Doggy Day Care Is The Best But Make Sure You’re Prepared
My family currently includes one dog and that makes doggy day care a necessity, especially since my wife and I both work outside of our home. If we had two…
If you’re traveling for the holidays and plan to put your pup in a doggy day care for one or more nights, there are some things you need to know first. Don’t be unprepared! (Photo by SeventyFour/iStock via Getty Images)
Photo by SeventyFour/iStock via Getty ImagesMy family currently includes one dog and that makes doggy day care a necessity, especially since my wife and I both work outside of our home. If we had two dogs, as we had in the past, we might not need doggy day care as much because they'd have each other for company. But even then, it's good for dogs to socialize with others outside of their immediate pack.
After a few hours at doggy day care, our Daisy comes home happy and exhausted. She'll walk in the door, eat her dinner, and go right to sleep. It makes the end of our workday a lot easier. While Daisy is at the day care facility, she has a blast playing with her friends. They even have nap time from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Occasionally, we'll take Daisy to our day care for overnight boarding when we have to travel without her. With Daisy, it has become as easy as dropping her off for a regular play session. But we do make sure to pack her own food, treats, toys, and a blanket that smells like home.
If you're traveling for the holidays and plan to put your pup in a doggy day care for one or more nights, there are some things you need to know first. There's a little more to it than simply finding one and dropping your fur baby off. Little Things shared a list of stuff to know before you go. Here are a few of the important points to think about:
- Do your research - Make sure you pick the right doggy day care for your pet.
- Take a tour - This is how you'll know what kind of experience your dog will have.
- Reserve a spot early - Seriously, they fill up quickly, especially around holidays.
- Ask about their staffing - How many people per dog are working at any given time?
- Bring items from home - These will help remind your dog that you haven't abandoned them.
- Make sure your pet’s vaccines are up to date - Any good day care/boarding facility will require this. It's for all of the dogs' protection.
- Bring medications and food - Also, be sure to explain any extra needs your dog might have to the staff.
- Make the goodbye short so as not to stress your pet - In Daisy's case, she loves day care so much, there's no time for goodbyes. She's off and running, ready to play, play, play!
Travel Hacks To Make Your Journey Easier This Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving travel is stressful. Here's a pro-tip: per CNN, flying out on Thanksgiving day is actually easier than flying on the days leading up to Thursday. Over the next few days, 54 million people will travel 50+ miles from Wednesday and Sunday this week. The worst day for traveling is the Sunday after Thanksgiving -- the single busiest travel day of the entire year.
The Monday before Thanksgiving, fares are 17% cheaper than flying out the Wednesday before, per Nerdwallet (via TikTok). By extending your trip one day and flying out Cyber Monday, you can save 15% on your flight as opposed to flying the Sunday after Thanksgiving. Airlines can allow passengers to track their checked luggage with an app, but TikTokers found a hack that's even better: take a tracker like an Apple AirTag and drop it in your luggage.
Most people will drive this holiday, which makes sense: the average airfare prices are up about 40% from 2021, with leisure travelers paying an average of $289 one way, according to CNN. AAA estimates that 49 million will travel by car over holidays, compared to 4.5 million who fly. And for those drivers, gas prices are a far bigger concern than airfares. See the best traveling hacks this Thanksgiving holiday below, and save yourself time and money:
Ditch The Checked Bag
Getty ImagesIf you can, bring only a carry-on when flying, as it will be much easier to travel with unexpected flight cancellations and changes.
High Gas Prices
Getty ImagesPlan your trip out by shopping around where the gas is cheapest on your route. There are apps, like Waze, that can show you the least expensive gas stations on your route.
Airport Parking
Getty ImagesPre-pandemic, many people would just drive to the airport and park their car there. Now, with an influx of cars trying to do the same thing, reserve your spot ahead of time online.
Don't Leave During Peak Hours
Getty ImagesThe times to avoid the roads are Wednesday from 11 am to 8 pm and Sunday from 4 pm to 8 pm. This doesn't mean there will be no one on the roads if those times are avoided, but the traffic will be significantly better.
Patience
Getty ImagesThe most important tip that experts agree on is having patience this holiday season. Some things are simply out of your control, so take a deep breath and don't let it ruin your family time.
