What I Learned Travelling With My Dog.

Travelling with a dog is deceptively simple. You think you’re taking a pet on holiday. You’re not. You’re taking a tiny, furry life coach who insists the trip unfolds at their pace, in their style and occasionally with judgmental side-eyes.

Lesson 1 – Slow Down

Dogs don’t rush. They don’t check emails, compare itineraries, or obsess about sunset timing. They sniff, they pause randomly, staring into the distance like a tiny philosopher who’s just remembered something important.

You notice. And suddenly, you’re walking slower, breathing deeper, paying attention to the way the sun hits the sea. A dog forces you into slow travel — whether you like it or not.

Lesson 2 – Prepare, But Expect Chaos

Packing a dog is an art. There’s a list: travel bag, collapsible water bowl, hands-free leash, harness, treats, bed, sling bag… yet somehow something always gets left behind.

Flights, car rides, hotel check-ins — things go wrong. Always. But in retrospect, the chaos becomes the story. The spilled water, the extra walks, the tiny paw prints on your white hotel sheets — these are the souvenirs that matter.

Lesson 3 – People Are Mostly Nice

Strangers coo. They pat. They ask names, ages, breeds, occasionally for life advice. People soften around dogs. Your dog becomes a social catalyst, a tiny ambassador for calm and charm.

Even in a busy seaside town, a simple walk turns into a parade of smiles and gentle conversations. Humans are reminded that life doesn’t always have to be rushed.

Lesson 4 – See the World Through Their Senses

Dogs notice everything. A scent in the alleyway, a flock of seagulls, the texture of sand under paws, the sun warming the sun-bleached pavement.

When you pay attention to their world, you start to see your surroundings differently. A narrow street, a quiet cove, a little café becomes vivid, memorable. You travel more deeply — not faster, not further, but richer.

Lesson 5 – Perspective Matters

A dog’s joy is contagious. A sprint across a beach, a paw-dipped into calm water, a satisfied nap in the afternoon sun — it all reminds you what a holiday is for.

You don’t need a perfect itinerary. You don’t need the top 10 attractions. You need moments that make you pause, laugh, breathe and sometimes get sandy, salty, or sunburned.

The Takeaway

Travelling with a dog isn’t easier. It isn’t cleaner. It isn’t entirely predictable.

But it’s infinitely richer. And somehow, they teach you how to holiday properly — one paw at a time.