DOG FRIENDLY FUN IN WATERVILLE VALLEY, NEW HAMPSHIRE

If you read my blog regularly, you've probably figured out that dog friendly vacations and great dog friendly hotels are my world!  I love sharing the adventures we go on with our dogs, Icy and Phoebe.  Today I'd like to share some dog friendly fun in Waterville Valley, New Hampshire!

Waterville Valley, New Hampshire is a Great Dog Friendly Vacation Destination

 

Traveling With Dogs Takes Planning

When we first started traveling with the dogs and I had to plan dog friendly getaways, it helped me a lot to read about how other pet parents found great places to visit with dogs.  It isn't always easy to find great pet friendly hotels and activities.  We've been traveling with our dogs for several years, and now we're in the pet travel groove! We have shared many of our wonderful dog friendly adventures on this blog, and we'll continue to do so to help others plan their own great dog friendly vacations!

We stopped for a photo on a bridge along this beautiful dog friendly trail in Waterville Valley, NH

Our latest travel adventure with Icy and Phoebe was a trip to the Waterville Valley, New Hampshire ski resort.  No, the dogs didn't do any skiing, I did! New Hampshire is one of six states that make up New England, and it's one of my favorite New England states to visit.  The other states that make up the New England region in the Northeastern United States are; Maine, Vermont, Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Connecticut.  All these states are beautiful in every season and each one has something special to offer.  However, we love New Hampshire the best, in both Winter and Summer.  Waterville Valley is one of the best dog friendly vacations we've been on, so we go back as often as we can.

DOG FRIENDLY GETAWAY IN HISTORIC RHINEBECK, NEW YORK

When the holidays roll around we know it's going to be a busy, stressful time so we try to plan an early pet friendly holiday getaway with the dogs.  We usually go the first few days of December, when holiday decorations are up but before the holiday crowds are in full swing.  For a few years now, our dog friendly holiday vacation has been a few days in the quaint upstate New York town of Rhinebeck.

QUAINT AND HISTORIC, RHINEBECK, NEW YORK IS A PEACEFUL GETAWAY

Rhinebeck has always been a wonderful place for us to get away and unplug, not too far from Manhattan or Long Island.  Our favorite place to stay is the Beekman Arms Inn.  The Beekman Arms, established in 1766, is dubbed the "Oldest Inn in America" and has quite an interesting history.   The hotel consists of several buildings, the most popular being the main Beekman Arms Inn and the Delamater House Inn.  We enjoy staying at both of these beautiful, charming properties.  We've stayed there many times but neither of these properties are a pet friendly hotel so we've had to leave the dogs at home.  😞

Beautiful waterfall, pratically frozen, on one of our walks through the quaint town of Rhinebeck

We love to vacation with our dogs, they are our family, so it was disappointing that we could never take them with us.  I understand why pets are not permitted in the main Beekman Arms Inn or the Delamater House because they are historic inns with upscale furnishings and antiques.  I really can't blame them for not wanting dogs or cats in those unique and special hotel rooms.

DOG FRIENDLY HOTEL IN RHINEBECK, NEW YORK

However, the Beekman Arms does have one building that allows pets, it's called the Guest House, and is described as a "motel style" hotel on property.  We were never able to find photos of this building or the pet friendly rooms online in the past, they just didn't have them which made us suspicious that they might be hideous. Recently though, we found a photo of a dog friendly room at the Guest House on the web site and it didn't look bad at all!  We decided to take a chance and book a dog friendly room in the Beekman Arm's pet friendly Guest House property.  We were pleasantly surprised.  It was a far cry from the beautifully appointed rooms of the main Beekman Inn and the Delamater House, but we really enjoyed staying there.  It was wonderful having our dogs with us in one of our favorite quaint upstate towns!

The pet friendly Guest House building at the Beekman Arms in Rhinebeck, New York.  There's actually a cute courtyard area behind this fence, I'm sorry I didn't get a photo of it.

The Guest House at the Beekman Arms doesn't look like much from the outside.  It's definitely more "motel style", but it was clean and comfortable.  We were just so delighted to be able to finally bring our dogs with us to Rhinebeck!  There don't seem to be any other dog friendly lodgings in the town of Rhinebeck.  Here's a photo collage of our dogs Icy and Phoebe in our Guest House room.

Our pet friendly room in the Guest House property of the Beekman Arms Inn, Rhinebeck NY

GREAT WALKABILITY AND DOG FRIENDLY!

Having our dogs with us on our Rhinebeck getaway was great.  We loved being able to walk through this beautiful little town with Icy and Phoebe.  The sidewalks weren't too crowded and there were several places for both the dogs and us to enjoy together.

There's a lovely little park with a lake at one edge of town, which Icy and Phoebe loved exploring.  The lake runs off into a creek with a waterfall that was partially frozen. It was so pretty!

Just steps from our hotel room we discovered another great dog friendly park with a gravel walking path and a large grassy field.  Each morning and evening we went for nice long walks with the dogs here.  It must be gorgeous when it snows.  Unfortunately it's not an off leash area but we enjoyed it so much.

A wonderful dog friendly park where we took lots of long walks with the dogs

ENJOYING THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT IN RHINEBECK, NEW YORK

The town of Rhinebeck and the Beekman Arms hotel were beautifully decorated for the holidays. This wonderful antique sleigh stood right outside the Beekman Arms Inn so we took advantage of a photo op for Phoebe.  Too bad there wasn't any snow, maybe we could have gone for a sleigh ride!

What, we're not going for a sleigh ride?! 

At night the streets were all lit up with beautiful Christmas lights.  It was so nice to stroll through the town in the evening enjoying all the lights.

Rhinebeck all lit up for the holidays

I love Broadway shows in New York City, but I really enjoy dinner theater too. Great food and a show at the same time - I love it! A wonderful theater company performed A Christmas Carol in dinner theater style and sang Christmas carols right in the Beekman Arms hotel.  We loved it!  The actors and singers were all so talented.  The little boy who played Tiny Tim was such a talent, I won't be at all surprised if I see that kid on broadway one day soon.

The talented theater company performed A Christmas Carol at the Beekman Arms hotel

I hope you enjoyed this post. We love sharing our dog friendly adventures and all the great pet friendly hotels and other places we've taken Icy and Phoebe to.  If you're interested in other dog friendly vacations and pet travel tips, check out more of our Dog Friendly Travel posts.

What dog friendly place can you suggest visiting?  Leave us a comment and share! We love hearing from you. 🐾💖

A TALE OF TWO DOG FRIENDLY HOTELS

My husband and I were so excited to visit my sisters in their new home in Florida.  We packed the car with 2 weeks worth of provisions and our two dogs, Icy and Phoebe, and off we went!   It had been years since I'd been to Florida, I was so excited to go, especially with my dogs!  It would be Icy's first time in Florida, and although we don't know my rescue dog Phoebe's history, she probably hadn't been there either.

There were so many things I wanted to see and do when we got to Florida.  I really couldn't wait to see how the dogs would enjoy playing on a dog friendly Florida beach.

One of the things I was looking forward to most was staying at a particular pet friendly hotel.  I had been dreaming about visiting the dog friendly Kimpton Hotel in Vero Beach, Florida since I discovered it 4 years ago!  This boutique hotel chain is a big step above the norm for dog friendly hotels.  For one thing, they don't specify "small dogs only" like most of the higher end dog friendly hotels do.  It's located right on the beach and is quite luxurious.  It was gonna be Perfect!!  Or so I thought.

Stunning view of the pool area, and the ocean to the left, from our hotel room balcony.

Sure, the room and the view from our balcony were spectacular....

Our room was terrific, I loved the layout and how spacious it was

Sure, the spacious room and bathroom were pretty much to die for, especially for a hotel that allows dogs!

You could open a panel from the bathtub and see straight out to the balcony! 

The frameless glass shower was wonderful, our bathroom felt like a spa

Sure we all loved our balcony.  We spent lots of time on the balcony with the dogs when it wasn't too sunny out there...

Icy and Phoebe relaxing on the balcony of our hotel room

So... what's the problem, you ask?  In my mind, there are two kinds of dog friendly hotels.  Those that are truly dog welcoming hotels and those that are mostly dog tolerant hotels.  The former are those pet friendly hotels that truly GET IT. They understand that my pets are family and part of my vacation fun.  The latter are hotels that allow dogs and other pets but they don't really do much to make pets feel welcome.  Instead, they impose lots of high pet fees, restrictions, and rules.

For me, a truly dog welcoming hotel is a necessity.  If a hotel doesn't welcome my dogs, I might as well leave them home!  They are my furry family members and I love to vacation with them.  My ideal vacation with my dogs includes pet welcoming hotels and dog friendly activities.  If there's nothing for them to do or be included in, I might as well leave them at the PetSmart Hotel, where they can play in doggie day camp and have fun with other dogs. 

My dogs don't want to be left alone in a hotel room with nothing to do but stare out the bars of their crate - who would want that for their pets?!  Although this Kimpton Hotel was gorgeous and great for us, it wasn't much of a treat for Icy and Phoebe.  Here's why:

Immediately upon checking in I was handed a Pet Policy to sign stating that my dogs were basically Not Allowed anywhere in the hotel except in our room.  It stated that if we left the room, our dogs had to be crated .  I do not crate my dogs at home and leave the house so I'm not going to do it in a hotel.  They are super well behaved.  If they weren't I wouldn't bring them to a seaside hotel.

My dogs were not welcome on either of their restaurant's outdoor patios.  The patios were quite spacious, so Why Not?!  I was very disappointed, that is not very dog welcoming.

The only flooring throughout our room was tile, which is cold. Being a Siberian Husky, that's great for Icy, but not for my little warmth-sucker, Phoebe.  They didn't provide a pet bed in the room and one wasn't offered.  After we got to our room I saw how cold it was and that Phoebe was uncomfortable.  I called the front desk to ask for a dog bed.  They brought us a pet bed that clearly hadn't been cleaned.  There was hair all over it and dirt was lodged in the edges of the bed.  I had to shake it out and use a lint brush on it myself.  

However, Phoebe loved that bed and spent most of her time snuggled up in it so I can't complain TOO much!  Many upscale pet friendly hotels provide a pet bed in the room or offer one upon checkin, which is very welcoming.

Throughout our stay, no one even offered me a biscuit for my two dogs!  Most dog friendly hotels have a little something to welcome their furry guests upon arrival; a biscuit or dog treat, a bed, poop bags, something!

I knew in advance that although the hotel is right on the beach, no dogs were allowed on the beach.  That is a Vero Beach town rule, so it's not their fault. It was a shame though.

The hotel has no self parking, only valet (daily fee) which makes it difficult when traveling with dogs.  I don't know about you, but we often need to get into the car to grab some dog related item or other.  Their parking garage was large so I wish they offered self parking as well, but that's not necessarily a pet friendly point so scratch that complaint.

Think I'm being too picky? Think I should be grateful that any hotel allows our dogs?  Let me tell you, for the prices they charge at this place I think they should include a full on Spa Day for my dogs!  Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying it's a bad place to stay with dogs.  I'm just saying there are hotels that are far more welcoming to pets.  Which brings me to the second half of my Tale of Two Dog Friendly Hotels.

I found dog friendly Hyatt Place Hotels quite by accident when we drove down to Myrtle Beach for a BlogPaws conference.  We needed a pit stop along the way so I settled on Fredericksburg, Virginia. 

When searching for pet friendly hotels in the area I happened upon a Hyatt Place Hotel.  I've heard of Hyatt Hotels of course, but wasn't familiar with their Hyatt Place Hotels.

Icy and Phoebe relaxing in the beautiful Hyatt Place Hotel in Fredericksburg, VA.  They LOVE the Hyatt Place hotel!  

Imagine our delight when we found this lovely Hyatt Place Hotel that welcomes pets!  Actually, by dog friendly hotel standards, it's gorgeous and beautifully updated! Their fee was reasonable and they welcome up to two dogs 50lbs and under.  I've been told however, that larger size dogs can be accepted at Hyatt Place Hotels, at Management discretion. Call in advance, of course.

Check out this beautifully updated, spacious room!  We are so comfortable in this hotel.  We've stayed at the Hyatt Place Hotel in Fredericksburg 4 times, we just love it!

My exhausted dogs and husband relax upon arrival at the Hyatt Place Hotel in Fredericksburg, Virginia.

The Management and Staff at this particular hotel are fabulous.  It's such a pleasure going there.  They are so welcoming to us and to our dogs.  They always want to pet and love on Icy and Phoebe, and they always offer them biscuits!

Just outside the hotel is a really pretty walking path with wide sidewalks and a convenient poop station. We really look forward to our morning walks with the dogs at this hotel.

They don't pummel us with rules of what we can't do with our dogs, they welcome them!  The vibe is just great here.

Because we've had such great experiences at the Hyatt Place Hotel in Fredericksburg, we looked for a Hyatt Place Hotel in West Palm Beach Florida where my sisters live.  We found a great one, right in downtown West Palm Beach.  Not only is the location perfect, but the staff are so sweet.  They really liked our dogs and treated us so well.  Again, they didn't pummel us with rules about where they can't go, they welcomed Icy and Phoebe.  We even saw dogs hanging out at the bar with their owners!  I'm not sure that's really allowed because they do serve some food in that area, but no one complained.  I didn't dare bring our dogs into the bar though, I was too timid LOL!   

We hung out with them in a corner of the lobby one afternoon and no one had any issue with it.

Cooling off with Icy and Phoebe in the Hyatt Place Hotel lobby after a long walk around West Palm Beach, FL.

During our stay in West Palm Beach, Icy and Phoebe were so comfortable and happy at the Hyatt Place hotel in West Palm Beach.  We had no issue leaving them in the room for short periods of time while we went out for a few meals.  Honestly though, there were so many things to do with the dogs in the area they didn't need to stay in the room alone much at all. 

Phoebe checks out the skyline of West Palm Beach, from across the Intracoastal in Palm Beach

The staff was great about actually calling to say they noticed we had our Do Not disturb sign on the first 2 days, and asked if we needed any towels or cleaning.  If so, they wanted to know when it was convenient for us to have them come into the room.  How nice is that!?

Our stay at the Hyatt Place Hotels was so pleasant and comfortable, we loved every day we were there.  I can't wait to stay there again!  

I'd still recommend the Kimpton Hotel in Vero Beach, I just wouldn't recommend bringing pets along if you don't want them confined to the room all day or if you don't plan to take them on outings away from the hotel.

Guess what  the Best dog friendly beaches on Florida's East Coast are?!

I'm definitely adding Florida to my list of great dog friendly vacation spots!  Looking for more great vacation spots to take your dog? Check out some of my posts on Great Dog Friendly Travel!

100 Places To See With Your Dog: Eureka Springs, Arkansas

They call Arkansas THE NATURAL STATE for a reason.  The natural beauty throughout the state is simply gorgeous!  Arkansas happens to also be a very dog friendly destination.  When we first discovered Arkansas, it was just a place to stop over on our cross country route with our dogs.  What a surprise when we discovered all the natural beauty and all the places you can bring your dog!  That's when we fell in love with The Natural State.

One of the many cool springs in Eureka Springs,  in Northern Arkansas

 

When I started researching dog friendly places in Arkansas, I learned about all the wonderful areas to visit with your dog throughout Arkansas.  Eureka Springs, located in the Northwestern part of the state, lies deep in the magnificent Ozark Mountains.  It's a beautifully quaint, historic town and perfect for a holiday with your dog!

One of the quaint little landscaped nooks around the town of Eureka Springs, Arkansas

There's lots to do in Eureka Springs, most of it centering around historic places and outdoor activities.  There are over 25 miles of deep woods trails or paved paths, easily accessible
from the town of  Eureka Springs.  Visit their web site for more information and maps.



The central "Square" in the town of Eureka where people gather to relax or listen to some street music.

We really enjoyed the Historic Loop Walk that traverses around the town of Eureka Springs.  There are dozens of beautiful historic homes to see along the walk, as well as many natural cool springs. 

Steps leading down to Eureka's central gathering place.

As you walk through the town and around the Historic Loop, stop to enjoy some of the beautifully landscaped cold spring areas.  As you can see, the town has landscaped these spring areas beautifully!


If you still have some energy left after the Historic Loop, visit Lake Leatherwood.  It's a 1610 acre recreation area with over 25 miles of hiking and biking trails around a spring fed lake. 


Black Bass Lake is another area to visit.  It's got 2 miles of trails and bluffs surrounding it, and includes a half mile trail that is handicapped accessible.  This is great because not all areas of this mountain town are accessible.

After taking in all the beauty and nature Eureka Springs has to offer, give your dog an extra treat by taking him to Bark Park, located in Harmon park.  

Note that There are no Wolf Hybrids permitted in the dog park and there’s a limit of 2 dogs per person.  They also don’t permit prong or choke collars (YAY!), nor do they permit collars with spikes on them. 

One of the sunken spring areas, so lovely!

There are plenty of dog friendly hotels and B&B’s in Eureka Springs, as well as dog friendly places to eat (on outdoor patios). 


I found a fantastic dog friendly Inn in the center of Eureka Springs called the Peabody House.  I couldn't believe this beautiful B&B was dog friendly!  We had a separate little cottage behind the main Inn that I just loved.  For some weird reason, it reminded me of a Sea Captain's house.  I honestly don't know what made me feel like that, LOL!


Our cottage at the Peabody House was a quaint two story house with a deck off the bedroom upstairs.  The deck was literally RIGHT next to the mountain - I swear you could practically reach out & touch the mountain!  We loved that, and we enjoyed sitting out there each morning and evening with our dogs.  I was so comfortable in the Peabody House, I didn't want to leave at the end of our stay! 

The main Inn at the Peabody House.  We stayed in one of the cottages just behind the main house.

When I booked our stay at the Peabody House over the phone, the Innkeeper kept warning me that the house we were staying in, directly behind the main Inn you see pictured here, was "really tiny".  "Oh don't worry!" I said, I'm from New York and I lived in Manhattan for a few years - I'm used to tiny apartments!"  Well, it didn't seem tiny to me at all - not by NY standards anyway.  It was perfectly cozy.  In fact, I loved staying there so much, it was hard to get me to leave in the morning to go out and explore!


If you're looking for a wonderful dog friendly trip, I highly recommend a trip to The Natural State, especially to Eureka Springs!


If you enjoyed reading about Eureka Springs, you'll enjoy my post on Hot Springs, Arkansas, which is in the Southern part of the state. There's a bit of baseball history here too, but it's not exactly PG rated LOL!!


Check out some of my other dog friendly travel posts.

Have you ever been to Arkansas?  Leave us a comment and tell us about it!  We love hearing from you!

ROAD TRIP WITH THE DOG!

ROAD TRIP WITH THE DOG!  Sounds simple right?  It is!  Well, it can be with some smart planning.

My dogs, Icy and Phoebe loved road trips!

Over the river and through the woods.. and barreling down the Interstate.. to Grandmother’s house we go!

Should You Take a Road Trip With The Dog?

For a successful road trip with your dog, first decide whether you should bring your dog with you on a road trip at all. A very lengthy car trip isn’t for every canine.  If your dog hates the car or has a tendency to puke, pee, or poop in the car it may not be a good idea to take her on the road.  Find out beforehand if your dog gets car sick.  A road trip with a dog that's car sick is no fun!   

If she isn’t used to car rides, spend some time acclimating her to the car.  Use treats to create a positive association with the car.  Take a few weeks to accomplish this, starting off with the car still parked in the driveway.  Gradually work up time spent next to the car, and then time spent in the car from 5 minutes to about 40 minutes.   

Stopping at the Arkansas Welcome Center along Interstate 40

Plan Ahead For A Successful Road Trip With Your Dog

If you decide a road trip is a great vacation with the dog, a critical part of road trip planning is to make sure she stays safe and calm during the trip and ensure you have everything you need.  

On our first long road trip with Icy and Phoebe I packed everything but the kitchen sink into the car!  I was so stressed out about finding dog friendly places to stay along the way that I was a ball of nerves, which in turn made the dogs anxious.  I have since gotten into the groove, finding dog friendly lodgings in advance and culling down the stuff I need to bring.   Here are some tips that make for a smooth road trip with dogs.

** Consider what the environment will be like for your dog at your destination.  Make sure she'll be welcome, not merely tolerated.  There should be an adequate place for your dog to sleep, eat, potty, go for walks or run around in a yard or dog park.  Are other pets living there or visiting as well?  If it's a trip to visit family, you don’t want Fido to eat your Mom’s parakeet, that’ll put a damper on things for sure!

** I always visit AAA, either in person or online for up to date maps, TripTiks and travel books.  I use the AAA PetBook, which is a Godsend.  It lists, by state, dog friendly lodgings, recreational areas & parks, dog parks, emergency veterinary care, travel and safety tips. AAA has the best coverage across the US and Canada but it doesn’t include every type of lodging, mostly those that are “AAA approved” hotels and campgrounds.  I love getting the AAA discount on hotels, usually 10%!  AAA also has lots of information and resources about pet travel online.

Other good resources are GoPetFriendly and BringFido.

Finding Pet Friendly Hotels and Other Places

** We travel across the country a few times a year with our dogs.  I map out and time our route using AAA trip tiks and Google maps.  That way I can book all the dog friendly lodgings we’ll need in advance.  This alleviates the stress of trying to find a dog friendly place as we roll into each city.   I’ve had great experience with Red Roof Inn, La Quinta, Comfort Inn, and my favorite, Hyatt Place hotels which are all very dog friendly.  

** Many places charge a pet fee per night or per stay, and sometimes per dog. Some only allow one dog, some allow only small dogs, and some charge a cleaning fee.  Sadly, some hotels have dog breed restrictions. Some won’t allow you to leave a dog unattended in the room at all.  Make sure you know all the fees, restrictions and policies before booking.  I have found places that don’t charge a pet fee at all, places that charge up to $150 per night per dog, and everything in between so do your homework!

I used to lug the dogs beds and blankets around until I realized they love to just lay on the rug in the hotel room!

My dogs relaxing in one of our favorite pet friendly hotels, the Hyatt Place  

** Make sure your dog is up to date with any required vaccinations, especially Rabies.  I bring my dogs’ Rabies certificates and proof of other vaccinations along when we travel.  You never know when you might need to bathe or board your dog, or put her in doggie daycamp, both of which often require both Rabies and Bordetella vaccinations. 

** We stop every 2 to 4 hours for water and potty breaks and to stretch everyone’s legs.  Some rest stops have a Pet Area where you can walk your dog around for awhile, which is really nice.

PIN THIS!

Icy enjoyed a cool dip in the water on one of our trips to gorgeous Sedona, Arizona

** I look online for Starbucks, Crackerbarrel, Panera Bread or Paradise Bakery Café locations to get a break from all the fast food along the way.  Starbucks, Panera, and Paradise Bakery Cafe are usually dog friendly on the patio.  It’s a nice break for all of us, weather permitting.  The rest of the way it’s usually quick stops at Chipoltle, Wendy’s or McDonalds.

** Check out the AAA Pet Travel, BringFido.com, GoPetfriendly.com, and Dogswelcome.com for recommended dog friendly activities and destinations in the area you’re traveling to.  You’ll also find lodging reviews from other travelers and helpful travel tips and information on these sites.

Phoebe is so comfy in her hotel bed, she won't get up!

Pack the Essentials for Yourself and Your Pet

** Pack extra dog waste bags, making sure you’ll have enough for the round trip.  Bring a towel and some paper towels so dirty or wet paws don’t soil your car.  Better yet, get a pet car seat cover. I got a fabulous 4Knines car seat cover  and it's the Best thing we could have done for doggie car messes! I love it.

Doggie wipes are a great idea in case you need to do a quickie dog bath or clean-up pet messes.   Once in New Mexico, we walked our dogs in the hotel’s grassy potty area.  I don’t know what was in that grass, but both dogs rolled in it and came out stinking worse than a skunk!   We bathed them in the hotel tub, but they still stunk.  We used the wipes a few times the next day until we found a PetSmart off the Interstate, where they got scrubbed up thoroughly.  We were SO grateful, I never gave a groomer such a big tip!

** Pack a cooler with plenty of water for both you & your dog in case you don’t want to drink the available water at places along your route - some water can be questionable.  

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Planning a road trip with your pup? Don't forget the essentials! Grab this printable PET TRAVEL PACKING LIST in my Etsy shop, Nature and Critters to make packing for your next adventure easy and stress-free.

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Pack extra food for your dog, both ways, so you don’t end up scrambling around looking for pet food along the way.  Don’t forget food & water bowls and any medications your dog takes.  Pack some plastic utensils and napkins as well.  I bring crackers, Jiff to go peanut butter cups, cereal bars, or fruit cups for us and plenty of chew sticks and treats for the dogs.

** A first aid kit is a must!  You never think you’ll need it, but accidents happen.  On the last night of a 5 day trip, we took Icy out for a late night potty break and she somehow cut her paw open.  We used our first aid kit to cleanse the wound, stop the bleeding, apply triple antibiotic ointment and bandage her paw until we could get to a vet the next day.  You can buy a pet first aid kit at most pet stores, or assemble one yourself.  

** Pack a few of your dog's favorite chew toys and snacks to calm nervousness or boredom.  An extra collar and leash is a good idea just in case.  

Using a travel harness or a crate is the safest way to travel with your dog.  I’ll be honest with you though, I don’t crate my dogs. I do try to always use their travel harnesses.  Icy weighs 56 lbs and likes to stretch out on a blanket in the back seat and Phoebe likes to sleep in her dog bed or on a blanket right behind the passenger sear.   If your dog isn’t calm or won’t stay still in the car then you must always use a crate or travel harness.

If you’re travelling with your dog soon, start preparing now so you have a fun, stress free vacation with the dog. Enjoy the time travelling and bonding with your dog!     

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