Another cost of owning a dog is the holiday. Yes, costs include not just the dog, but dog training, therapy and / or presents for the dog walkers, the dog sitters and the dogs' 'hotel'. You need a dog-friendly hotel or kennels when you are on holiday.
A dog owner told me that when she went on holiday in the UK last month her dogs' 'hotel' (kennels) cost twice as much as her hotels.
If you are planning a Christmas holiday, you can buy a Christmas stocking for a dog or cat in at least two British supermarkets. I used to think that Christmas presents for animals were a daft idea, because the animal does not know that it's Christmas, nor expect a present. However, having seen lots of videos of dogs delighted by dog toys and gifts, I'm sure that a video of your dog's delight will add to your family's pleasure on Christmas day or new Year or any other holiday you celebrate.
You can also buy dog Santa costumes, coat and Santa hat in red with white edging.
Search dog hotel guide book on Amazon and you will find not one, not two but three or more books on dog hotels.
How can you be sure that dogs will enjoy their stay away?
People who have dogs recommend that you visit the kennels to check them out, and leave your dogs there for one overnight or a weekend to see whether they pine or thrive.
What does your dog want on holiday? To know the location in advance (a pre-visit with you). To be with other dogs it knows? This works if you have two or more dogs, or you and a friend of family member can both leave dogs or take dogs to the same place.
A location which accepts muddy paws? Insurance for damage? Enough staff. Friendly, dog-loving staff. Dog food of the sort you approve. Daily exercise. Safety from hazards such as as dangerous water.
You also need to pack for your dog. You might take the dog basket, a dog carrier, a car with a dog barrier, a bone, toys, clothes for cold weather, a towel for drying (not the hotel's towel), dog food.
Research:
Make a dog packing list. Include some of all of these:
1 Dog hotels/ kennels in the area you are visiting;
2 Phone numbers of local vets; their opening hours. Costs.
3 Pet shops and supermarkets stocking dog food and toys;
4 Other dog owners at the location you are visiting.
5 Dog-friendly outings.
6 Activities such as walks on the downs. Or dog training.
7 Dog-friendly beaches. (No dangerous currents nor waves. You need to protect the dog and members of the family who might chase after the dog to try and rescue it.)
8 Parks with dog areas. (Some parks ban dogs or restrict them. You may want to park your car on the side of a large park nearest the dog area.
9 Taking granny, the children or the whole family to visit a rescue centre or animal hospital, safari park, Night Safari (Singapore) or zoo.
10 Dog-themed souvenirs such as tee-shirt and tea towels.The most expensive personalised presents I have seen I've seen are handbags imprinted with pictures of dogs given as Xmas or birthday present to American movie stars by people operating a present finding service.
11 Places for photographing your dog. Places such as landscapes which would be enhanced by having a dog in the foreground to create human interest.
12 Dog leads and / or muzzles (eg cities and avalanche areas in the USA may restrict dogs or have muzzling in public rules).
13 Dog dangers. If an area has a spate of thefts of dogs you may wish to watch your dog carefully or route via a different area.
14 Dog photographers who can do a family portrait including your dog or a picture of the dog alone, as a souvenir for yourself or a gift to others. Or you can have a portrait in oils of your dog. Or a quick dog sketch or caricature or silhouette for a framed portrait or mug.
15 Check whether your dog-loving friends would like pictures of dogs or whether they like their live dog but are already inundated with dog pictures from well-meaning friends and would prefer something else.A cat loving friend has too many cat souvenirs. But a dog loving friend loves dog souvenirs, tins and pens.
16 Dog places and events:
St Bernard dog centres in European ski centres. (Where a rescue dog rescues people, and dogs needing rescuing are called rescued dogs.) Husky sled rides in the USA. (Some areas now ban sled rides believing them to be cruel to dogs.) Crafts dog show in London, England.
17 Research a location for buying suitable gift for your dog-sitter. Buying a gift to take your dog when you return.
18 You might also time your next year's trips around events such as the Crufts Dog Show in the UK.
19 Make sure your dog is microchipped so it can be traced returned if it goes missing on holiday.
20a Check your dog insurance is up to date and you have the correct contact details with you.
BOOKS, FILMS and VISITS
20b A dog book or old TV film or movie. A dog theme book to read on holiday such as Call of the Wild. A dog film to watch such as Lassie. Perhaps a dog hotel guidebook to read on holiday and plan your next trip, giving your own reviews to TripAdvisor.
21 A doggy diary with pictures for your dog and family to re-read later.
VISITS
22 A place to visit to amuse dog loving adults (dog wall paper at The Sampler wine bar in London, England) or children (dog window display in Intu shopping mall, Watford England - how many dogs can they identify.
Greyfriar's Bobby in EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND
Legend says the dog visited the grave of its master for years after its master's death. A statue commemorates the dog and the story. Recent research suggests that the story is not entirely true. Maybe the dog seen was a later dog, attracted by being fed by somebody else. Legend? Or hoax? Depends how you look at life. Never mind. As they say, why let the truth get in the way of a good story. A film has been made of the story.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greyfriars_Bobby
http://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofScotland/Greyfriars-Bobby/
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g186525-d187692-Reviews-Greyfriars_Bobby_Memorial-Edinburgh_Scotland.html
Hachiko in JAPAN
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hachikō
In Japan you can visit a museum to see the stuffed body of the dog which devotedly visited the station every day hoping to meet its owner who had died. Wikipedia has the whole story and a picture of the dog, its grave and its model in the museum.The name of the dog was Hachiko and its breed was an Akita.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hachikō
DOG QUIZ / BOOK
23 Take a photo and make a quiz with dog pictures and names to match. Make a dog quiz to amuse the children on planes and car or coach journeys.Make a dog quiz for a Christmas or Boxing Day or New Year's eve party.
24 Buy a dog breed book for children as a Christmas present or to amuse them and keep them happily occupied on long journeys.
25 Make a Christmas card with a pull-out dog quiz to go with your gifts. For the host you are visiting. Put doggy quotations in Xmas crackers. (On some journeys remember on most airlines you can't fly with fireworks nor crackers containing the bit which makes the crackers go bang. If your dogs are scared of fireworks, they might not like the bangs in Xmas crackers.)
If you are packing for a Christmas holiday away, you might look for dog theme gifts for children or the children of your host's family. For example, dog puppets or soft toys. Sainsbury's has a sparkle eyed dog. (I saw this in the South Harrow branch in North London.)
Books
(See Amazon)
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer.
Author of Larry the talking labrador.
A dog owner told me that when she went on holiday in the UK last month her dogs' 'hotel' (kennels) cost twice as much as her hotels.
If you are planning a Christmas holiday, you can buy a Christmas stocking for a dog or cat in at least two British supermarkets. I used to think that Christmas presents for animals were a daft idea, because the animal does not know that it's Christmas, nor expect a present. However, having seen lots of videos of dogs delighted by dog toys and gifts, I'm sure that a video of your dog's delight will add to your family's pleasure on Christmas day or new Year or any other holiday you celebrate.
Dog theme window display at Intu shopping mall in Watford, Herts, NW London.
Dog Christmas Stocking
From the point of view of cost, it would be worthwhile looking for a hotel which accepts dogs, or taking a holiday in a caravan - even buying a caravan.Alternatively, having a house sitter who loves dogs, preferably one of your own relatives, or doing a house swap with other dog owners.Search dog hotel guide book on Amazon and you will find not one, not two but three or more books on dog hotels.
How can you be sure that dogs will enjoy their stay away?
People who have dogs recommend that you visit the kennels to check them out, and leave your dogs there for one overnight or a weekend to see whether they pine or thrive.
What does your dog want on holiday? To know the location in advance (a pre-visit with you). To be with other dogs it knows? This works if you have two or more dogs, or you and a friend of family member can both leave dogs or take dogs to the same place.
A location which accepts muddy paws? Insurance for damage? Enough staff. Friendly, dog-loving staff. Dog food of the sort you approve. Daily exercise. Safety from hazards such as as dangerous water.
You also need to pack for your dog. You might take the dog basket, a dog carrier, a car with a dog barrier, a bone, toys, clothes for cold weather, a towel for drying (not the hotel's towel), dog food.
Research:
Make a dog packing list. Include some of all of these:
1 Dog hotels/ kennels in the area you are visiting;
2 Phone numbers of local vets; their opening hours. Costs.
3 Pet shops and supermarkets stocking dog food and toys;
4 Other dog owners at the location you are visiting.
5 Dog-friendly outings.
6 Activities such as walks on the downs. Or dog training.
7 Dog-friendly beaches. (No dangerous currents nor waves. You need to protect the dog and members of the family who might chase after the dog to try and rescue it.)
8 Parks with dog areas. (Some parks ban dogs or restrict them. You may want to park your car on the side of a large park nearest the dog area.
9 Taking granny, the children or the whole family to visit a rescue centre or animal hospital, safari park, Night Safari (Singapore) or zoo.
Not dog biscuits but a dog biscuit tin.
SOUVENIRS10 Dog-themed souvenirs such as tee-shirt and tea towels.The most expensive personalised presents I have seen I've seen are handbags imprinted with pictures of dogs given as Xmas or birthday present to American movie stars by people operating a present finding service.
11 Places for photographing your dog. Places such as landscapes which would be enhanced by having a dog in the foreground to create human interest.
12 Dog leads and / or muzzles (eg cities and avalanche areas in the USA may restrict dogs or have muzzling in public rules).
13 Dog dangers. If an area has a spate of thefts of dogs you may wish to watch your dog carefully or route via a different area.
14 Dog photographers who can do a family portrait including your dog or a picture of the dog alone, as a souvenir for yourself or a gift to others. Or you can have a portrait in oils of your dog. Or a quick dog sketch or caricature or silhouette for a framed portrait or mug.
15 Check whether your dog-loving friends would like pictures of dogs or whether they like their live dog but are already inundated with dog pictures from well-meaning friends and would prefer something else.A cat loving friend has too many cat souvenirs. But a dog loving friend loves dog souvenirs, tins and pens.
A dog biscuit tin
St Bernard dog centres in European ski centres. (Where a rescue dog rescues people, and dogs needing rescuing are called rescued dogs.) Husky sled rides in the USA. (Some areas now ban sled rides believing them to be cruel to dogs.) Crafts dog show in London, England.
17 Research a location for buying suitable gift for your dog-sitter. Buying a gift to take your dog when you return.
18 You might also time your next year's trips around events such as the Crufts Dog Show in the UK.
19 Make sure your dog is microchipped so it can be traced returned if it goes missing on holiday.
20a Check your dog insurance is up to date and you have the correct contact details with you.
The Sampler Wine Bar (See previous post)
20b A dog book or old TV film or movie. A dog theme book to read on holiday such as Call of the Wild. A dog film to watch such as Lassie. Perhaps a dog hotel guidebook to read on holiday and plan your next trip, giving your own reviews to TripAdvisor.
21 A doggy diary with pictures for your dog and family to re-read later.
VISITS
22 A place to visit to amuse dog loving adults (dog wall paper at The Sampler wine bar in London, England) or children (dog window display in Intu shopping mall, Watford England - how many dogs can they identify.
Greyfriar's Bobby in EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND
Legend says the dog visited the grave of its master for years after its master's death. A statue commemorates the dog and the story. Recent research suggests that the story is not entirely true. Maybe the dog seen was a later dog, attracted by being fed by somebody else. Legend? Or hoax? Depends how you look at life. Never mind. As they say, why let the truth get in the way of a good story. A film has been made of the story.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greyfriars_Bobby
http://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofScotland/Greyfriars-Bobby/
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g186525-d187692-Reviews-Greyfriars_Bobby_Memorial-Edinburgh_Scotland.html
Hachiko in JAPAN
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hachikō
In Japan you can visit a museum to see the stuffed body of the dog which devotedly visited the station every day hoping to meet its owner who had died. Wikipedia has the whole story and a picture of the dog, its grave and its model in the museum.The name of the dog was Hachiko and its breed was an Akita.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hachikō
DOG QUIZ / BOOK
23 Take a photo and make a quiz with dog pictures and names to match. Make a dog quiz to amuse the children on planes and car or coach journeys.Make a dog quiz for a Christmas or Boxing Day or New Year's eve party.
24 Buy a dog breed book for children as a Christmas present or to amuse them and keep them happily occupied on long journeys.
25 Make a Christmas card with a pull-out dog quiz to go with your gifts. For the host you are visiting. Put doggy quotations in Xmas crackers. (On some journeys remember on most airlines you can't fly with fireworks nor crackers containing the bit which makes the crackers go bang. If your dogs are scared of fireworks, they might not like the bangs in Xmas crackers.)
If you are packing for a Christmas holiday away, you might look for dog theme gifts for children or the children of your host's family. For example, dog puppets or soft toys. Sainsbury's has a sparkle eyed dog. (I saw this in the South Harrow branch in North London.)
Waitrose sparkle eye dog. £12.99.
Books
(See Amazon)
Good Guide to Dog Friendly Pubs, Hotels and B and Bs
Ebury press. About £8 plus postage.
Xmas Stockings for dogs
amazon
eBay
pet-supermarket.co.uk
Go to amazon for feedback on products such as dog xmas stockings or money supermarket for forum on which supermarkets have stocks and contents of the stockings.
Please check out my other posts on travel, grammar, spelling and speaking. I have profiles and books on amazon and lulu.com Follow these travel posts. Like me on Facebook. Link to me on LinkedIn. Happy Reading.
Xmas Stockings for dogs
amazon
eBay
pet-supermarket.co.uk
Go to amazon for feedback on products such as dog xmas stockings or money supermarket for forum on which supermarkets have stocks and contents of the stockings.
Author of Larry the talking labrador.
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