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Although it might seem like more of a hassle than a joy, traveling with the beloved family pet holds many benefits for both you and your pooch. Not only is it more cost effective to bring a pet with you, but it’s less stressful on your dog. If you’re a pet owner, you know how your dog’s mood changes the minute you pull those suitcases out of the closet. I have an 8-year-old American Eskimo mix named Trixie that my family and I adore, but we used to hire a pet sitter for her while we traveled. This was very expensive, and we were told that she was anxious and not acting herself whenever we were gone. Then, on a recent Christmas vacation, we brought Trixie along for the first time. After realizing how easy it was to have her along for the ride from Chicago to Ft. Lauderdale, we knew we were never going to leave her behind again.

Before we left for our vacation, we bought a carrier for her from PetSmart which provided ample space for her to spread out. Our veterinarian also wrote Trixie a prescription for a mild sedative, which we gave to her with breakfast before leaving for the airport. We made it through security with no problems; my brother had the pleasure of carrying her (half awake) through the metal detector, and her carrier went through the x-ray machine. As we were boarding the plane, she fell asleep, and we didn’t hear a peep out of her until we made it to Orlando. We took her for a quick walk to stretch her legs between gates and then placed her back into her carrier without any problems for the brief 30-minute flight down to Ft. Lauderdale. Upon arrival, there are special designated areas near baggage claim for your pet to do their business, and she promptly relieved herself shortly after bringing her there.

Once in Florida, the sedation fully wore off within an hour of making it to the house. While in Florida, we stayed with family and she had a blast! As an older dog, she is trained and knows not to destroy the house and go to the bathroom outside. If you are staying somewhere and are afraid to leave the dog out and alone, the travel carrier also works as a crate, too. Just make sure that the dog has ample space if you are going to leave him or her unattended for extended periods of time. Fortunately, Trixie had no problems on our return trip, either. We had a layover in Tampa before flying to Chicago, and she slept through both flights. Again, the medicine started to wear off about an hour after we made it home.

There are a few things that you should be aware of before you fly with your dog. The first is that the dog needs to get a check-up and have paperwork showing the dog is healthy to fly. As long as your dog is healthy enough, the vet might suggest for you to give your dog a tranquilizer before flying. We did because we have an energetic little dog, but the final decision should be made between you and your vet. Also, larger dogs are sometimes forced to fly below the plane with the luggage, so take that into consideration, too (although people travel with their pets every day, I have to admit that I would also be a little nervous leaving my dog in the cargo section!). Check with the airline to make sure your dog isn’t too big to fit under the seat. It might not be a bad idea to pack a toy or two to keep your dog entertained since you are not allowed to walk them on the plane.

Additionally, you need to make sure that it is appropriate to bring your dog with you. If you are going to a resort or hotel that doesn’t allow dogs, the pooch needs to stay at home. Also, if you will be out all day and no one will be home to take care of the dog, it’s best that you leave him or her with someone that will give them plenty of attention throughout the day. Lastly, be careful when traveling out of the country. Make sure you know all of the rules, and do your research to make sure your pet will be safe. If you are traveling and the dog won’t monopolize your precious vacation time, don’t be scared to take him or her along for the trip. Trust me, you will enjoy having your dog with you and not worrying about their safety when they’re in your arms the whole time!

Bio: An avid dog lover and frequent traveler, Adam Bruk had to work for years to convince his parents to bring their dog with them on vacation. When he’s not working as an online marketing specialist tracking retail trends in thermal socks, he’s jet-setting all over the country with his dog by his feet!