Should you get a dog if you are a traveling musician? Why not? Dogs are great travel companions. Now having said that, there are some things that you need to keep in mind if you are planning to take your furry friend on a tour. The tips below will help you cope. These apply whether you are touring in a car, van, bus, or private plane.
Stick to a regular schedule, if possible
When you are on a tour, schedules can be erratic. There are many unexpected things that you need to take care of. But no matter how irregular your schedule is on the road, you need to try to put a semblance of regularity to it if you have a dog. This is because dogs thrive on routine. For example, try to have a regular schedule when it comes to necessary activities such as eating or taking your dog out for a walk. Keeping a regular schedule is good for you too and your bandmates. It can help you keep your sanity while on tour.
Make sure that your accommodations are dog-friendly
If you are on tour, then you will probably spend a lot of nights on a bus. But on-time that you need to spend more than one night in a certain city, then you need to book a hotel or Airbnb. Make sure that your accommodation is pet-friendly. Usually, this information is available on the hotel’s website or on the host information on Airbnb. If you are staying in a friend’s place, you need to inform your friend beforehand that you have your dog with you and ask if it is ok for a pet to come with you.
Make sure you have everything your pet needs
If you are anticipating being on the road for a long time, then you need to make sure that you have everything your dog needs with you. These include food, water, treats, pee pads, toys, leash, poop bags, etc. While you may not like the idea of a bark collar, it’s probably a good idea to have one on hand just in case your dog has an episode while you’re in a hotel. You can find humane options for bark collars these days, and you’ll only need to use it when necessary. You also need to make sure that you have a heavy-duty crate with you, one that is really designed for traveling. It is tempting to buy a cheap crate to save money cheap crates are usually not durable. What will you do when the crate breaks while you are on the road? So try to invest a little on a good crate that will last.
Keep your dog safe
Safety should be your number one concern when you are touring with your dog. When you are on tour, it is impossible to always look after your dog. So whenever you are performing or on a rehearsal, make sure that someone is keeping an eye on your buddy. If you have traveling by car, do not leave your dog inside the car for a long time. And if you do need to go out for a bit, make sure that the air conditioning is on.
Touring with a dog can be quite a challenge but it can also be fun. Just follow the above tips to make it a good experience for you and your dog.