Family trips can be a great opportunity to relax and recharge. With a closed schedule, and accommodation and transportation guaranteed, the question arises: And the dog? Take or not? And if so, what is the best option?
According to Camille Chamonix, geneticist, canine behavior and wellness consultant, and also creator of the neurocompatible education methodology for dogs in Brazil, there are many variables to answer these questions, but they all revolve around one focus: evaluation for safety. and animal welfare. This is done knowing your privacy and needs.
“To make this decision, try to answer: Is it better for my dog to leave home than to stay? Only take it if the answer is positive,” she says.
Some of the important points of this decision include logistics, such as the duration of the trip, the mode of transport and the destination.
“Dogs should not be transported in bus luggage racks, since the ventilation is poor. And on the plane, only if they are already used to using the transport box, in addition to supporting the heat. For trips in the cabin, they must be calm and good”. -polite, so as not to disturb others.” says the counselor.
Also, if they are already displaying aggressive behavior, you should ideally not risk changing the environment, as this may cause more harm than good for them and their owners.
If you choose to include the furry in the flight, it is essential that the place is compatible with its natural needs, including, for example, contact with the sun, the earth, the bushes and waterfalls, allowing it to sniff trees to have a good time. a while. time and play in peace. For this reason, destinations that involve nature, with walks, are good options. He points out that “if the place is not suitable and you are locked up alone in a hotel room, it is best not to put that pressure on you.”
And if the option is not to accept it, Chamonix suggests three paths that focus on their well-being: staying in a hotel for dogs, with constant supervision by professionals; stay at home with a trusted person; Or drop it off at a family member or friend’s house.
In all cases, if the animal does not know the people or the environment in which it will be in this period, it is necessary to undergo an adaptation, something that must be done at least 30 days in advance.
“The cognitive development of a dog is the same as that of a two-year-old. So what are we going to do if we have to leave our two-year-old at someone’s house? He certainly won’t be with a stranger.” embodies.
According to the counselor, dogs do not perceive impermanence. With this they understand that the scenario we are living in at the moment is definitive. “They do not have the idea that the owner is going to return, so it is common that when they are placed in completely unknown places, they enter a state of mourning and a state of serious suffering, they understand that they have been abandoned there,” he notes. .
Hence the need for a gradual adaptation, that is, taking the dog to the place where he will stay little by little, long before the trip. “Start by leaving him there for a few hours. Then for a while. Then a few more days, and for a longer period, and so on. With that, he’ll really get used to the new environment.”
In the case of small hotels, it is necessary to identify those who understand the behavior of dogs, since they receive other animals there and need to know how to manage their interaction.
If the option is to leave him at the home of a friend or family member, where he is already used to going, this care can be dispensed with, since it is already a safe and familiar place. The same logic applies to the animal that remains in your home.
However, whatever the option, Chamone points out the importance of maintaining a routine, since dogs are very attached to it, if it changes from hour to hour, it can generate stress, even affecting the functioning of their immune system.
“It’s not uncommon for dogs to be suddenly taken from the home and the people who live with them to develop skin conditions, otitis media, intestinal infections, and vomiting. She points out that maintaining a routine and gradually adjusting (when necessary) are measures that avoid suffering this emotional blow, and therefore do not affect the functioning of the immune system.
Thus, if the animal walks every day -something that is ideal even for its physical and mental health-, it is advisable, for example, to have a dog walking service. “It is also necessary to enrich the environment, in addition to walks, interactive toys or bones to chew, so the dog is entertained and without free time.
With this care, it is possible to fully enjoy the family outing, with or without furry, making sure that well-being and safety are guaranteed whatever the choice.
