Whether you’re staying in or leaving home for a few days, the holidays require some extra thought and preparation for your pets. Follow our tips to make sure your pets enjoy the festive season as much as you do.
Going on Holiday with Pets
If you are going to take your dogs on holiday with you, the planning starts long before you hit the road. Make sure you know how secure the pet-friendly accommodation is. Do they have fencing across the property, wildlife roaming around and a net over the pool? Accidents tend to happen in unfamiliar places so only take your pets to properties you can confirm are safe for them.
Don’t leave home without these essentials which you can get from The Queen Pet Shop:
- Animal Planet Harness and Lead: take regular breaks on road trips and keep your dogs close with a good quality harness and lead.
- Dog Window Guardrail: travel safely with a guard over your car windows so your dogs can enjoy the breeze! Visit our online shop for different sizes.
- Eco-Vet Travel: if your pets get car sick, help them cope with a homeopathic solution specially formulated for motion sickness.
- M-Pet Dog Diapers: we have male and female dog diapers available to help dogs with urinary incontinence.
Find more must-haves for travelling pets in the video on our Facebook page.
Well trained pets are the best travel companions. Make sure your dogs are used to travelling in the car before taking extended trips and bring some familiar items along like bedding and toys to reduce anxiety.
Staying Home with Pets
If you are going on holiday without your pets, find a reliable pet sitter with references to stay and keep your fur babies comfortable at home. Whether the pet sitter is a family member, a friend or a professional, take the time to introduce them to your pet beforehand. Reputable kennels or pet hotels are also a great option if you can’t have someone stay home with your pets.
Staying home with the family for the holidays often includes a house full of guests and long hours out for the day or night. Make time for regular walks and one-on-one interactions with your pets and keep them from boredom with a fun selection of treats and toys. Be mindful of nights when fireworks are likely to go off, like New Year’s Eve, and keep nervous pets as calm as you can.
The holidays at home are so much better with these recommendations from The Queen Pet Shop:
- CalmEze Gel, Liquid or Tablets: stressful situations like fireworks, crowds or lots of visitors at home call for a solution to help your pet’s anxiety.
- LickiMat: a boredom and anxiety buster both cats and dogs will love! Spread wet treats or sprinkle small dry treats onto the mat to keep your pets happy and occupied.
- TKM Chilled and Chewy Freezable Toys: teething pups and dogs that just love to chew will spend hours gnawing on fun, freezable shapes. A cool treat for hot days!
- K9 Fitness Tennis Ball: regular exercise is essential for your dogs and a good old game of fetch is a great way to keep them fit! The K9 tennis balls are also great for tugging.
If your dog has anxiety, make sure they have a safe space to get away from guests or shelter from the sound of fireworks. Make visitors aware of any conditions your pets have and remind them to keep gates or doors closed where necessary. You should also closely monitor any interactions between your pets and children.
With some planning and preparation before the holidays begin, you can make the festive season a treat for your pets!