Dex is my road warrior sidekick.
As we continue our dog-friendly Fidose Across America tour, the timing of the second annual State of U.S. Pet Travel study** from DogVacay could not have come at a better time. Are you one of those people who likes dog travel? The survey reveals several surprising results around the impact sharing life with a dog can have on travel.
Here at Fidose of Reality, we only travel with our dog unless a business trip via air travel is required. Only in that rare circumstance does the dog stay with my spouse. Apparently we are not alone. The survey reveals that 46% of dog owners agree that worrying about their dog(s) while they’re away makes it harder to enjoy their trip. Dogs are members of the family and though it takes extra effort to plan ahead, pack properly, and care for Fido while traveling, the rewards are oh so worth it.
Missing Moments
Have you ever passed on an invitation because you don’t want to leave your dog behind? Again, you are not alone. In the past year, 14 percent of dog owners have missed important life events, such as an out of town wedding or family gathering, because they did not want to leave their dog(s) behind.
Traveling Together
A total of 32 percent of dog owners take their pets with them in the car when they are away for two or more nights. This stat is provided courtesy the American Pet Products Association. According to the 2013-2014 APPA National Pet Owners Survey, 68 percent of U.S. households own a pet, which equates to 82.5 millions homes. This means millions of dogs are taking to the nation’s highways and biways to trek across the country with their human pack mates.
Skip the Stress
Ask about pet policies and weight limits prior to booking a hotel room. Just because a travel book or website says it is so does not make it so; pet policies frequently change. Additionally, ask about pet fees and access to greenery for Fido’s taking care of business.
Speaking of Pet Policies
In the DogVacay survey, a quarter (27 percent) say financial challenges such as kennel fees or paying a pet deposit at a hotel have impacted their vacation plans. I appeared on The Pet Stop with Dr. Brian Voynick and dished pet travel. Here’s the scoop on what you should know before you travel with a dog:
Fidose Across America
We’ve been from Pennsylvania to California and are touring the Grand Canyon before heading to Albuquerque, New Mexico. So far, so good, and we’ll have a complete road recap, photos, video, and recommendations. We gave away a prize to the first Fidose fan who stopped to say hi to us at the BlogPaws Conference in Vegas. Congrats to Fidose fan, Jan Todd, who won a limited edition Wigglebutt Biscuits Dexter print.
So now we want to know: Do you travel with your dog? If so, how often and do you think the DogVacay survey reflects your own pack and dog travels?
** The DogVacay survey was conducted online within the United States by Harris Poll on behalf of DogVacay from April 7 – 9, 2014 among 2,025 adults ages 18 and older, of whom 986 were dog owners.
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