Why Summer Travel Might Be the Best Thing for Your Puppy

It’s summertime—the season of sunshine, lake weekends, and family vacations. But if you’re planning to bring home a puppy this time of year, you might be feeling torn. What if you have to travel shortly after your puppy arrives? Will leaving them with a friend or boarding facility do more harm than good?

Actually, the opposite is true. Allowing your puppy to experience life outside your home during the early weeks can be one of the best things you do for their future.

Bailey visiting my Mom's summer camp in Muscatine. Early socialization for her means she can hang out with large groups of people with no issues!

Why Early Socialization Matters

Dogs have a very short and crucial socialization window between 8–12 weeks of age. During this time, their brains are like little sponges—absorbing every sight, sound, and experience and labeling it as normal. A puppy that’s gently introduced to new people, places, and routines during this window is much more likely to grow into a confident, adaptable adult dog.

On the flip side, if they miss out on key experiences during this stage—like being around new people, other dogs, different environments, or spending time away from you—those same things can become stressful or even scary to them later on.

You can always take them with you, too! We are always the most popular campers at our campsites because we bring our puppies with us!

Travel Is Training, Too

You might feel guilty about leaving your puppy behind while you go on vacation, but consider this: It’s an opportunity. Staying with trusted friends, family, or a reputable boarding facility teaches your puppy resilience, flexibility, and independence. It helps them learn that being apart from you is okay—and that new environments aren’t something to fear.

Let’s face it: chances are you’ll continue to travel throughout your dog’s life. So giving them these early experiences now is setting them up for success in the long run.

Tara traveled to Spain! Early socializtaion meant this long day of travel was a breeze for her.

A Great Read on Puppy Socialization

For a deeper dive into the science behind this topic, we love this article by Dr. Jen’s

Dog Blog:

Socializing Your Puppy: Why "Later" Is Too Late So yes—go ahead and enjoy your summer vacation. And rest easy knowing that with a little planning, you’re doing something incredibly valuable for your puppy's development.