The latest vacation taboo: Hondheimwee

It is a solid thirty degrees, your little legs are shining from the just applied Lancaster protection, your book is still wonderfully half full and there is a strawberry daiquiri on the way. A hard ten on the happiness scale you would say, but secretly you scroll through your phone looking for that one album with photos of your furry friend. You have even filled a very special album with it in the past few days. And you have Facetimed with the dog sitter so often that it almost became awkward. Hondheimwee, it exists. And should you be ashamed of it?

I don't think so. The animal is usually around you all day. When you go to the bathroom, he waits for you with a wagging tail and a joy as if you had been away for weeks. Now you are suddenly apart for three long weeks. And, no matter how strange it sounds, when you experience something special or are in a beautiful place, you want to share that with everything you love, including your dog.

Hondheimwee can really cast a gray veil over your vacation happiness, and especially that of your children. But not going on vacation is also something. So this is how you deal with it.

1.  Remember that this vacation is heaven for you, but hell for your dog.
The journey in the plane, the heat, days on the beach or by a pool; you really don't do him any favors.

2.  Give your dog a vacation too
Something new, something adventurous. Of course, you have found a great daycare, a very sweet colleague who walks with him for hours, your parents who live deep in the woods where he is one with nature, his breeder so he can play all day with all his brothers and sisters. It doesn't mean that if your dog is not with you, he is not having fun.

3.  Also think about the benefits
Sleeping in without guilt because you have to walk the dog. This also applies for the evening: you can enjoy your own plans without having to walk for another half hour while your bed is begging you.

4.  And about the hassle it would be
Because try to find a hotel where your dog is welcome. Or nearby walking areas. I recently stayed at the Kurhaus where dogs are welcome (great!), but taking them out was quite an undertaking: first with the elevator, then through the huge dining room outside where I had to walk 600 meters before I was on the beach. And even there she didn't really dare to pee because the surroundings were a bit too ‘groomed’ and she thought it wasn't appropriate there. Also, dogs are not welcome in many places: in restaurants or supermarkets. And then... You also have to ask yourself if it is safe. Here in Southern Italy, there are also many wild dogs that would gladly have your sweet darling for dinner. So...

If you really have trouble letting your pet go, you could go on vacation for a shorter time. Or drive closer to a place where your dog will also have fun.

And otherwise just receive a lot of photos and give every dog you meet a big cuddle session.