Congratulations! You’ve married someone who loves dogs just as much as you do. The reception’s over and it’s time to take the trip of a lifetime. If you included your dog in your ceremony, what better way to keep your new family together than by bringing them along? Then again, is it really a good idea to take the dog on your honeymoon?
BONDING WITH YOUR DOG | By Arah McManamna
I recently got married and had to make this very decision. Here’s the pros and cons list that helped me decide.
Pro tip: if you’re already sure your dog isn’t a good traveler, it’s easy to find a loving pet sitter and hit the road happy.
Pros of Taking Your Dog on Your Honeymoon
Sharing the Journey
Your dog is your best friend, your confidant, and a big part of your newly-formed family. Bringing them on your honeymoon means that you get to share this special trip with them.
Exploring Dog-Friendly Destinations
It’s easier than ever to find dog-friendly vacation spots and meet other dog lovers. In many places dogs are welcome not only in hotels, but restaurants and public spaces too. It might just be reconnaissance for another pet-friendly vacation in the future.
Making Memories
You know you’ll take tons of photos on your honeymoon, and they’ll be extra special if they include your dog. And who are we kidding? There’ll probably be more photos of the dog than of you two.
Stimulation
Taking an extended trip is a great way to give your dog a change of scene. Plus, talk about bonding time.
Cons of Bringing Your Dog on Your Honeymoon
Extra Fees
Places that are pet-friendly may charge extra fees for cleaning, potential property damage, and noise control. Do your research on pet fees and extra cleanup charges.
Planning
You’ve spent a ton of time planning the perfect wedding and honeymoon. Traveling with your furry friend means not only finding pet-friendly places to stay, it also means bringing their food, medications, and other important possessions (you can’t leave home without your favorite tennis ball).
Limited to Dog-Friendly Destinations
Though you love spending time with your pup, there may be times during the trip where they can’t be right by your side. Not every place is dog-friendly, and hotels may have rules about leaving Fido unattended.
Is Your Pup A Good Traveler?
Some dogs are homebodies, some are adventurers. Assess your dog’s level of anxiety before bringing them on your trip (and think about whether you’re flying or driving). You want all three of you to have fun and be comfortable on all legs of the trip.
When my husband and I got married we seriously considered bringing Lana with us; the appeal of the bonding time was strong. However, she’s a terrible traveler and wouldn’t have had fun on our extended road trip.
Instead, we opted to leave her with a loving pet sitter from Rover. It saved us all stress. Lana had a blast and we did too!
Read the full article powered by Rover.com here