The essentials
- Prioritize being a good guest — As a common courtesy, you should treat the rental you visit as respectfully as possible.
- Train your pet ahead of time — A well-trained pet is less likely to cause damage or noise issues when traveling.
- Plan ahead — Being a good guest also means being a responsible pet parent. Have temporary ID tags on your pet in case they get lost while you’re traveling.
When traveling, getting lost in the relaxation of it all is easy. But, with pets in tow, you should always respect the rental you’re in. This goes for all rentals, especially those where you, the renter, get a rating. After all, establishing a solid relationship can help ensure you’re allowed back. Plus, being a good pet owner can encourage rental owners to continue allowing pets in bookings.
1. Know local pet services
We always talk about how being prepared as a pet parent is the best, which is even more necessary when traveling. Make sure you know who to turn to when it comes to your pet—whether it’s an emergency or not. Know the name, addresses, and contact information for the emergency vet, regular vet, groomers, etc. where you’ll be visiting. You never know when you’ll need their services. Luckily there are directories to find local vets and groomers, but we recommend doing your own research to know which is closest/best for your pet relative to the location of your rental.
👉 In general, you should have your pet’s records handy in digital form, especially when vacationing with them. Also, be aware of any required health certificates and ensure your pet is up to date on all needed vaccinations.
2. Keep the rental tidy
In general you should keep any rental clean, but being tidy during your stay is more so important when there are pets involved. With hefty pet fees and fines for damages, you want to clean up any spills or accidents promptly and with haste to ensure you don’t leave any stains.
- Baking soda. Mixed with water or other household products, baking soda can work wonders in sanitizing, deodorizing, and removing stains.
- White vinegar. Extremely versatile, white vinegar can break down stains when used promptly.
- Stain removers. Opting for the tried and true stain remover is always a good choice, but make sure it’s safe to use on the surface you need it for.
- Hydrogen peroxide. Bumps, scrapes, and cuts happen. Hydrogen peroxide can work wonders for lifting blood stains.
- Enzymatic cleaner. If there’s been an accident, you’ll want to use an enzymatic cleaner to make sure smells don’t stick around.
Beyond this, you should tidy up the space as often as possible so the task doesn’t seem as daunting come check out day.
🚨 If your rental has hardwood floors, pay attention! You do not want to use chemicals like vinegar or baking soda on them, and leaving any standing moisture on them can cause cracks in the wood. Always triple-check that the cleaner you use to tackle a mess is hardwood floor safe. If you do cause damage, don’t hide it. Let your rental owner know immediately.
3. Observe house rules
Rental owners have the rules they have for a reason. Observing them is essential to being a good guest and making sure that the host continues to let pets in their rental. This usually includes things like breed restrictions, weight limits, and the number of pets that you can have on the property at a given time. However, there are also some other rules that owners can make based on their location. For example, owners in Death Valley, California may caution renters of the wildlife that lives around the property and the risk it poses to pets.
A screenshot of an Airbnb listing showing rules unique to the home.
Others may note that their backyard fence has gaps in it, which pets can slip through if not kept on a leash.
A screenshot of an Airbnb listing showing rules unique to the home.
Others still may have pet restrictions concerning the number of pets, size, and breed.
A screenshot of an Airbnb listing showing restrictions unique to the home.
4. Communicate any problems
Two-way communication ensures that your rental stay goes smoothly, and that starts before you even get there. If you have anything you need to share with the rental owner ahead of time about your dog—potty training, special needs, a puppy who might howl, etc.—you should do so.
While there, any damage should be communicated, not hidden. So if your pet accidentally knocks over a lamp or scratches the couch, tell the rental owner as soon as you realize. But, not every little incident needs to be shared, so we have a table to help you understand when to reach out.
| When to reach out to a rental owner | When to keep it to yourself |
|---|---|
| My dog bit the neighbor and/or the neighbor's pet. | My dog nipped at me when I was playing with it. |
| My cat peed on the suede couch. | My cat peed on the tile floor of the bathroom. |
| My dog chewed the door frame, bed, etc. | My cat kicked their litter all over the floor. |
| My cat hit a vase off of the table and broke it. |
👉 Invest in pet insurance ahead of time so you’re covered in the event of an emergency and understand your liability as a pet owner.
5. Enjoy your time
More and more places are pet-friendly, so when on vacation take advantage of that and bring your pet with you. Vacationing with your pet can be great, but leaving them at the rental for long periods of time may increase their stress levels and thus, increase the likelihood of any damages occurring.
As best you can, maintaining a routine when traveling with your pet can keep them calm and make your trip pleasant rather than filled with anxiety and fear of the unknown.
Dr. Bruce ArmstrongKeep things as routine as possible so as to provide less confusion, stress, and anxiety for the pets. It’s really important that pets that are closely attached to their family members interact more "as usual" to make things easier. Playtime is important similarly to playing with children to keep them relaxed and feel needed.
Spending time away from pets
Unfortunately, not all pets are well suited to travel and even the ones who are might have trouble with being left alone in unfamiliar places for long periods of time. It can be difficult to determine ahead of time if your pet is one of those that needs that extra attention, but we have a few things to look out for when making that determination.
Dr. Bruce ArmstrongPets that tend to be calm, well-socialized, trained, and that readily accept changes in housing, travel, and environment beforehand will be more ideal for these situations.
6. Leave your rental clean
As we mentioned before, try keeping your rental as tidy as possible throughout your trip to lessen the cleaning burden on your final night. As always, make sure you follow the check-out cleaning tasks but go above and beyond to earn that great rating.
- Lint roll. Use a lint roller to catch extra pet hair on the furniture.
- Vacuum. Vacuum the floors thoroughly to pick up dirt, debris, and pet hair.
- Air it out. If it isn’t raining, consider opening a window or two to air out the space. Pets can sometimes smell without us realizing it!
- Laundry. If a washing machine and dryer are provided, wash any pet toys or bedding that the property provides.
- Air purifier. If the rental has an air purifier, make sure it’s running.
- Clean bowls. Wash any bowls that your pet uses for eating or drinking.
- Disinfect. Use a disinfectant on high-touch surfaces.
Being a good guest has positive benefits that go beyond your visit. Each time you take your pet to a pet-friendly rental, your actions help determine whether the owner continues to rent to other pet parents. Use that responsibility wisely!
Frequently asked questions
How do you manage pets when traveling?
Plan ahead of time. That means getting them a health check-up, researching travel requirements, and having their health information on hand. After that, you’ll want to keep them on their normal schedule as much as possible and take regular breaks to help them manage their anxiety.
What is the app that tells you what places are dog-friendly?
There are a ton of them, but you might be thinking of BringFido!
How do I prove my dog has rabies vaccination?
You should ask your vet for your pet’s rabies vaccination certificate.
Is a digital copy of a rabies tag valid?
Yes! You can take pictures as long as it’s clearly legible and has all the necessary information, including your vet’s signature and contact info.
How do you help pets in a new place?
It starts with maintaining their routine. Feed them, take them out, and play with them around the same time you would at home and bring familiar, comfortable items they know and love like toys, bedding, etc.
