Time off with your furry friend

IT comes as no surprise that the "workaholic" mindset of many Americans can affect people's willingness to take vacation days for traveling. However, work isn't the only culprit hindering American's travel. A study by Project: Time Off found the three top reasons why people don't use their vacation days to travel are cost, children and pets.

Despite citing pets as a barrier to travel, 60 percent of pet owners surveyed said they would like to break the working routine and explore. Pets can enhance the lives of their owners and this should apply to travel as well, so Mars Petcare is providing a host of resources to help cities become more pet-friendly. For example, the Better Cities For Pets program aims to make it easier to explore new places with your pet in tow.

"Traveling can be stressful for people and pets," said Jessa Paschke, behavior and training specialist at Mars Petcare. "Following simple and proactive travel tips can do wonders for your dog's behavior, happiness and health."

Consider these four tips to make traveling with your pet easier and learn more about how to join the movement to make cities more pet-friendly at bettercitiesforpets.com.

1. Plan your pet into the itinerary – Planning before a trip is key to keeping yourself and all travel companions (including furry ones) organized and ready. Prepare for an upcoming trip with a detailed packing list and map out dog-friendly locations on your itinerary to help keep your pup's needs top of mind.

2. Consider a road trip – Airports and airlines are two of the top challenges that pet-owners cite when it comes to traveling with pets, so, if possible, think about driving to your destination. Taking stops along the way to see the sights and give your pal a break to stretch his or her legs can go a long way toward health and happiness.

3. Seek out pet-friendly accommodations – Research pet-friendly hotels so your furry friend can stay with you. Certain pet-friendly locations will likely already have dog or cat amenities, but it doesn't hurt to be prepared and bring along items from home to help your pet cozy up. Bringing along his or her bed or a blanket is one way to make every place feel like home.

4. Don't forget treats – Packing your pet's favorite things on a trip can help keep him or her calm and comfortable. Besides a favorite toy, bringing along dog treats.

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Thailand’s most pet-friendly beach resort

IF there’s a single word to describe Centara Chaan Talay Resort & Villas it would be “unspoilt” – a pristine white beach overlooking a clear sea and backed by virgin jungle. Quiet. Authentically rural. A place to relax, read, and rejuvenate and a place to bring your dog! 

Walk by the ocean, through the garden, even to lunch or dinner with you in the open-air restaurant. There are even pet washing and grooming tools supplied in every villa. If your dog isn’t too large, it can even stay in your room with you. 

The palm-covered hills of Koh Chang lie across the strait; you can take a boat there or to Koh Kood to experience world famous dive sites. Enjoy the infinity pool and a traditional Thai massage in the resort’s spa. Stroll the 800-metre stretch of beach just outside your front door, take a Thai cooking class or join the candle-making and T-shirt painting activities. 

Situated in Trat on the South-East coast of #Thailand close to the Cambodian border. The area surrounding the resort is steeped in history and offers a real Thai experience where the locals go about their daily activities without the hustle and bustle of other resort areas.

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A dog’s life … in the back of the car

PET behaviour counsellor Kris Glover and comfort-insurance.co.uk offer families advice on taking their dogs with them on a holiday in the country

A CLASSIC sign of anxiety from dogs is dribbling in the vehicle. Being in a car for a long time is not comfortable or natural for dogs, so it’s important to acclimatize them to their new surroundings.

To lower anxiety, put your pet in the vehicle next to you while feeding treats and leaving the door open. The dog shouldn’t feel trapped and having them on the lead will help maintain control. Repeat these sessions, but ensure they are short and frequent. Providing familiar bedding and favourite toys will help settle your dog.

Once the dog is relaxed, the vehicle’s door should be shut. Again, feed treats before letting your pet out. If you’re satisfied your dog is comfortable, feed meals within the car but observe from outside so they get used to being inside alone.

The last stage should be turning the vehicle’s engine on and allowing it to run while your pet is inside eating. A lot of practice and time is needed to help your pet learn to tolerate the vehicle. When this has been achieved, it’s then time to drive a short distance (around 100 yards) with your pet inside with treats, food and its familiar toys alongside. Once happy with this, plan a trip with your pet to a destination that would be good for them. Arriving at a fun holiday destination or park will help your pet associate vehicle journeys with positive destinations, rather than ending up at the vets.

For the journey …

It is essential the dog has an opportunity to go to the toilet prior to a long journey.

Dogs like comfort. So moving their bed from the house into the vehicle will allow them to feel as comfy as possible, and therefore as relaxed as possible.

A dog is much more likely to settle if they are prevented from seeing exciting things outside (e.g. a dog walking past), so try to place the dog’s bed in a location where he or she can’t see out of the windows. There will be some dogs who are more settled if they can see outside, so if your dog ticks that box, position their bed so they can see through the window.

Give them something to do. A food toy or a long lasting chew will give them a focus during the journey.

Make sure the dog has access to water (anti-spill water bowls are ideal for vehicle travel) if the inside temperature of the motorhome or vehicle is overly warm. Make sure the dog has an opportunity every two to three hours for a leg stretch and toilet break.

If holidaying abroad, consider whether the vehicle insurance includes the relevant cover. Motorhome insurance from Comfort Insurance includes up to £2,500 cover for pets.

www.comfort-insurance.co.uk

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Lettings guide for dog-lovers

UK lettings company, holidaycottages.co.uk, has launched a dedicated micro-site, Dog Spot, devoted to making sure pampered pooches get a good break.

More than 13,000 dogs took their 2014 get-away with holidaycottages.co.uk, and the total to date this year is 8,000.

#DogSpot features the agency’s pet-friendly accommodation guru, Sage, who is a 12-year-old Chocolate Labrador will be reviewing her stays in properties up and down the country. 

The company handles more than 1,200 #dog-friendly properties across the UK, from traditional cottages to modern holiday homes with enclosed gardens and swimming pools.

www.holidaycottages.co.uk/dog-spot

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Flying with four-legged friends

WITH many holidaymakers looking to take their pet abroad this summer, Airport Parking and Hotels (APH) has created a guide highlighting the different regulations across major airlines for travelling with man’s best four-legged friend.

The research compares the different #dog breeds accepted on flights, the cost of flying abroad with a dog as well as the pet weight and crate stipulations across 20 major #airlines including Air Canada, Alitalia, Japan Airlines, and Singapore Airlines.

Not all dog breeds are allowed to fly in a commercial aircraft, with six of the 20 airlines researched – including Air France, American Airlines, and Cathay Pacific – prohibiting flying with snub-nosed dogs (such as Pugs and Bulldogs) onboard any passenger flight. But customers travelling with Qantas are allowed to take snub-nosed dogs on flights of under five hours long. 

Aer Lingus, Delta, and Lufthansa ban dogs listed on the UK’s 1991 Dangerous Dogs Act; this includes the Pit Bull Terrier. Iberia allows dangerous dogs on commercial flights as long as they are muzzled for the duration of the flight.

The cost of transporting animals was also found to differ greatly between airlines with costs dependent on the crate size and final destination. Passengers flying with their pet with British Airways will be charged £89 for checking their pet into the hold, while Swiss Air charges £272 per animal each way.

Out of the 20 airlines surveyed, only Virgin Atlantic offers a dedicated Flying Paws Scheme, allowing passengers to collect Flying Club Miles on behalf of their dog.

www.aph.com/community/holidays/taking-your-pet-on-holiday-abroad

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