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