Just to be clear, the author is the one in the middle.
We received some great feedback on our GoPetFriendly Manifesto. Based on a recent, bad travel experience one commenter suggested that someone should create a “pet traveler manifesto that tells owners how to be cool with their pets.” Ask and ye shall receive! The following code of conduct augments the good advice our friend Dog Jaunt wrote a few weeks ago.
1. Commit to training. In our travels, we see lack of training as THE most common cause of bad experiences. Don’t set your dog up for failure. If he/she does not consistently behave well for you at home, they are unlikely to do any better when traveling (and will probably do worse). Watch out for future guest posts from DogSpelledForward on how to train your pooch to Wait, Leave It, Say Hi, and Settle.
2. Exercise your dog. A tired puppy is a good puppy. Don’t neglect the morning walk so you can get on the road faster or the evening walk because you are fatigued from the drive. Limit your mileage to allow 1-2 exercise breaks for you and the dogs en route.
3. Obey leash laws and signage. People don’t care how well behaved you think your dog is; if the sign says dogs must be leashed – do it. It shows respect for the resident pet owners that are left behind to deal with problems created by people traveling with pets.
4. Scoop the poop. Nothing spoils a walk like stepping in dog poop left behind by careless pet owners. This, more than anything else, causes people to resent dog owners. It’s also the primary reason for keeping parks and other locations from going pet friendly.
5. Have your pet under your control at all times. Be present. When you walk your dog, walk your dog – don’t make a call or check your email from your smartphone.
6. Be considerate of your neighbor. Just as we deserve to include our pets in our lives, there are people who prefer not to have our animals foisted upon them. So whether your “neighbor” is in the next plane seat, the next hotel room, or the next dining table pet owners must take care to minimize the imposition on others.
7. Patronize pet friendly businesses. Pet friendly establishments have, to an extent, gone out on a limb to cater to the needs of the (pet-owning) few, not the (pet-free) masses. GPF believes it is important to financially support the businesses that emotionally support us.
8. Call ahead to confirm pet policies. Using GPF as an example, we work hard to keep the pet policy information provided on our site current. But things change. A quick phone call to confirm pet policies can save time, tempers, and hurt feelings.
9. Have patience. Patience is a must for a successful trek because it takes more time to do what needs to be done and get to where you want to go when you travel with a pet.
10. Be prepared to leave. Sometimes, despite all your preparations, your pet may not cooperate. Seeing another dog may set it off … particularly one not under the control of its owner. If snarling, growling, and/or lunging result – and calm cannot be restored – be the bigger person and move on. This seems to happen most often at restaurants, and we’ve endured several occasions where either Amy or I had to leave with our dogs while the other stayed behind to get our food to go and pay the bill.
In summary, when you travel with your pet remember that you’re an ambassador for others who travel with theirs. We hope that you’ll join us in following these simple principles to make everyone’s experience more pleasant! Anything we missed?! Please add your thoughts in a comment!
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This is great information. It's easy for dog lovers to lose sight of the fact that everyone else doesn't feel the same way about the species — and for travelers who allow their pets to behave badly to ruin it for those who follow the rules.
I would only add that we should tell pet-friendly business that we are patronizing them because they are pet-friendly — even when we're not traveling with pets. That'll reinforce that pet-friendliness is good business.
Edie, you're absolutely right. We do make it a point to thank businesses for being pet friendly – even if we don't have Ty & Buster with us. So pet owners, you're hearing it from another person who travels with her dog over at http://willmydoghateme.com – pet friendliness is good business. And remember, we vote with our dollars.
Great tips, Rod! We really like the fact that you stressed training in advance — this can make a huge difference not only on the pet owner's experience but also help reduce stress for the pet (particularly if he is afraid of his travel crate/carrier).
i think that the number one code of conduct should be “scoop the poop”! you know how many times i've taken jersey to a higway rest area for a pee break and stepped in dog poo? well, put it this way. if i got a nickle for every time this i've said “oh s**t!”, i'd be rich! it really is a pet peeve of mine!
Training certainly is critical . Think of the average lifespan of a dog as being 10 years, or 520 weeks. Compare that to the few cumulative weeks of time it takes to work with that dog over its lifetime. What an incredible return on investment for the owner and the dog – who only wants to please the owner.
You really have to wonder what people are thinking. And then you realize they're not thinking at all. I doubt that stiffer fines would change the behavior. Anyone out there got an idea to improve pickup??
how about;
1. dog poops
2. pull plastic bag out of pocket.
3. pick up poop
4. find nearest trash can & deposit poop in trash can
is it really that hard? i guess so…
Great points!
I think another important point might be safety, in conjunction with morning and evening walks.
Since you may not know what traffic patterns are like in the area you are visiting, having a blinking light on your dog and/or a reflective jacket will help the locals spot you in low light conditions and keep everybody safe.
I just love this post. I recently sat in a doctor's office near a woman with a service dog, and listened as she answered questions from her corner of the waiting room about how her dog helps her and the rules, generally, of negotiating life with a service dog (complicated, for her, by the fact that she was not handicapped in a way that people understand — her dog senses when she stops breathing for too long, which is a rare disorder). She did a sensational job of being an ambassador for the pair of them, and — in a different way — I think that's what travelers with dogs need to be doing. Recognize bewilderment, encourage questions, answer them clearly and with friendly understanding — lots of people are surprised to find dogs in places where they are, in fact, allowed, and if you talk comfortably to them about the rules, you (and your well-behaved dog) can win them over to the cause.
This blog provides detailed information about pets.. I have been looking for a blog like this for past many months.. The points mentioned in this article are very valid..
My Pet Friendly Travel
Also remember, not all pets are as friendly as you are. in your hometown, you have relationships with the pets in your hood. You all have established a bond. When you go to a new place, understand that you have to create a new bond with new pets, and that it may take time. Of course it's hard to understand how anyone human or anipal can not like you, but it happens.
Great blog and was just posted on our FB fanpage. http://www.facebook.com/Terrier Trousers