Taking the dog on honeymoon, or rather not?

Should we take our dog on honeymoon? Hmmm, let’s see…

If you asked me if you should take your dog on holiday with you, I would answer with a resounding YES!

A honeymoon however, is something special, so that is a different question altogether.

Well, I can speak from experience!

We had two honeymoons, one with and  one without dogs, so I think I am uniquely placed to answer the question whether you should or shouldn’t take your pups.

My own honymoon with my dogs

We knew we would be totally exhausted by the time our wedding came around (if you wonder why, read last week’s blog: 3 Steps to Avoid Wedding Planning Stress), so two days after our wedding, we set off to the Alsace. Two dogs in tow.

This was before we had a campervan, and our big girl was only 11 months old, which made it a lot more challenging. (I have talked about the advantages of campervans for dog owners in a blog on my dog photography website: Should I Go Camping With My Dogs.)

We booked a gite in a small French village. And when I say small, all that it had there was a boulangerie. And anyone who has travelled to rural France knows that there is a boulangerie for every 5 or so houses. Behind the gite only fields.

It was early on in summer before large numbers of tourists descend on the region, and we spent the week touring pretty villages, tasting wine, buying wine, and eating too much.

Apart from our big girl, the thieving tea leaf, carefully lifting a piece of baguette straight off my plate one lunchtime, it was perfect.

I am glad we took the dogs!

Planning our wedding was so busy, we have had little quality time with the dogs for several weeks. It was really lovely just to be together and walk the dogs.

My honeymoon without my dogs

For our second honeymoon, we went to Venice in autumn.

We didn’t take the dogs on that one. We arranged for the pups to spend their holiday with one of their favourite aunties instead.

For us, it was great to be able to go into museums and churches together rather than taking turns while one waits outside with he pups.

Also not having to work around a dog feeding schedule gave us more freedom to plan our days.

However, every time a dog walk past, we were like: awwww, what a cutie.

Our dogs on the other hand didn’t seem particularly fussed by seeing us back at the end of the week. 😊

So everyone had a fab time, but we missed the dogs more than they missed us. At least this way we didn’t feel guilty.

How to decide of whether to take the dog on honeymoon?

Before I share my thoughts on the matter, I couldn’t help but ask the bots, search engines, and AIs for their take on the matter. And I am shocked.

The answers all were along the lines of “Take the dog on honeymoon if you are both dog lovers and you both think it will enhance your holiday experi…” Hold on!

If you are about to marry someone who does not love your dog at least as much as you do… should you be marrying this person!?

I will leave you pondering your life choices for a moment, while everyone else can return to the question of your honeymoon with me:

Here is your bringing your dog on honeymoon checklist:

If you want to sunbathe on a beach in the Caribbean, your dog will probably not only get bored, but also get too warm.

And unless they are used to flying, they might dislike that bit, too.

On the other hand, if you are going surfing in Cornwall or camping in Scandinavia, the dog might love it.

If lots of pubs and restaurants are dog friendly, then travelling with the dogs isn’t a problem.
And if the places you are planning on visiting, like museums and beaches allow dogs, well why wouldn’t you bring them?

And the final question: does your dog enjoy staying with the person you are planning on leaving them with? Because if you know your dog is miserable, will you have a good time? Or will you think of your pup and feel guilty?

In conclusion, do I think you should take your dog on honeymoon?

In conclusion, just ask yourself what you want to do, how having the dog with you might make it more complicated or more fun, whether the way you are travelling there is comfortable for your dog, and whether your dog is going to have a good time whether you take them, or not.

And don’t feel guilty for not taking them. If you selected their doggie holiday well, they won’t miss you half as much as you will miss them.
Yes, I am speaking from experience: My dogs think they have the best dog sitters in the world.

If you are looking for advice on camping with dogs, I have shared my experiences here on my dog blog: Camping With Dogs

Bright blessings,

 Alternative Wedding And Handfasting Photographer UK and EU

Wedding photo of me, the hubby and the pups we took on honeymoon by CCs Photography, Tintagel, Cornwall.