Seeing as dogs are very much part of the family, it's only natural that when we go on vacation, they should come with us too. It's only fair, right? On the face of it, dog vacations does sound a pretty tough thing to find and organize, but there are plenty of options out there. Camping in one such way and searching for dog friendly hotels is another. Unfortunately, your options will of course be more limited than going without, but he's worth the extra time searching for the right place, isn't he? You couldn't really leave him in a sad, lonely kennel while you bask in the hot sun, could you? Could you?

No, of course you couldn't, so here's some tips on finding dog friendly vacation spots.

Firstly, you must ensure that your dog is fully up to date with his booster jabs, including rabies. Also, he must be treated for tics and fleas as without this, many places offering accommodation for dogs will sadly decline you. So make sure you have all the necessary paperwork to prove your dog is clean.

Secondly, decide on the area you wish to visit. This will narrow down your search rather than simply searching nationwide (or worldwide) for places that accept dogs.

Thirdly, you can decide on what type of vacation you want. Do you want to camp, in which case your options are pretty good as many camping parks accept dogs. Furthermore, your dog will no doubt greatly appreciate the outdoor vacation lifestyle that camping has to offer.

Alternatively, you can search for bed and breakfasts that accept dogs in the area you are looking at. There are a lot of people who own B & B's who absolutely love dogs and want as many visiting their premises as possible. There's generally a good selection available for any given area, and hopefully you'll be able to get a reservation. It's worth booking as early as possible though because your options are more limited compared to the array of B & B's that do not accept dogs. Demand could be high.

Often the price of having a dog stay in a B & B is included in the room rate, but sometimes there is an additional charge for any extra dog, so just be aware of this before booking.

Once you have made your reservation, whether staying at a B & B or similar or going to a campsite, do not forget to pack his food and water bowls, and most importantly do not forget to pack his bed if he has one. Once you get to your vacation place of stay, it's likely to take him a day or so to settle in, so if he has his own bed with his and your smells on it, he will settle in that much quicker.

There are options and it will make your vacation that much more happy and exciting if your dog comes along with you, especially if it's an outdoor type vacation. Whether it's a campsite, a B& B by the ocean or wherever, happy vacation time to both you and your pooch!