5 Things I Ensure My Dog Knows Before Going on Holiday

The idea of taking a dog on holiday is exciting and it can be a lot of fun.
But it can also be incredibly stressful and far less enjoyable if your dog doesn’t know certain behaviours or have key skills to help them cope with the experience.

No dog is perfect, and that’s okay, but I truly believe that the five areas below will make your trip much more smooth-sailing and relaxing... just as a holiday should be.

1. Toileting on cue, on different surfaces, and on lead

This might sound simple, but I promise you, this is one thing that has made my life so much easier when travelling with dogs over the last 15 years.

At home, most of us let our dogs into the garden off-lead, where they can take their time and choose the surface they prefer to go on. And in day-to-day life, that works perfectly.

But on holiday? It’s often a very different picture.

Many holiday accommodations don’t have a secure garden and some don’t have a garden at all. Whether you’re in a hotel, a holiday rental, a campsite, or just stopping at a service station, getting your dog to go to the toilet can be a challenge. And trust me, when it’s pouring rain or you’re in a rush to get back on the road, it quickly becomes less fun.

From the moment my dogs come home, I start layering a verbal cue over toileting. You can start at any time, and rewarding them helps! The goal is to build a strong association between the cue and the act, so that your dog can toilet when asked, no messing around.

If your dog is used to only going off-lead or in your garden, start practising toileting on-lead too. It’s not always possible to give them that same freedom while away.

Take Hoax for example, a typical boy who’s happy to pee on anything. But for ages, he refused to poop on the lead, which made things really frustrating. Especially before bed or on travel days when we really needed him to go.

It might sound silly, but lots of dogs can be incredibly fussy about where and when they go. Personally, I find it so frustrating when they’re faffing about!

Lastly, make sure your dog is comfortable going on different surfaces. My girls, for example, prefer grass, so I’ve worked on making sure they can go on gravel, concrete, and other non-grassy surfaces too.

Once your dog understands their toilet cue, practise it:

•  On-lead
•  In new environments
•  On a variety of surfaces

Promise, you’ll thank me for it.

2. Settling

If you’re staying in one location for the whole trip, your dog will usually settle after the initial excitement. But for us, holidays often involve a lot of moving around, so my dogs need to settle quickly in a wide range of environments.

This is about more than just the accommodation, it's about everyday holiday life too.

Think:

- Going for a hike and stopping for a break
- Sitting down for food or drinks in a pub or café
- Chilling out in the van or tent at the end of the day

An unsettled dog can be hard work, and if they’re stressed, it’s not much of a holiday for them either.

I teach my dogs to settle anywhere, not just when they’re tired from training or exercise. There are days when we’re on the road or the weather’s bad and they need to chill without much stimulation. It's a skill, and one that pays off every trip.

3. Lead Manners

I’m not saying your dog needs perfect heelwork to be pleasant on holiday, far from it.
But good lead manners really do make a difference.

Being dragged around towns or down a mountain trail isn’t fun for anyone.

And here’s a heads-up: lots of countries in Europe ban certain training tools, even ones you might not expect, so it’s worth making sure your dog’s lead skills are reliable without relying on any tools you can’t take with you.

Make sure to practise in a wide range of environments so your dog isn’t overwhelmed the moment they arrive somewhere new.

4. Hiking Experience

This is particularly relevant for mountain holidays, but it applies anywhere with more challenging terrain.

It ties in with lead manners. Many national parks require dogs to stay on-lead, so your dog needs to be able to walk nicely on narrow trails and steep ground.

Here are a few things I recommend preparing for:

•  Tough terrain: Get your dog used to walking on rough ground to protect their paws. Mountain paths, especially in Europe, can be hard on soft pads.
•  Good recall : In areas where it's safe and legal, recall gives your dog the freedom to navigate trickier spots on their own.
•  Passing others: Practice calmly passing people, dogs, and even livestock on narrow paths.
•  Moving aside on cue: Teaching your dog to step off the trail can be incredibly useful on busy or steep routes.
•  Hiking poles: Sounds random, but lots of people use poles and some dogs find them spooky. I’ve seen more than a few surprised reactions, so it’s worth familiarising your dog if they’ve never seen them before.

5. As Little Reactivity as Possible

This might sound obvious, but it’s an important one. No dog is perfect and what’s expected will vary depending on your trip but some level of neutrality around other dogs and people is going to make your life so much easier.

Here’s why:

•  Pet reception areas (like at the Channel Tunnel) can be chaotic and overstimulating. Dogs are required to be brought in, scanned, and processed and depending on the time of day, these spaces can be loud and crowded.
•  Service stations and town centres are full of dogs, people, food smells, and distractions.
•  Abroad, you may encounter livestock guardian dogs and a neutral dog can make those situations safer and easier to manage.
•  Campsites are often packed with dogs, many off-lead and not always under control.
•  Tourist spots usually mean people are distracted, and so are their dogs.

The more neutral and composed your dog can be in these situations, the more relaxing your trip will be for both of you.

This isn’t an exhaustive list, there are plenty of other useful behaviours too. But for me, these are the most valuable skills when taking active, outdoorsy trips with my dogs.