• News
    • Industry Trends
    • Hot Markets
    • Weekly Top 10
    • Hospital Strikes
  • Career
    • Traveler Tips
    • First-Time Traveler
    • Ask The Expert
  • Reviews
    • Agency Reviews
      • Share Your Experience
    • Hospital Reviews
      • Share Your Experience
  • Network
    • Your Photos
    • Traveler Stories
    • Traveler Lifestyle
  • Resources
    • Find A Hospital
    • Compact Licensure Map
    • Licensing
    • Certifications
      • ANCC
      • AHA
    • Continuing Education
      • CEU Directory
      • Nurse.com
      • Relias Academy
      • Wild Iris Medical Education
      • WorldWideLearn
  • Find High-Paying Jobs
    • Search All Jobs
    • Connect With A Recruiter
    • Top Markets
    • Travel CST Salary By State
    • Travel Nursing Salary By State
  • About Us
HCT Today
SHARE YOUR STORY GET THE SCOOP

HCT Today Dedicated News Site For Healthcare Travelers

January 27, 2023
  • StaffDNA Career Profile Benefits
  • Career Profile Login
HCT Today
SHARE YOUR STORY

  • News
    • Industry Trends
    • Hot Markets
    • Weekly Top 10
    • Hospital Strikes
  • Career
    • Traveler Tips
    • First-Time Traveler
    • Ask The Expert
  • Reviews
    • Agency Reviews
      • Share Your Experience
    • Hospital Reviews
      • Share Your Experience
  • Network
    • Your Photos
    • Traveler Stories
    • Traveler Lifestyle
  • Resources
    • Find A Hospital
    • Compact Licensure Map
    • Licensing
    • Certifications
      • ANCC
      • AHA
    • Continuing Education
      • CEU Directory
      • Nurse.com
      • Relias Academy
      • Wild Iris Medical Education
      • WorldWideLearn
  • Find High-Paying Jobs
    • Search All Jobs
    • Connect With A Recruiter
    • Top Markets
    • Travel CST Salary By State
    • Travel Nursing Salary By State
  • About Us
travel nursing puppy
Inspiration Traveler Tips Uncategorized

Tackling Travel Healthcare With a New Puppy

Ryan WagonerDecember 5, 20180 Views0

Fit Travel Life-Travel Nurse Blogger

By Alex McCoy, Contributing Writer, Owner of Fit Travel Life

I’m not sure if it’s the holiday season or the colder, snuggly weather but I have seen an uptick in posts about people wanting to get a puppy while working as a healthcare traveler. Most people pitching this question just want testimony from others in their position who have successfully added a new furry member to their family while balancing all of the other challenges travel healthcare has to offer.

Traveling with a new puppy can be tricky, but it is not impossible. We added Summer to our family back in February and have not regretted it once. Here is a reflection on our experience, with a little advice sprinkled in.

If you plan on adopting a dog, keep that in mind when choosing your housing.

travel nurse puppy

We had talked about getting a dog for a while before we actually did it. Heading into our Phoenix assignment, I chose an apartment that was pet-friendly knowing the time frame was just about right. I also made sure to get a first-floor apartment to make potty training easier. I can’t imagine having to get up at 3 a.m. and take my dog down 3 flights of stairs or an elevator to use the bathroom in the middle of the night.

If you plan on getting a small puppy that needs potty training, wood or tile is also easier to clean. Make sure and invest in some Nature’s Miracle spray to help keep the little one from marking frequently. Older dogs may already be housebroken, so this could be a plus to adopting a pup that is a little older.

Stay up to date and organized with your puppy’s vaccines.

Keeping updated records is key for getting pets into apartment complexes, and is necessary if you plan to take your pup into Alaska or Hawaii as both states require specific certifications. Moving every few months can make it tricky to find a new vet and stay on top of your dog’s vaccines.

We started using Banfield Pet Hospital for our cat and knew it was the perfect option for our new puppy as well. Banfield is a veterinary chain that has nationwide offices. Their services tend to be a little more expensive than local vets, but I love knowing they always have all of our pets’ information in their system. We did do their puppy plan for $30 a month which covered all of her first-year vaccines and was an easy way to make sure she got everything she needed.

Utilize doggy daycare or dog walking services when they are younger.

travel nurse puppy

Now that our dog is over a year old, she can easily go a full workday without an accident. I like to remind concerned healthcare workers that many nurses, doctors, and other healthcare professionals have dogs that may have to be kenneled for long shifts and they do just fine.

However, when your pup is smaller they will need to be taken out more frequently. We actually got 4 free walks with Wag when we got Summer and used that to help us on days when one of us wasn’t home.

I have also heard great things about the dog sitting services offered by Rover. My husband and I are lucky because our schedules are different and there weren’t many days she was home alone all day, but it was a nice service for those few days.

Crate training is a great tool when negotiating with landlords.

While apartment complexes have been easiest to work with when we look for housing, we have managed to negotiate our way in with our dog by explaining that she is always kenneled when we are not home. This keeps her safe and keeps the house safe as well.

Since she came from the Humane Society, she was already used to kenneling but we did have a few rough moments when she got a crazy idea to try and break out.

I recommend getting a collapsible metal kennel that can be stored and moved easily. By getting her used to the kennel at a young age, Summer now thinks of it as her safe space and she will hang out in there even when we are home.

Even if you plan, expect a few hiccups along the way.

Getting our puppy while traveling has been great for many reasons. She has adjusted well to car rides, hotel stays, and constantly changing environments because that is all she knows.

That being said, we have had a few irritating moments as new pet parents. We first thought potty training was going great until we left our apartment complex. She refused to pee anywhere but the rocks outside our apartment for the first three months which made hotel trips frustrating.

After 30 minutes of walking around the “new” outside area, we would take her back inside to immediately have an accident. We also had some issues with car sickness and still don’t have a great solution for that outside of Dramamine.

At the end of the day, we wouldn’t change a thing.

Traveling with a new puppy definitely came with a unique set of challenges. But the companionship and fun that also came along are irreplaceable. When we get a little lonely, or one of us is working long hours while the other is home alone, having Summer is a great excuse to get out of the house. She is also a great Netflix buddy. The love and cuddles from our dog are worth the hectic moments, and we would definitely encourage anyone feeling called to adopting a furry friend to go for it!

travel nurse puppy-summer

Alex McCoy currently works as a pediatric travel nurse. She has a passion for health and fitness, which led her to start Fit Travel Life in 2016. She travels with her husband, their cat, Autumn and their dog, Summer. She enjoys hiking, lifting weights, and trying the best local coffee and wine. 


Want to share your own advice, thoughts or stories on Healthcare Traveler Today? Learn more about our Contributing Writers program.

petsTravel AlliedTravel NursingTraveler Tips
  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • Comment
  • SHARETackling Travel Healthcare With a New Puppy
    • Pin
    • Share
    • Share
Previous ArticleMissouri Travel Nurse Needs Remain High In Wake Of Slow Flu Season
Next ArticleIn Grandma’s Stocking: An Apple Watch To Monitor Falls, Track Heart Rhythms
Ryan Wagoner
Ryan Wagoner is a reporter for Healthcare Traveler Today.

You may also like

Travel Job Alert: Medical-Surgical Nurses Needed In East Texas

Our Top 10 Favorite #NurseLife Tweets From The Past Week

Where To Find National Nurses Week Deals And Freebies

Leave a Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Browse Topics

  • Agency Advice
  • Agency Reviews
  • Ask The Expert
  • Career
  • Compliance
  • Continuing Education
  • EMR Conversions
  • eNLC
  • Featured
  • First-Time Traveler
  • For A Laugh
  • Healthcare Roundup
  • Hot Markets
  • Housing
  • Industry Trends
  • Inspiration
  • Licensing
  • Market Data
  • News
  • Nurse Contributor
  • Recruiter Advice
  • Strikes
  • Take A Break
  • Taxes
  • Top 10
  • Traveler Tips
  • Uncategorized
  • VMS/MSP
  • Weekly Polls
  • Your Photos
  • Your Stories

More Stories

×

Hurricane Michael: Florida Panhandle Hospitals Brace For The Storm

Update, 8:30 a.m. CST, Oct. 10, 2018 After gathering speed and intensity, Hurricane Michael is tearing towards the Florida...

Travelers

alabama nursing compact license-State Capitol Building-Montgomery

Alabama Legislators Introduce Nursing Compact License Bill

March 6, 2019
2019 best staffing firms to work for-award

SIA Announces 2019 ‘Best Staffing Firms To Work For’ List

February 27, 2019
Hospital

Should you take a 36-hour contract or a 48-hour contract?

November 1, 2022

Industry News

Autumn-Thanksgiving-Fall-Pumpkins-travel healthcare jobs Nov 19

Top 10 Highest-Paying Travel Healthcare Jobs Nov 21-25

November 22, 2022
Pine trees-snow-White Mountains-New Hampshire-travel healthcare jobs dec 10

Top 10 Highest-Paying Travel Healthcare Jobs Dec 12-16

December 14, 2022
Michigan-travel healthcare jobs nov 12

Top 10 Highest-Paying Travel Healthcare Jobs Nov 14-18

November 15, 2022

Traveler Photos

RN, Naomi B., shares photos of her adventures from Arizona and other parts of the U.S.
RN, Naomi B., shares photos of her adventures from Arizona and other parts of the U.S.
RN, Amanda M., taking in the sights at Antelope Canyon near Page, Ariz.
RN, Karyn E., posing for a selfie with her coworker.
ER RN, Gabi M., exploring Waterhole Canyon
RN, Naomi B., shares photos of her adventures from Arizona and other parts of the U.S.
RN, Amanda M., taking snapshots on horseback in Monument Valley near Page, Ariz.
RN, Amanda M., taking snapshots on horseback in Monument Valley near Page, Ariz.
RN, Mary G., seeing the sights around Shiprock, Arizona.
Copyright © 2021 StaffDNA. All Rights Reserved.

Helpful news, travel tips, expert advice and online resources—delivered straight to your inbox once a week.

“Get The Scoop” on the travel healthcare industry with HCT Today.

Learn More

Agency Review

    HCT Today wants to know what healthcare professionals think about their travel agencies. Below are 15 questions covering Recruiting and Accounting & Customer Service. This survey will take two minutes. You will either be asked a yes/no question or a scale with 0 being poor and 5 being excellent. All submissions will remain anonymous.







    Recruiting

    0 = Poor & 5 = Excellent



    YesNo


    YesNo


    YesNoN/A



    Accounting & Customer Service

    0 = Poor & 5 = Excellent




    Overall Agency Score





    Photo of The Month Contest



      By clicking submit you are agreeing to the Photo Contest Terms and Conditions.

      We Want To Hear From You

        We want to hear your stories, feedback, suggestions or tips! Have an insider tip on upcoming strikes or EMR conversions at your hospital? Let us know! Interested in contributing a story or sharing your experience to help other traveling professionals? We want to hear it!




        You may optionally provide contact information below. Including this information helps our team reach out should we need more information regarding your submission. This information will not be shared with third parties.


        NoYes






        Unless you have chosen to remain anonymous, by submitting this form you give Healthcare Traveler Today permission to contact you for details regarding your submission. You also give permission for HCT Today to share your information on HCTToday.com. We will never publish your contact information. For questions, email hcttoday@staffdna.com or call 469-429-6608

        Hospital Review


          Healthcare Traveler Today is collecting hospital reviews from nurses nationwide to get a better idea of what it's like working in specific facilities. We want to hear from you! Share your experience by completing the form below. All reviews remain anonymous.










          YesNo


          YesNo


          YesNo


          YesNo



          YesNo



          RNNOLPNCNAOther




          By submitting this form you give Healthcare Traveler Today permission to contact you for details regarding your submission. You also give Healthcare Traveler Today permission to share this information on the HCTToday.com site. For questions, email hcttoday@staffdna.com or call 469-429-6608.