Going away on holiday is a huge subject, so I decided to make a few notes about holidays. There’s so much to discuss, this only scratches the surface and was triggered by Colin and I being away leaving our dogs at home.

We were on holiday in Devon. Something was on my mind and I was unable to sleep so I wrote about these thoughts:

“We are away and enjoying our holiday in a Devonshire village. The weather is unexpectedly brilliant, warm and sunny and life just feels so much nicer bathed in sunshine. For many a bit of warmth brings out the best in them and certainly makes me smile and start up conversations with strangers more than usual.”

“Yesterday it was very hot and as we walked through a seaside town I was stunned by the way dogs were being treated, in all innocence, by the people with them; so much so that the thoughts and scenes of the day suddenly woke me and I was unable to push it to one side and sleep, so here I am writing about some of the days’ events. Everywhere we’ve been I’ve been saddened by noticing the dogs around and the way they are innocently treated in public places. It is what it is, unfortunately, with no one to blame.”

“There seems to be very little thought about the ‘being’ at the end of the lead as they’re led through crowded streets, some being dragged on even as they stop to sniff or toilet; taken into busy shops that lack space for humans, let alone being able to offer dogs more space; being out for too long, walking too far in the heat of the day; some panting, hoarsely breathing as they pull dreadfully in a useless bid to make some space from the whole scene, while on a short, tight lead amongst the hordes of people; a few on harness with some just picked up by the handles, without warning and dangled in the air – how on earth must that feel? Imagine that for a moment and how you might feel……”

“Then there were dogs who couldn’t walk fast enough to keep up with their person so were simply pulled along; the slow, plodding Leonburger lumbered along in the searing midday heat, panting away – it all seemed like too much effort to walk and I’m sure it was, but there was no choice.”

“As we prefer to avoid crowds we walked along near the harbour and it’s there where I saw one man with three small dogs all on short leads, but they were able to just fit under the bench he was sitting on, to have some shade away from all the hustle and bustle. The man provided the dogs with drinking water as they obviously waited for someone – the dogs’ body language indicated they were waiting and they were keeping an anxious eye out in a particular direction. It was nice to see that they had space away from everyone and their dogs with time to process the scene. That’s just one way to help dogs if there are no other options available than to be in the town while on holiday.”

I seriously thought about the people, what their experiences may have been, and especially during recent times, where they may have come from, their choices in life and the options that could have been open to them. Even some small choices for a dog can make a big difference, just as they can for humans. Not knowing anyone’s situation and realising everyone is in a different predicament I wanted to find ways that I might theoretically change things for the dogs I saw on that day (and other days we’d been out and about where dogs were prevalent) without choices.

As I often do I shall discuss the paths that have led to where we are now with our own dogs. We have three and are fortunate to have tried various options over the years, so we can have a holiday. I’ve been in a variety of different circumstances, have lived with dogs all my life and have learnt from the choices I made for them at the time.

Here are some of the options we’ve tried and the best for them is the last one because when we are away they are well cared for by a wonderful human being, Jane. She understands them and now they have a much better understanding of what’s going to happen when we begin to pack for a holiday.

Sometimes I still wonder what each of my dogs would want if they could actually tell me.

My experiences so far…..
The following are some examples of the things I’ve tried for my dogs in the past and a few brief comments:

- Leaving Shenzy (my Great Dane) in kennels (back in the 1980s), she was traumatised by being there, clingy and visibly upset and it was a few weeks before she was able to relax again. Shenzy had come from rescue kennels! I have never left another dog in kennels since then because I am unable to explain to them why they’re there and what’s happening. This hadn’t worked for us although there are a few dogs who might be able to deal with being in kennels. It may be the only option for some people.

- Leaving my dogs at my parents’ home – this worked well for many of them over the years, and I’d look after my parent’s dogs when they were away. My dogs were very familiar with my parents, their dogs and their routines. For Henry, my Clumber Spaniel it wasn’t ideal, he was a sick dog and us being away made him worse. He was put to sleep shortly after we’d been away. It’s important to note when a dog becomes ill, to consider all the events that have happened recently, within the past couple of weeks/months as it’s not unusual for an animal to become mildly poorly either while their carer is away or shortly afterwards. When dogs’ humans go away this can cause a dog significant distress. How can dogs understand what is happening?

- Educating a friend who was interested in learning how dogs communicate – sometimes this works very well. People also have their own ideas and my dogs weren’t used to the ideas this person had and so were quite distressed after our holiday which led to the following…

- Not having a holiday at all! This went on for many years and we’d go away separately now and then, which of course can work well for some people.

- Taking the dogs away with us to a dog-friendly place – this is useful for some people and their dogs and has worked for us and a few of our dogs, but because we had no choice but to home cook for Hagrid, he came with us, it really was quite hard work. It would have been easier to stay at home and less stressful. All soft surfaces had to be covered to protect them but I took lots of throws. It rained all week and the floors were slippery. I always take plenty of dog towels so they were helpful in keeping the floors dry. Cooking the large amounts of food I needed for Hagrid meant organising ours and his food around the small oven and hob. Being away from home was nice though and we made time to do things we wouldn’t usually do, and of course, the scenery was stunning in Wales, where we were staying.

- Finding somewhere quiet and out of the way – not knowing what’s around can be stressful if you have a dog that can be worried by certain things but it’s possible to plan ways around, so taking time to relax and settle in with the dog will help ground all of you as you get to know what goes on in the vicinity. That’s what we did and we had a few nice holidays by going nowhere for the first few days and just being in a different place. That’s enough for a dog. Of course this isn’t everyone’s choice, although dogs may benefit from it. Visiting the same place each year means a dog can become familiar with the routine and area.

- Going away with family and Pogo, self-catering – we’ve had a few great holidays with Pogo and the family and they’ve worked out well once we’ve arrived. Pogo doesn’t enjoy travelling so that is stressful for her, although the car we have now she’s more comfortable in there than any car we’ve had in the past. Using the car when on the beach (where cars are permitted) has been a place for Pogo to sleep and rest and she likes to be in them when they’re stationary. She had her own safe space, and lots of dogs would do well by having somewhere they can be away from the action, especially when on the beach for much of the day and with children. Dogs can be vulnerable being out in the open, and not get the sleep they require. A den of their own means there’s a safe place for them to be in as and when they wish.

- Paying a pet sitter (Jane) to stay at our house. This option is the best for us at the moment and worth saving up and paying for. Having peace of mind that our dogs are having a similar routine and food that they are used to and being looked after by a calm, kind, caring, sensible, knowledgeable and understanding person is what matters most.

Although I’ve not taken any of my dogs camping I know people who camp and some tour in campervans with their dogs. They have managed to provide secure environments for their furry companions by communicating with the campsites ahead of time ensuring a private area, which can make a positive difference for the dog. Simple barriers, for example – a windbreak, have been set up to help their dogs feel safer and avoid direct sightings of other dogs or people.

Understanding first
The first step to taking a dog on holiday or leaving them behind is knowing how dogs communicate and understanding the individual. It has been key in making decisions for my dogs and I monitor my their communication in each setting (and make necessary adjustments) as well as when we get home giving them a quiet life without disruption for at least the first week back.

Having discussed some information about the experiences we’ve had on holidays, I truly appreciate that many people like to or have little choice and want/need to take their dogs away on with them and that may suit their dogs. There are always choices available whether a dog stays at home or goes away with the family, and it’s having a suitable balance that can make it work for them and their humans.

There’s a lot to consider and it is my hope that there is total consideration in the dog’s favour when taking them away on holiday with us.

First is recognising that dogs communicate and use their communication to show us what they’re feeling, then with lots of practice we can begin to see where they are happy and where they aren’t. None of the dogs I saw at the seaside town in the busy streets and in the shops was in the least bit happy. I could see that people were distracted and oblivious to their dog and their needs at that time. Generally, expectations of dogs are way too high. They are living beings with feelings. They’re another species that have their own language, one we need to understand before involving them in all that we do.

Out and about
For example, if Colin and I visit a town with the dogs and need amenities we may go alone, leaving the dogs with another trusted family member.

We may take the dogs with us and one of us may stay in the car with them or stay with the dogs on the outside of the main areas of the town so they can see what’s going on without being closely involved. There’s also the option to go at a time when the town is quiet with not much happening and this can be a wonderful opportunity, holding great interest for the dogs.

On the beach
When taking a dog to the beach, here are some questions to consider:
- Do they have to stay on the beach with the family?
- How can their needs be catered for?
- Is there somewhere they can go out of the way, a small den or tent that is cool so they have undisturbed space.
- What choices do you and they have?
- What options are available?
- Is there fresh drinking water available?

A few questions to consider before taking a dog on holiday with you:
- Does my dog like to travel and what would be the best outcome for them?
- Is my dog happy being left in the car for short times but only in the shade with windows open if necessary? This option doesn’t suit all dogs and naturally, people are concerned that their dog may be stolen. It’s a personal decision to make.
Always consider weather conditions and adapt to them. There are solar blankets that can be used to help keep a car cool in hot weather in combination with open windows and parking in a shady place. Regular checks are always necessary.
http://www.survivalistchick.com/do-you-have-a-solar-blanket These can be secured with bungee cords or clips.
- Can my dog be left in their own home with anyone responsible that they like being with?
- What options do I have when going away and which one would my dog feel most at ease and safe with?
- How can I provide a peaceful environment for my dog?
- What does my dog like and dislike?
- How will I manage my dog’s welfare and happiness while away?
- What extras might I need to provide my dog within our new environment?
- Can I provide my dog with their usual diet and bedding?
- Will there be somewhere suitable for my dog to walk, somewhere they can feel at ease?
- What will I need to take to be able to make appropriate barriers for my dog to feel safe and secure?

For all the dogs we came across I would swap them to a longer static lead and show their people how to use them with thought and care because these longer leads are adaptable to every situation just as we need to be for our dogs. This could give the dogs choices and space where appropriate.

Obviously, the various scenarios mentioned are not an exhaustive list. Everything will depend uniquely on the dog in question and it may be that you and your dog are in a position to holiday at home, so what do you like doing and what does your dog like doing? Perhaps there’s space for you to really make time to ‘be’ with your dog. That can be so important to both of you.

Happy Holidays Everyone!