Planning to Travel This Summer? Here's What to Do With Your Dog

Summer in Maine means road trips, camp weekends, family visits, and the occasional long weekend away. It's the best time of year — but it raises a question every dog owner has to answer. What happens to your dog while you're gone?

At Woof LLC in Bangor, we work with a lot of families navigating exactly that. Here's what we've seen work well.

Start With an Honest Look at Your Dog's Needs

Some dogs do fine staying home with a neighbor checking in. Others need more structure, more company, and more activity to stay comfortable when their routine gets disrupted. If your dog tends toward anxiety, gets destructive when left alone, or just does better with people around, a boarding or daycare arrangement is worth considering well before your trip — not the week before you leave.

Boarding vs. Daycare — What's the Difference

Daycare is a great option when you're away for the day or working long hours. Your dog comes in, spends time with other dogs and staff, and goes home with you at the end of the day. Boarding covers the overnight stays — the long weekends, the week at the lake, the out-of-state trips. Both keep your dog socialized, active, and well supervised. The right choice depends on how long you'll be gone.

Book Early — Summer Fills Up Fast

This is the one piece of advice we give every spring. July and August are our busiest months. Families plan vacations, camp visits stack up, and spots fill quickly. If you know you're traveling this summer, even a rough idea of the dates is enough to get something on the calendar. Waiting until two weeks before your trip can leave you scrambling.

Help Your Dog Settle In

If your dog hasn't boarded before, a daycare visit or two beforehand goes a long way. It lets your dog get comfortable with the space, the staff, and the other dogs before they're staying overnight without you. Dogs that have visited before tend to settle in much faster when boarding time comes.

What to Bring

Keep it simple. Their regular food — a sudden diet change during an already-different week isn't ideal. A familiar blanket or toy if it helps them settle. Any medications clearly labeled with dosing instructions. That's really all you need.

Ready to Talk About This Summer?

If you're planning trips this summer and want to make sure your dog is in good hands, give us a call or stop in. We're happy to answer questions, walk you through what a typical boarding stay looks like, and get your dog on the schedule.

Woof LLC is located in Bangor and serves dog owners throughout the Penobscot Valley. Reach us at 207-331-9663 or visit woofllc.com to learn more.