As I prepare to leave this weekend for a very much-anticipated vacation (and my wedding!), I've been thinking quite a lot about my dogs. Leaving our beloved dogs behind is never easy, and this will be the first time my youngster, Pan, has been away from me for more than a night. While I know he'll be in great hands (my dogs always stay at trainer Shalise's kennel, A Dog Spot, in spite of the 230-mile round trip from my home in Burnsville), I also know that there are a few things I can do to prepare him for this new experience.

Here are my favorite travel tips for any dog:

My former crew, Dobby, Trout, and Layla, in the exercise yard at A Dog Spot. Photo by Shalise Keating.

1. Know your dog's needs. Pan is social and outgoing with people, but requires daily physical and mental exercise to remain well-behaved. While he can manage just fine with a missed day here or there, I know that multiple boring days in a row could quickly create issues in my otherwise well-balanced young dog. With this in mind, I'm sending Pan on his vacation with some work-to-eat toys that can be stuffed with his daily food, and have already discussed adding some country walks on a long leash to his stay at A Dog Spot.

Our older dog Trout, meanwhile, has some significant medical issues. While she has stayed successfully at A Dog Spot in the past (a testament to the great care they provide!), we know that she'll do better with a pet sitter at our house. My soon-to-be brother-in-law, Dan, is staying with her so that she can avoid the stress of travel and boarding altogether.

2. Provide familiarity. Dogs do best if they know what to expect. A new place with new smells, sights, sounds, and more can be overwhelming. To lessen the chance of GI upset, keep your dog on their regular diet if at all possible. If it's safe to do so with your dog, you should also consider sending a special object with - a blanket or t-shirt that you've slept with, a toy, even a CD of your regular household sounds. Just make sure that whatever you send is something that you're not too attached to. Dogs sometimes act differently away from home than they do in your house. Whatever you send should be something you don't mind losing or having damaged (such as by urine or chewing), should your dog behave out of the ordinary.

One of the blankets from our bed will go to the kennel with Pan.

3. Know your pet-sitter. Whether your dog is staying with a friend, being cared for in your home, or going "on vacation" to a favorite boarding kennel, make sure that you feel 100% comfortable with those who will be caring for your dog. While I know that Pan will thrive at the kennel, I also know that I can sometimes have some separation anxiety. Having pet sitters who keep me informed of my dogs' daily adventures allows me to enjoy myself on vacation! I also take care that my dogs know and are comfortable with whomever will be caring for them, and that those caregivers know each of my dogs' individual quirks.

What about Paws Abilities? Running a small business means that it's hard to completely "unplug," but I'll be offline next week during my wedding and honeymoon. However, business will be running as usual here at Paws Abilities! I couldn't do this without the great team of trainers who will be keeping things afloat. Please don't hesitate to reach out to them if you need help with your dog. We have lots of classes starting soon, including some brand new options that promise to be lots of fun! We also have a few open spots left in our next Day Camp session in Rochester.

I'll be back soon, and am looking forward to hearing all about the adventures my pups had while I was away. If you're looking for a great dog boarding kennel for your next vacation, I'd encourage you to check out A Dog Spot too! Thanks to everyone for your good wishes, and I'll see you very soon in training class!