Rules, rules, rules. To make your travels easier when you have your Chihuahua with you, it's important to know the rules. That pretty much determines how enjoyable your stay is when overnighting in a hotel, motel, or bed-and-breakfast. Okay, with this said, more and more hotels, motels, and even some B&Bs are becoming more open to traveling pets, especially those dogs that are as small as the Chihuahua.

Annual publications from AAA and independent publishers (both on the Internet and in book or magazine form) publish listings of all hotels — from national chains to privately owned hotels — that welcome pets. Some guides will even offer listings of dog-friendly outdoor restaurants, popular dog walks, and interesting canine boutiques in the area.

Use these publications as a starting point, but always follow up with a telephone confirmation. Management changes and so do rules. Confirming the hotel's policies can avoid an unpleasant surprise.

Ground Rules

When staying at a hotel with your Chi, keep her on leash at all times. Walk her (for relief purposes) in less-traveled areas. In other words, don't walk your Chi right by the pool or on a path to the lobby. Many hotels have specific dog areas in which to take your Chi; however, these areas can be a breeding ground for all kinds of disease, not to mention worms and other parasites. If possible, walk your Chi in an out-of-the-way place and clean up after her. Always.

Crate your Chihuahua if you must leave your room for dinner or another activity. Hang the “Do Not Disturb” sign on the door, and alert the front desk that your dog is in the room and you would prefer maid service later. There are two reasons for doing these things. First, Chihuahuas are a popular breed that are sometimes stolen, and you don't want to lose your dog accidentally. Second, if your Chi is running loose in the room and maid service enters your room, chances are that your dog is going to zoom past this person and take flight. A Chihuahua lost in a strange city may never be found.

Identification

When traveling with your Chihuahua, take every precaution you can that if your Chihuahua gets loose, you have the best possible chances of recovering your Chi. Begin with a collar or halter that has a nametag. On the tag, put your name and your cell phone number with area code. When you're traveling, if you've put your home phone number on the tag, you might not hear the message that your dog was just down the street until you arrive home.

When traveling with your Chi, make sure to bring some of the comforts of home, like certain toys and their bedding.

Next, have your Chihuahua permanently identified with either a tattoo, a microchip, or both. The tattoo is permanent and is placed on one thigh of the dog. (Tattooing is usually done under anesthesia; a good time to do this is when your Chihuahua is being altered.) Owners commonly use their Chihuahua's registration number and then register this tattoo with one or more national registries.

A microchip is roughly the size of a grain of sand and is inserted with a needle between the dog's shoulder blades. The microchip has a unique code that can be read by microchip readers used in veterinary offices, shelters, and pounds. A drawback to the microchip is that if someone finds your Chihuahua, he might not realize that the Chihuahua has any identification unless he takes the dog to the veterinarian or a shelter.

Usually, a combination of tags, tattoo and microchip will cover all the bases as best as possible. Additionally, carry with you a clear photograph of your Chihuahua. If she gets lost, you can quickly make posters and flyers and place ads in local papers.