If you can’t bear to leave your fur baby at home or board them at a kennel, there are countless pet-friendly cabins, so you can bring them along. Exploring new places with your pets can be fun and exciting for both of you, but staying in a new place can be stressful on you both, too. Understanding the etiquette around staying in pet-friendly cabins can make your family trip much more enjoyable.

How You & Fido Should Behave in a Pet-Friendly Cabin

1. Use Designated Potty Areas

It’s always a good idea to ask before booking your reservation whether there are clearly marked potty areas and how far they are from your cabin. Don’t rely on the pet-friendly cabin to supply waste bags either, so bring plenty of your own. If you’re traveling with a cat, place the litter box in the bathroom to keep litter from getting tracked throughout the rental.

2. Cover Furniture or Keep Them Off It

Find out if the pets are allowed on the furniture. If so, it’s courteous to cover any items your dog or cat might lay on with a blanket or towel. If not, respect the cabin rules and keep them off the furniture. You may want to bring a pet bed along instead to help them feel more at home.

3. Get Plenty of Exercise

Traveling and new places are both stressful and exciting for pets. Go for walks on the beach, run on a trail, or hike up a mountain together. The exercise and fresh air will help them relax and calm down when they get back to the cabin rental.

4. Don’t Desert Them

It’s tempting to leave Fido in the cabin while you go out for dinner, but try your best not to desert your pets. It can lead to anxiety, which could result in destructive behavior, like chewing on furniture or constant barking. This makes for a bad experience for your pets and your neighbors.

5. Keep Them on a Leash

Unless there’s a designated, fenced dog park, keep them on a leash at all times. This is especially important if the cabin’s rules require pets to be leashed, but it’s also for their own safety. It will keep them from darting into the road after a squirrel or getting lost in the woods.

Traveling with pets can be a fun experience if you follow your cabin’s rules and the etiquette tips listed above. For pet-friendly cabins with water or mountain views, consider American Patriot Getaways in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, TN, for your next trip with your furry friends. Whether it’s just you and Fido or the whole family is in tow, they’ve got log cabins to accommodate both small and large groups. Check out their pet-friendly cabins online or call (800) 204-5169 for more information.