Many vacations can be planned to include fun things with your dog.  Camping, trips to dog-friendly parks, lakes, and the ocean are made for people and their dogs. 

You can really have the time of your life, if you do some research ahead of time.  Make sure your dog is healthy.  Learn about where you are going.  Know any health hazards about where you are going.  For example the sunshine state of Florida is home to alligators, heartworm carrying mosquitoes, and ticks.

Staying in a hotel?  Try to book as far in advance as possible.  To avoid potential problems, ask the following questions when making a reservation:

• Do you take dogs?  Sounds simple enough.  But hotels change their dog policies all the time.  The great place you stayed at last year may no longer welcome your four-legged traveling companion.
• How much are the pet fees or deposits?  Are they refundable?  Some hotels claim to be dog-friendly only to charge ridiculous rates for your dog to stay with you. 
• Are there weight or breed restrictions?
• Are you limited to certain types of rooms?  i.e. smoking rooms or rooms without views.
• Do you offer any special services for dogs?  Often pet-friendly hotels offer pet sitting or doggie daycare for you.  If they don’t offer them, they can probably refer you.  Even if your dog is allowed to stay in the room by himself, it’s probably not a good idea.  Strange places can bring out strange behavior in dogs.  Your normally well-behaved quiet dog may start barking his head off non-stop.