Teddy’s Top Training Tip: When you reach your destination take your dog for a walk to help them get used to their new environment, de-stress them after the long car journey and help tire them out. 

Have a happy holiday with your dog – Settling in your dog to the holiday destination.

When you arrive at your holiday destination it is a good idea to think of the following:

Take your dog on a walk – this not only helps settle them into their holiday home.  It also helps relieve the stress of the car journey and gives them burn off some pent-up energy.

Do not leave your dog alone at your holiday destination, they may look and appear settled, but it is a new environment and it may lead them to destroying items such as furniture.

Keeping to the dog’s routine, especially feeding time or near to it would be helpful.  Also keeping to the same dietary food as home to avoid any stress on the digestive system.  Sudden dietary changes may cause upset stomachs. 

Taking your dog’s food and water bowl are also important, not to mention an area of the holiday destination where they can eat their mealtimes in peace and quiet.

Taking your dog’s favourite toy(s), bed/blanket will help to have some familiar so that your dog has a area to go to for resting/sleeping and familiar toys will help to provide as a distraction.

Make sure that while you are unpacking the car you keep your dog in a safe area, either a room or enclosed garden with a member of the family.  Why not unpack the car while someone takes the dog for a walk.

Become familiar with your surroundings and know if there are other dogs nearby, livestock, busy roads, cliff edges and so on.  Knowing when to keep your dog on lead is important.