My husband and I are currently visiting Vegas and are enjoying the many different facets of this town, that never sleeps. I have enjoyed Vegas, for many years, visiting for different reasons and at all different times of the year. It has changed, a lot, some for the good, and some for the bad, but one change that I have noticed while on this trip is the number of places that are “dog friendly”, including some of the major casinos! In fact, we like to stay at the Venetian, which has been one of my favorite hotels for many many years, and they have signs that proclaim that they are, in fact, dog friendly.
I have two thoughts on this as I don’t always agree that something is good to do, just because you can do it. My thoughts are this: dogs love to be with their people; bottom line. I am pretty sure that the majority of my dogs would follow me to hell and back, just so that they could be with me. I believe that this is a trait that dogs are created with and it is what makes them “man’s best friend”. I mean, let’s face it, my cat won’t even follow me out of the house and there is definitely a limit to how far my horses would follow me, but the dogs? I don’t think they would even question the request. I think they would simply say, “Okay Mom, you lead, we will follow”. I also understand the need for service dogs, as one of our family members has a certified service dog and she has been many places with us. It is heart warming to be able to share amazing experiences with our fur-babies, because we consider them family, right?
Now, I’d like for you to consider this: overstimulation in dogs can cause just as many behavioral issues, and mental triggers as under stimulated dogs can. When I visit Vegas, specifically, I have to know myself and take care not to overload my brain with too much “stuff”, which, in Vegas, is very easy to do; lighted, flashing signs, everywhere, crowds of people, everywhere, noise, and I mean loud noise, everywhere, continual traffic, honking, yelling, etc.. I will notice myself getting overloaded and will remove myself from the environment, until my brain can reset. What if I was a dog, who’s senses are many times more sensitive than what my humans senses are? I have no way of removing myself from those stimuli that are overloading my system. What happens then? Well, I could become very fearful which could cause me to bolt from my owner and run into a car laden street, or maybe bite someone, or start having bladder control issues…these are just examples, but these examples could cause very serious and possibly tragic outcomes.
Please don’t get me wrong and think that I am not an advocate of traveling with your dog, because I absolutely am and I truly enjoy taking my puppy loves on vacation with me. What I am suggesting is that maybe we should pick and choose where we are taking our four-legged-loves on vacation with us to. I have traveled all over the United States, and even Canada, with our dogs, and have thoroughly enjoyed those trips, but, I have never chosen to take my dog with me to Vegas, simply because of the twenty-four-hour stimuli. I am not saying it is right or it is wrong, I am simply saying that maybe we should look at our doggy-vacation spots from their viewpoint, and not just ours. With all of that being said, I would like for all of you to know how much I truly miss by dogs when I am away from them and would like nothing better than to be able to travel the world with all of my fur-babies, all of the time. I just feel that self control and forward thinking could save a lot of heartache, down the road.
Many blessings and much love to you and your four-legged-loves ~ Tammy
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