabin even more restrictive... find out about the new provisions from the various airlines.

2. Travelling without your pet

Without denying yourself the opportunity to discover places where the presence of a pet is a nuisance, you can organize your trip with respect for your pet, by finding the best possible care for it.
Separating from your little companion is not without repercussions, either for him or for some owners, and it's the care taken in this process that will guarantee everyone's comfort.
Whichever option you choose when boarding your dog or cat, you can prepare him or her for the experience in such a way as not to traumatize him or her.
For example, if your pet is used to being regularly entrusted for a few hours or a few days to trusted family members (relatives, friends, neighbors), it will be prepared for more or less prolonged absences from its owners (ceremonies, shows, etc.).
During a longer stay, the impact of the separation from its loved ones and the sudden break in its daily life will be softened.
On the contrary, keeping an animal in a state of hyper-attachment can plunge it into the greatest turmoil, the day you want to entrust it to your care and go away.
Possible choices:
- Place it in a boarding kennel or cattery, or with a foster family In either case, you need to plan well in advance (some animals stay in the kennel or cattery from one year to the next).
Don't place your pet in an unfamiliar boarding kennel for a month at a time. Some dogs refuse food for days on end and remain prostrate in the bottom of their cage, waiting in vain for their owners to return. Separated from the rest of their “pack”, they become depressed. Try things out for a short time, relying on your pet's behavior. Is he happy to be back? Does he balk at the prospect of boarding?
You'll have visited and compared various establishments in advance, and examined the criteria necessary for a quality stay (cleanliness of boxes with shelters, areas where animals can romp, safety fences, friendly contact with boarders, etc.).
This is the least expensive option, but it can't be without repercussions for a cat or dog that lives with its family all year round.
Choosing to entrust your cat or dog to a foster family is more suitable for an animal accustomed to a permanent presence.
Specialized organizations recommend a selection of families chosen to look after (and pamper) dogs and cats in apartments or houses with gardens.
If you take the precaution of familiarizing your pet with these people and their home beforehand, you can be sure of a truly comfortable relationship for your pet.
- Use a home care organization
With this option, people (often retired) move into your home and take care of your dog or cat (and your plants and possessions too!) for the duration of your vacation. Once again, getting your pet and its “guardians” to meet beforehand can prevent it from going on a “hunger strike” or committing unusual acts of destruction due to its emotional discomfort.
For this “must”, contact specialized organizations known for their guarantees!
- Entrust your pet to family, friends or neighbors
This is undoubtedly the ideal solution for everyone, subject of course to the prior familiarization conditions outlined above.
This solution is often an exchange of courtesies: “I'll keep your dog, you keep my bitch”. But you'll need to plan for a period of vacation when the female is not in heat, if she hasn't been sterilized!
As you can see, owning an animal can never be improvised.
We believe that the question of “who to entrust it to” when vacations or unforeseen circumstances arise, should be considered before the animal is even acquired.

2) - Holidays coming soon! It's decided, this year we're going away with the dog!

For our dogs, going on vacation is not necessarily as happy a prospect as it is for us, except for the more placid ones who have already taken part in their masters' great joy many times.
On the other hand, for the most sensitive of adults, such as a puppy whose first holiday may be a “first”, it can be quite stressful.

For a vacation that's good for everyone
For the animal, there's no anticipation, no hurry....he's just in the present, and the plans his owners have for him are foreign to him until he's in the hustle and bustle of the first preparations.
From then on, he notices (sometimes worriedly) that something is happening!
If it's the puppy's first vacation, he'll notice the changes in everyone's habits at home, even a few days in advance.
Since a dog learns by association, and if this is not his first vacation with his owners, everything can be anticipated for him on the model of the previous time(s).
To put it in a nutshell: everything went very well, with no particular fuss from his family during the preparations, an uneventful car journey (not too hot, not too stuck in the luggage, not too harassed by the toddlers), a smooth stay with walks, games and relaxed masters on a quiet, secure site... In short, nothing to make him worry about it happening again!
On the other hand, and still schematically, if the general agitation prevailed (from the hurried preparations for departure in the middle of which he was only repacked. Followed by a long, suffocating journey in traffic jams, amid the shouts of irritated children, and scolded every time he wanted to get out too quickly at crowded rest stops. Overexcited by the unfamiliar surroundings of the vacation destination, sick of the change of climate, food, etc....) In short, if this is what your companion has already experienced, don't be surprised if your next preparations make him anxious!
If you want to prepare for your trip in peace “without having a dog around”, which only adds to everyone's stress, you can start by isolating him from the departure “fever”. Offering him the car as a shelter is a relief, at least if he's one of those people for whom this vehicle is usually synonymous with pleasure/riding!
Don't forget anything about his “gear” (basket, bowl with his usual food, muzzle for some, collar with your cell phone number, up-to-date health record, emergency care kit and specific antiparasitics that you've planned with your vet).

If it's your dog's first long journey (advice also valid for old backpackers!) His comfort will be yours! So don't neglect anything (remember, this trip will serve as a model for the future!).
Don't feed him, but don't forget water or his bowl.
Make sure he has a place of his own, either in the back seat with his seatbelt on, or preferably in his transport box (and never in a trunk without removing the rear parcel shelf! the air doesn't get through).
If you take care to familiarize your pet with the crate in advance, and make it a very positive experience, it will become a welcome refuge on every journey.
With its predictable size, this equipment will enable you to arrange your luggage around it, without “taking up” the dog's space, while guaranteeing everyone's safety. At freeway rest areas, there's no risk of the animal getting out in a hurry and escaping you if a child opens the door too quickly, for example.
At rest stops every 2 hours, a short stroll will stretch the legs and paws of travelers and allow them to empty their bladders and refresh their gullets.
Since accidents happen every year in summer, it's always worth remembering that dogs should NEVER be left alone in the vehicle, even in the shade. This could lead to heatstroke, which can be fatal in a cabin that can quickly become a furnace!

On-site precautions

Camping, hotel, gîte, vacation village, individual rental....you'll need to make sure in advance that you ask if dogs are allowed, especially those of the molossoid breed.
The general public's low opinion of molosses makes dog-owners shy away from renting, which is a pity for many owners of well-behaved and well-controlled dogs.
Wherever your pet will not be “unwanted”, make sure you don't make anyone regret taking you in. And once you've arrived, your dog's comfort will be yours for the duration of your stay! Let your dog get used to his new environment, and don't let him go unless you're alone in a well-fenced area (inspect the premises for any potential hazards: toxic products or plants, stairs, unprotected balcony, etc.).
When camping, for example, your dog should obviously be kept “at home” near the tent or mobile home.
If possible, find him a quiet corner away from traffic, and install his basket there as a refuge.
Breaking away from the daily routine often destabilizes the dog, without anyone really noticing. At most, you'll notice the animal's impatience, with digestive disorders, scratching, barking, etc., which are simply the expression of its emotional discomfort in the face of all this “new” to which it must gradually adapt until it finds its balance.
By maintaining the rules of life at home, you're already carrying something that at least doesn't vary and will reassure him. Try to re-establish some fixed points of reference in this new place, such as when to go for a walk, or where to eat (leaving the usual contents unchanged for less intestinal chatter!).
Once you've settled in, of course, take him for a short walk on a leash, to get a feel for the area and take an initial inventory of the 4-legged dogs and cats in the neighborhood. They may not all be as sociable as your companion, so it's best to find out where they are!

Enjoy the area and go for walks

While staying in a country cottage or out walking, your dog may come across animals he's never seen before (cattle, sheep, poultry, etc.).
Simply curious about an animal that's a little wary and hasn't been introduced to dogs himself, your companion could panic, run away and get lost, or attack out of fear.
Farm animals are not prey, so be careful not to let them roam free unless you're sure you can keep them under control (note that dogs are considered to be roaming by law if they are more than 100 m from you).
There are big beasts, but there are also very small ones! Parasites of all kinds that you'll need to protect your dog from, of course.
If you're planning to go to the seaside, you should be aware that few beaches are open to dogs (tourist offices can provide information).
If a beach is not forbidden to your companion, remember that heat and exposure to the sun are exhausting; balls, races and children's cries are hyper-stimulating and over-excite the animal, which must be kept away for everyone's safety. It's not all fun and games for either dog or owner!
So enjoy the pleasures of a swim outside the crowded hours (early in the morning or late at night), without forgetting to rinse your companion thoroughly in fresh water and not to leave his faeces in the sand (you could walk barefoot in them the next day!).
A little reminder: during summer parties, many dogs try to flee in panic from the detonations of the festivities, which are unbearable for their hypersensitive ears. Instead, watch the fireworks from a distance with your dog on a leash, but preferably isolate him in a safe place and remain indifferent to his fears.
Once you've enjoyed the joys of living in close contact with your dog, it's time to think about going home.
The owners go back to their (good!) work habits, and the animal suddenly finds itself alone during the day.
For some, this is a rather unpleasant experience, and it's not uncommon for dogs to damage doors, windows and other equipment in the house or garden as soon as their owners are away.