Summer has arrived, so it’s time to get out and about more as we find fun things to do with our pets. But, of course, we need to be prepared, whether in terms of just remembering the dog’s food or having a plan to safe when away. You must make sure you have the health and safety side battened down.
Fun With Pets Essentials
Before finding fun activities to do with your pets, we need to look at the essentials for everyone, no matter where or how long you’re going away for.
Check your equipment – Collars, headcollars, longlines and leads give way occasionally. They fray, or the securings start to wear. You don’t want to be out and about somewhere and suddenly find your dog is free. Click here for some local options.
A dog can slip out of some harnesses. Have a double-ended lead with one end attached to the collar. Make sure your dog is secure.
Check your dog’s collar tag – The law says your surname and home address must be on it. If it doesn’t, get an extra label made up. But, in addition, when away, make sure the mobile number on the tag matches the phone you will be carrying around with you.
Check you have registered your microchip to the correct address. Use petlog.org.uk to ensure your registration is up to date.
The Day Trip
Firstly, consider this: should you be taking the dog in the first place? Is it going to be too hot? Are you going to an environment that might stress your dog out?
We know you want to find fun places to take your pets away, but think about how you can keep them comfortable? Cool mats and cool coats are a good idea. Ensure you take your dog towels if your dog likes water or if it pours down.
Some dogs don’t like strange water so definitely take a bottle of your own tap water with you.
Resting on a hard surface in a pub or café is unsuitable for a dog’s joints and will make it harder for the dog to relax. A mat or blanket can help with this. Click here for a good selection.
Make sure you have snacks. Dogs get bad-tempered when they’re hungry.
A Pets Holiday
How will I tether my dog if I’m camping or caravanning or if the area is not secure? A screw tether for the ground is a good idea, but be careful to attach a secure line to a harness and not a collar just in case they run the entire length of the line at high speed.
Make sure all members of the group understand about keeping exits closed if the dog is loose.
Where will my dog sleep at night? A crate-trained dog is always ideal, but metal crates can be a nuisance to transport. Consider a soft crate readily available online.
Try to stick to a little bit of the home routine, particularly at bedtime. A plugin Adaptil or Pet Remedy diffuser may be a good idea to help the dog to settle.
Check before leaving home for any local sources of your dog’s meals.
Out and About
Everyone wants a lovely day out, but always keep a weather eye on any potential health and safety issues. Be careful where you allow your dog to swim if you don’t know the currents.
Sand ingested by ball throwing on the beach or the dog digging on the beach can affect a dog’s intestines and be deadly. Drinking saltwater will result in diarrhoea or vomiting.
We never advise using a Flexi or retractable lead, but if you use one around sand, the mechanism can get blocked, and you might not realise until it’s too late.
You will need to bring flea repellant if you are walking around an area with large populations of sheep or deer.
A well-gravelled track may seem ideal for walking, but it may be abrasive to your dog pads.
Other Fun Activities for Pets
If your dog will be swimming more than usual and in icy water (some lakes are freezing even on a warm day), consider buying them a life jacket.
Days out and holidays with the dog are just wonderful if you go prepared. Make sure you have your checklist all ticked off before you set out, and have an excellent time!
We hope you enjoyed reading our article “Time to Get Away With Your Pets“. If you’d like to read more of our articles about looking after your dog, click here.
