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Do YOU Take Your Dog On Vacation?? Maybe You Should..

By No Longer Active in Staging. No Longer Staging

Home Stager

July 01, 2008 05:53 AM

Who Needs A Vacation, Me Or My Pooch ??
By Cheryl Gilliam - Published in the "Pet O' Mine Magazine"

Well, you just finished a 50 hour work week, cleaned off your desk for the first time in 3 months, answered the last email, called your mom and packed your bags. FINALLY - You are ready for a VACATION !! Hey, but what is a vacation without your best canine friend Fido or Boo Boo?? How can you leave home without the one who greets you at the door every night wagging his tail with that "special" look on his face .....

More and more people are traveling with their beloved pets..You can now find accommodations for the most "pampered doggie diva" or your basic "nothing but a hound dog". It is easier than ever to enjoy a real vacation with the family pooch and in some cases with other pets as well, although dogs still are the most accepted pet in vacation spots around the nation. About 10 million Americans travel with their pets and 75% of those pets are dogs...

Why not have all the comforts of home and much more on vacation for just a little more than the cost of a cramped hotel room ? Often you may end up saving money since you will not have to eat every meal out. Fully equipped kitchens are the norm in most of vacation rental homes, which enables you to have breakfast on the deck or grill a juicy steak. Games, pool tables, hot tubs and swimming pool access are just a few of the amenities that can be offered. Wow, your pet and family will love this.... It's all up to you....

Please be a responsible pet traveler, obey the rules and be certain that your dog or pet will not "act out" in an unfamiliar place. "Test the waters" before leaving them alone in a vacation rental. If you are concerned about leaving them alone while you are out sightseeing, search for a local pet sitter or doggie daycare.

I would LOVE to hear your stories about taking your pets on vacation ...

See these websites for Pet Friendly Vacation Rentals in the Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg and Townsend, Tennessee area Best Cabins By Owner or Heavenly Cabins

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Many years ago, Cheryl & Roger Gilliam fell in love with a little community called Wears Valley just outside of the Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg/Sevierville, Tennessee area in the Great Smoky Mountains.. After renting log cabins in this area for several years, the Lord blessed and they were able to start their own cabin vacation rental business there primarily via the internet, email and phone from their home in NC. Also, since they have 4 precious dogs, these cabins are "pet friendly". See the website for information or availability Heavenly Cabins . They are truly heavenly !

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Teresa Harris

Lake Real Estate, LLC - Denver, NC

Denver . Lake Norman . Charlotte

Hey Cheryl,

I am so glad that I found this post. Our Westie's have no idea what it is to stay in a kennel much less without us!! I just sold my gift basket business this year, we had it for 8 years; so going somewhere during the Christmas holidays was out, but this year it will be different. We are wanting to go somewhere, during this time, and have talked about Pigeon Forge. A few weeks ago I looked at some of the cabins on line and they are awesome! When I get some time tonight I will take a look at yours as well.

Thanks so much for your post.

I'm just below you in Denver!!

Jul 08, 2008 11:04 AM

No Longer Active in Staging. No Longer Staging

Hickory, NC

Teresa, Thanks for stopping by.. We really don't take our dogs on vacation now since they have multiplied ;-) We would love to have your family and Coco and Scooter.. Let me know if you have any questions, maybe we can meet up for lunch someday since I am only up the road from you.. Also, IF you need any staging advice for your listings - I will be glad to help. God bless,

Jul 09, 2008 02:20 AM

Teresa Harris

Lake Real Estate, LLC - Denver, NC

Denver . Lake Norman . Charlotte

Hey Cheryl,

I did visit your rental website. Your cabins look super! My husband is currently out of town on business, but I will show him your website as soon as he gets back. Lunch would be great sometime.

Thanks for offering your advice on staging. For future reference do you happen to service Denver too? If so do you happen to have a brochure? I have been marketing to expireds using postcards with hardly any results. I read a post on AR about sending a packet of info to expireds works better and in the packet should be a staging company. So I was thinking about changing my marketing efforts from using the postcards to the packet of info. I know we have staging company's here but you are the first that I have talked to.

Please let me know.

Take care!

Jul 09, 2008 01:24 PM

Margo Currie

Exit 1 Stop Realty - Saint Augustine Beach, FL

Absolutely, we take the "children." We've traveled with our dog, three cats, two birds, and a turtle, although not all at the same time. Once traveling from Pennsylvania to Florida, we had the dog on my lap and both birds, each in his own cage on the back seat. In addition, we were transporting bedding, kitchenware, my husband, daughter, and me. We got strange looks at the toll booths, and knew we must have looked like the Beverly Hillbillies. It doesn't matter, though. What's a vacation without the "kids?"

Jul 09, 2008 01:41 PM

No Longer Active in Staging. No Longer Staging

Hickory, NC

Hi Teresa, Thanks, I look forward to hearing from you. You and your doggies will love the Smoky Mtn cabins. I would be happy to get you some brochures - the last I had printed had some bad ink so I have to get some more.. I would be happy to meet up sometime so I can check mileage etc.. God bless,

Jul 10, 2008 01:30 AM

No Longer Active in Staging. No Longer Staging

Hickory, NC

Hi Margo, you are an animal lover.. I bet that trip was hilarious but having your pets with you is great. God bless,

Jul 10, 2008 01:31 AM

Valerie Osterhoudt

Johnson Real Estate, Inc. - Cromwell, CT

ABR, Cromwell, CT Real Estate ~ 860.883.8889

Hi Cheryl...

I always took my dog, Rusty (Cairn Terrier) when I went on vacations. I think dogs need a vacation as much as we do. Rusty is now 14 years old.. and blind. Having arthritis isn't helping him either. So, he no longer comes on vacation, but I do NOT put him into a kennel either. I have dog walkers, friends, etc. that come and take care of him. I think being in familiar surroundings is more comfortable for him... I know it is for me.

Jul 10, 2008 02:12 AM

No Longer Active in Staging. No Longer Staging

Hickory, NC

Valerie, How wonderful that you did get to take Rusty with you for a long time.. You are taking wonderful care of him. God bless,

Jul 10, 2008 02:33 AM

Cheryl Willis

RE/MAX Solutions- OZARK MISSOURI - Mount Vernon, MO

MO Broker - Mt Vernon, Monett, Aurora, Barry & Law

speaking of vacations- look what happened when I was out and about: http://www.activerain.com/blogsview/578155/This-is-as-political I have been waiting for you to see it and comment- be good cheryl

Jul 10, 2008 05:26 AM

No Longer Active in Staging. No Longer Staging

Hickory, NC

Cheryl W, I just checked out your new political campaign ;-0 .. Genuis - I am headed over to comment on it - God bless,

Jul 11, 2008 01:48 AM

Chris Ann Cleland

Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA

Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

I think the idea of taking pets on vacation is awesome. After all, they are part of the family.

Jul 11, 2008 08:36 AM

No Longer Active in Staging. No Longer Staging

Hickory, NC

Hi Chris, it is fun - when they behave ;-) God bless,

Jul 11, 2008 09:05 AM

Dan Woodworth

The Connection - Garden City, ID

Encouraging Communicator

Hi Cheryl, We always took our dog on vacations when I was growing up. It was fun and everyone enjoyed the happy canine!

BTW - Thank You for your encouraging comments on my post today!

Jul 14, 2008 09:02 AM

No Longer Active in Staging. No Longer Staging

Hickory, NC

Hi Dan, Thanks for stopping by and sharing your doggie vacation memories.. I JUST realized that you are the Color Lady - Irene's husband, that's awesome.. Praise God !!

Jul 14, 2008 09:12 AM

Edie Lomason

Michael Saunders & Company - Venice, FL

BA, ABR

I live in vacationland so I never go anywhere. But, the people that come to Venice Island do bring their pets. You can even take them into TJ Max - I saw one today.

Aug 26, 2008 12:47 PM

Cheryl Winn

Keller Williams Realty - Rock Hill, SC

Great post. I love taking my dog on vacation. I have 4, but only one gets to go.

Aug 27, 2008 04:05 AM

No Longer Active in Staging. No Longer Staging

Hickory, NC

Hi Edie, It's wonderful that you are on vacation all the time ;-) Gee, you mean I can come to Venice Florida and bring my dog into my favorite store - TJ Maxx !! LOL

Aug 27, 2008 04:18 AM

No Longer Active in Staging. No Longer Staging

Hickory, NC

Hi Cheryl Winn, It's so cool being able to take at least one dog.. I have MORE dogs than you and I have not revealed the number yet.. God bless,

Aug 27, 2008 04:20 AM

Deborah Fisher

Fisher & Company, P.A., Marketing & Creative Strategists - Fort Worth, TX

Cheryl, we just love Townsend and Wears Valley! We used to motorhome (before my accident) up to Little River Village and loved it. My 5 lb. pomeranian, Bradley, would sit in my jacket for hours while I fished in the river (never caught anything but didn't really want to!) We lost Brad at 18 years of age in 2003 and just recently "adopted" 2 little poms.

Would love to rent a cabin from you and get these little guys used to tromping though the woods and visiting Cades Cove, checking out the waterfalls, etc. It is not a vacation for us unless our "babies" go along with us. I even hire a "baby" sitter to come to the hotel and sit with them while we go out to dinner etc. Will bookmark this post and contact you as soon as we can set up some dates to get away.

Aug 27, 2008 03:10 PM

No Longer Active in Staging. No Longer Staging

Hickory, NC

Hi Deb, It's great to hear from you.. Sorry to hear about your loss of Brad, it's great that you have 2 new poms.. We would LOVE to have you come to the Smokies with the babies !! Wears Valley is really our favorite place - other than the National Park.. God bless - I look forward to hearing from you..

Aug 28, 2008 02:44 AM