a day ago
Almost half of all pet owners have CANCELLED a holiday to stay with their animals
Almost half of all pet owners have cancelled a holiday to stay with their animals, new figures have shown.
Four out of ten have declined the chance to take a trip away, purely due to the fear of leaving their pets at home, according to a study by Virgin Media O2 (VMO2).
Meanwhile, a whopping 63 per cent of pet owners confessed they do not like to leave furry friends behind to make a foreign getaway, the merged mobile and broadband company showed.
For Brits who do choose to take some time out, pets are what they miss most while away - more than even family, as per the research commissioned from Censuswide.
And the yearning for their furry friends from afar sees nearly half (48 per cent) of pet owners video call their pets while on holiday, with a fifth checking an animal cam.
In fact, almost a third of Brits spend as much as half an hour to an hour per day on the phone to their pets back home, using up valuable time away.
For pet owners who find absence makes the heart grow fonder, dog trainer Rob Alleyne offered some advice - and it was not to call so often, or perhaps even at all.
The founder of Canine Instructor Academy explained: 'Although it may make you feel better to call five times a day, for some dogs, it feels like you abandon them again every time you end the call, so they can become unsettled.
'Check your indoor camera and see how your dog is coping after each call.
'If they're being left with someone who is holding the phone, they can, of course, let you know how the dog reacts post-call.'
It may even be better to put aside your yearning entirely - and not call at all: 'Some dogs may find it confusing to hear their owner's voice but not be able to find them...
'If they seem a bit out of sorts [after the call], perhaps video calling is not for them.'
Pet owners explained the reasons why they call their animals while abroad - from easing their own homesickness, to believing their pets recognise their voice.
But they should be aware it is not just our four-legged friends who might find themselves feeling bad after a call from a place in the sun.
With as many as a third of us being served unexpected roaming charges after a trip abroad, costing on average more than £90 per trip, needy pet owners could be in financial hot water.
They may be running up massive phone bills - perhaps just to keep in touch with their pooch.
Gen Z pet parents should watch out for this the most - they are the neediest of all animal owners, with 70 per cent of them admitting to calling their pets while away.
An enormous 61 per cent of Gen Z animal owners also confessed speaking to their pets while on holiday helps them feel less homesick.
For those who do choose to FaceTime their pets, Mr Alleyne said like anything, preparation is key to managing any adverse reactions from your furry friend.
He said: 'Familiarise your pet with a particular piece of music or a favourite song for a few weeks before you leave them for longer periods, particularly playing it at times when the dog is relaxed, chewing or resting.
'Have it playing in the background when you call. This can help to manage your dog's excitement or confusion levels during your call.'
Mr Alleyne also had some suggestions as to how to make the most out of any time spent on the phone to our four-legged friends.
He reminded animal lovers as much as we like to think our pets understand everything we say, it is sadly not the truth.
Tone of voice and a couple of meaningful words or phrases are more important: 'Excitable, high-pitched voices will arouse the dog, increasing the likelihood of them becoming anxious and frustrated when you hang up.
'Instead, adopt a calm, soothing tone to help keep your pet calm.
'Spend some time creating words and phrases that will mean something to your pet when they hear them.'
An O2 spokesperson said: 'We know how important it is to keep connected whilst on holiday, which is why O2 is the only major UK network to offer inclusive EU roaming as standard to 49 European destinations.
'Our new research shows that it's not just friends and family that we want to stay in touch with, but our pets too.
'With more reasons to call home than ever before, it's even more important that your mobile provider has your back while you're abroad and that you check your tariff before travelling.'
