Travel and weather
Should I board my dog or take it on holiday with me?
Last updated 23 September 2026 · How we write and check this
Short answer
It depends on your dog's temperament, the destination, and the trip's activities: a calm, adaptable dog that enjoys new places often travels well, while an anxious dog, or a trip involving long flights, busy sightseeing, or venues that do not allow dogs, may be more comfortable in a familiar boarding setup or with a trusted sitter. There is no single right answer, only the better fit for a specific dog and trip.
When bringing the dog tends to work well
A confident, well-socialized dog that already travels reasonably well by car or has flown before, combined with a holiday built around outdoor activities like hiking, beach time, or a relaxed self-catering stay, often suits bringing the dog along. Trips with a fixed base and flexible days, rather than a packed sightseeing schedule, also give more room to work around a dog's needs.
When boarding or a sitter is often the kinder choice
A trip involving a long flight, several changes of accommodation, or days spent mostly in places dogs cannot go, such as museums or certain restaurants, can leave a dog cooped up in a hotel room far more than it would be at home. An anxious or elderly dog that struggles with disrupted routine, or one with a health condition needing close management, is often genuinely happier in a familiar boarding environment or with an experienced sitter it already knows.
Weighing the options honestly
Consider how much of the actual trip a dog could realistically join, not just whether pets are technically allowed at the destination, since a dog permitted in a country does not mean permitted at every venue on the itinerary. Being honest about your dog's travel tolerance from past experience, rather than hoping it adapts, leads to a better outcome for everyone.
A middle-ground option worth considering
For some trips, a shorter regional getaway with the dog and a separate, longer international trip without it strikes a reasonable balance, letting a dog enjoy travel on trips genuinely suited to it while avoiding situations, like long-haul cargo flights, that suit few dogs well at all.
Key takeaways
- A confident, well-traveled dog often suits activity-based, flexible holidays well.
- Long flights, packed sightseeing, or venues that exclude dogs often make boarding the kinder choice.
- Consider how much of the actual itinerary a dog could realistically be part of.
- A shorter trip with the dog and a separate longer trip without it can balance both needs.