Family Travel | What to Pack for your Dog when Traveling

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You’ve planned the perfect family vacation, down to the very last detail.

Except for one thing … that loyal love of your life, your dog.

Where will she go? What will she need?

Planning your Dog’s Vacation

You have three options when planning for your dog’s vacation (that’s how I prefer to think of it, rather than “time in lockup” for our Molly).

Find a friend, neighbor or family member who can keep your dog, or house-sit/pet-sit while you’re away. This is by far the least expensive option, and allows your dog to be among those familiar to him/her.
Hire a pet sitter to either live at your house or visit 3-4 times a day to play with, feed and walk your dog. For this option, you’ll want to research, ask for recommendations from friends and ask for referrals from whomever you are looking to hire.
Board your dog at a kennel, or more upscale pet resort.

We’ve done all three options, and still change it up depending on the length of our vacation and availability of someone nearby that can help.

What to Pack for your Dog

After you determine where your dog will be, the next step is figuring out what to pack for your dog if she will be leaving your home to stay at a friend’s or in a kennel. If this is your first time leaving your dog, it can be a little sad for you, and a little confusing for your dog!

Help make your dog’s stay as home-y as possible with a few of her favorites from home.

Favorite blanket – you could go so far as to rub it onto your family members to leave their scent on the blanket.
Favorite toys – be sure these are the indestructible kind in case they stay with her when unsupervised.
Leash for going on walks
Treats – a couple per day
Favorite dog food – you’ll want to pack the same food your dog has been used to eating. Allow more than the usual amount per day, to ensure she doesn’t run out if the person taking care of her gives more than she’s used to.

Purina Beyond dry dog food is a great example of a healthy dog food, as it’s made up of:

Real meat, poultry or fish as the #1 ingredient
No corn, wheat or soy
No poultry by-product meal
No added artificial colors, flavors or preservatives

In addition, Purina Beyond uses safely sourced ingredients, it’s crafted in U.S. factories and their natural nutrition is backed by pet nutritionists. That’s important to me.

You can find Purina Beyond in Kroger, Fred Meyer and Ralphs; and through 6/29/17 you can save $3 on Purina Beyond Dry Dog Food at Kroger with this digital coupon.