Although many people will book their pets into a kennel or cattery before heading off on holiday, there are times when owners take their four-legged friends along with them. One of the most common methods of holidaying with pets is a caravan holiday, which can also be one of the easiest.
This isn’t unheard of for dog owners, with dogs being the most popular pets brought to caravan sites, as mentioned here, and cats second. However, some people have even brought their rabbits, guinea pigs, indoor birds, and fish on caravan holidays before. This article will focus on the two most common pets taken on caravanning holidays – dogs and cats.
The same two-part guide, as shown below, applies whether you holiday in a touring or static caravan.
Things to Prepare Before Caravanning With Dogs or Cats
For some, knowing how to prepare for a caravan holiday with pets is simple, but this isn’t the case for everyone. If this is your first time caravanning with pets, or maybe you haven’t been in a touring caravan before, then this will all be new to you.
A caravanning holiday should be pleasant for everyone. To ensure your next one is as enjoyable as possible, you should follow the factors listed below.
Select a Pet-Friendly Caravan Park
Booking a caravan park that allows pets is essential to a holiday with your furry friend. To plan ahead, you are urged to research the best pet-friendly caravanning sites in your chosen area of the UK. Some sites will charge an additional fee per pet, but there will often be extra facilities for animals, especially dogs; for example, dog-friendly caravan sites usually have enclosed grassy areas specifically for dog walking.
Caravan park owners who accept pets will also think about their fellow campers. This might mean the caravan pitches are spaced further apart to ensure sufficient room for pets or certain rules for the safety of residents, such as keeping dogs on leads or disposing of waste in a specified bin.
Check Your Pet’s Vaccination Record
Visiting the vet before heading off on a caravan holiday with a pet is a good idea. This allows owners to check their pets’ health and well-being before leaving home.
Pet owners should also ensure their animals are up-to-date with flea, tick, and worming treatments, especially during summer when these issues are more common. Ticks are more prevalent in specific areas around the UK, such as the Scottish Highlands and the Lake District, so be aware of this if you visit those locations.
It would also be wise to research a local vet in the area you will be travelling to, just in case your pet requires emergency medical care during the holiday.
Confirm Your Pet’s Microchip Details are Correct
Cat and dog owners should ensure the contact details listed on their pets’ microchips and ID tags are updated before travelling. If the animal is lost or runs away during the holiday, this is often the best chance of being reunited with a missing pet. Your address and contact number should be visible on the ID tag.
Since leaving the European Union, UK pet passports are no longer valid when travelling to Europe. Instead, caravan holidays abroad will require additional documents, such as an animal health certificate, and pet owners should also be aware of the insurance considerations these trips need.
Pack the Necessities
Even if you plan on visiting a supermarket or pet store when you pitch the caravan, packing the essentials means more than just having enough dog or cat food for the duration of your holiday. As the pet will likely be travelling in a car and housed in a caravan, there will be items required in both. For the car, pet owners should take into account the length of the journey.
A longer journey will require bathroom breaks, which will also allow the animal to drink water and stretch its legs. Therefore, a water bowl, poo bags, and a lead will be required. Some service stations have dog-walking areas, so you might want to map out your trip to stop at them. A first aid kit should be kept in the car, too, and this should include items like cotton wool, surgical tape, and a tick removal tool.
You can keep another first aid kit in the caravan or motorhome if you want to. Other items to pack when heading off on holiday with your pet include:
- Cat or dog food
- Your pet’s favourite toys
- Dog poo bags or cat litter and litter tray
- Towels
- Bedding
- Treats
Research the Country Code
If you are visiting the countryside, there are rules that must be followed to keep people and animals safe; these rules are outlined in the Countryside Code for England and Wales and the Scottish Outdoor Access Code for Scotland.
Dogs can act more excitable when visiting a different environment because of all the new scents, sights, and sounds. Even dogs with the best recall can become distracted and ignore their owners, so keeping your dog on short lead around farm animals and wildlife, such as deer, is vital. Farmers do not want dogs worrying their livestock; if a farmer believes their livestock is in immediate danger from someone’s pet dog, they might shoot the dog.
Despite adventurous canines and their owners wanting to explore, the rules must be respected to keep everyone safe. This includes keeping dogs off certain beaches, cleaning up after dogs, ensuring the dogs are well-behaved, etc.
Plan Your Travels
As briefly mentioned in one of the previous points, planning your trip is useful, especially if the pets will be in the car for long periods. It can be a stressful experience for pets; dogs might be lying in the car boot for the journey, or cats might be kept in carry cases for hours at a time. Both of these situations can make the animals uncomfortable, but this can be avoided if the journey is planned correctly.
All animals must be suitably restrained when travelling to prevent distractions to the driver. There are multiple products, such as seatbelt harnesses, crates, carry cases, and car seats, that can all be used to do this. As this means there is less space available for the animals to move around, long journeys will need to be split up by regular breaks. This will allow the dog or cat to relieve itself, have a drink, and walk around outside. It will also provide the owners an opportunity to do the same.
What to Do During a Pet-Friendly Caravan Holiday
Caravanning with dogs and cats can be tough, but it can be rewarding if you do it right. After setting up on the caravan site, a few more aspects must be considered to ensure your pet’s safety in a new environment.
Here’s what you can do during pet-friendly caravan holidays:
Offer Enough Ventilation
The inside of caravans can warm up quickly, which can be dangerous for cats and dogs. It is important to ensure there is enough ventilation in your caravan or motorhome to allow fresh air in and help keep the caravan cool, especially during the summer months.
Adequate airflow can also help dissipate unpleasant smells, like wet dog or used cat litter. Although air fresheners can cover these odours, keeping a clean caravan or motorhome should be the priority. Not only will this rid the space of muddy paws, but it will also ensure vents are cleared of dust and pet hair, which aids ventilation.
Travel With Care
Day trips away from the caravan will likely require short journeys, which must be done safely, too. You might choose to drive your own vehicle, but public transport is also an option. If this is the case, keep dogs on a short lead and ensure cats are securely fastened in a carrier when using buses or trains.
You should bring some items with you on these adventures, like a water bowl, a toy, or treats.
Be Mindful of the Heat
It is widely understood that pets are at risk during periods of hot weather, and pet owners should take steps to keep their furry friends cool. There are products available to buy, like a cooling mat or vest and frozen treats, that can keep body temperatures lower in hot conditions, but people can also follow these top tips:
- Provide pets with plenty of shaded areas and fresh water.
- Exercise pets early in the morning and later in the evening.
- Use pet-safe sun cream on pets’ exposed skin, especially white-furred pets.
- Lay out damp towels for pets to lie on.
- Never leave pets unattended in hot cars, caravans, or motorhomes.
Older dogs, cats, and specific breeds, such as pugs and French bulldogs, will require extra care when the weather is warmer.
Remember Your Neighbours
When on holiday, it can be easy to forget about those around you, like the people staying in neighbouring caravans. It is important to be mindful of how your pet could affect other people’s experiences in caravan parks and try to lessen any unpleasantness. For example, if your dog barks, howls, and whines when it is left alone, avoid leaving the dog unattended.
Other ways to minimise the trouble your family pet might bring to other caravaners include keeping the pets on your pitch, disposing of any waste correctly, and following the rules set out by the caravan site.
To Conclude
Caravanning with pets can provide opportunities for quality time between owners and pets. It is certainly easier than travelling abroad with your dog or cat, but preparing before your holiday begins is just as important, even if you stay in the UK. Before even hitching the caravan to the car, there are several elements to consider, such as finding a pet-friendly caravan park, packing the necessary items, and reading up on the Countryside Code.
This level of preparedness doesn’t end when you arrive on site, either. In a new environment, it is up to the owner to keep the pet safe and sound, ensuring it doesn’t overheat, stays safe during travels, and doesn’t become a nuisance to other people in the caravan park. If you can manage all that, then a caravan holiday with your pooch or kitty will likely be a hit.
However, if caravan breaks with your four-legged friends aren’t the right choice for you, research your area’s boarding kennels and catteries on Pet Boarders.