Road Tripping with a Dog: Advice?

"CAR_IS_MI" (car-is-mi)
08/05/2014 at 17:46 • Filed to: great american roadtrip

So I have been working out the details of my !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! and am planning (and hoping) to be on the road mid February to early March (starting date).

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Since this trip will be many months on the road (and I will be selling my house to complete this goal) my dog will be coming with me. While planning this trip I have realized that some of my intended detours will not be pet friendly and I will have to either bunk down for the night to go see the sight while my pup stays at the hotel, or remove the detour from this trip.

I am sure I will come across other barriers caused by el dog along the way, so my question to you is this: What issues have you been presented with while traveling with your pets? What tips or advice might you have for traveling with aforementioned pets?

DISCUSSION (16)

Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif > CAR_IS_MI
08/05/2014 at 17:49

I doubt you will be going cross border but make sure you have all the dogs paperwork.

Its hard to tell when they have to go boomboom when you are driving so stop every couple hours depending how your dog does.

Most places won't care if you bring a dog in with you, as long as there isn't food.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > CAR_IS_MI
08/05/2014 at 17:50

Firstly, don't let your dog drive your car. It won't end well.

Seriously when you stop just walk it to see if it need bathroom and make sure you've got food and water for it. Just basically do the normal and they should be fine. Of course all the traveling I've done was mainly less than 3 hours or with an older dog.

As Du Volant > CAR_IS_MI
08/05/2014 at 17:50

Most hotels that allow dogs will not let you leave the dog in the room by itself.

Sorry I don't have more to contribute.

Crocket Bernet > CAR_IS_MI
08/05/2014 at 17:50

I only ran into one problem traveling with my dog, the apocalypse.

Kinja'd!!!

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > CAR_IS_MI
08/05/2014 at 17:53

Be prepared in case the dog gets carsick. There are medications you can give them, but I've not had a ton of luck with them. Other than that just make sure to let them do their business outside on a regular basis, and other common sense stuff like not leaving them outside in the car.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > CAR_IS_MI
08/05/2014 at 18:01

Does your dog generally like riding in the car on long trips? Is s/he happy with change, or more of a creature of habit? I'd first determine whether your pup is game for the trip, in general, or if all of this will make your dog a nervous wreck. If the latter, I'd suggest finding a trustworthy family member or friend to help you out during your trip, and going solo.

However, if you think it will be a great experience for both you and your dog, I'd definitely invest in an appropriately-sized kennel if you don't already have one, for short-ish stays away from you (I'd try to keep it under 6 hours), and for times when you need to be away longer, look into boarding kennels or "doggy daycares" in the places you'll need them (make sure to bring shot records with you).

I know that some parks and nature areas don't allow dogs, period, so if you'd planned on travelling through the park and leaving the other side to continue your journey, that would present a problem. Just check things out well in advance so you don't run into any surprises.

Here's something I just found that might help: http://www.bringfido.com/

If you go with the mentality of keeping your dog as happy as possible along the way, I think you two will have a great trip together, and it will make the bond you already have with your pooch that much stronger.

CAR_IS_MI > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback
08/05/2014 at 18:01

She tries to drive but her paws cant reach the pedals yet...

Shes pretty good about letting me know when she needs to find some dirt to piss on and has taken a few off road trips with me, but nothing longer than a 5 hour local trip.

CAR_IS_MI > As Du Volant
08/05/2014 at 18:02

Hmm, Ill have to find some scummy hotels that don't care.

ZHP Sparky, the 5th > CAR_IS_MI
08/05/2014 at 18:05

Buy and read a copy of this on your trip -

http://www.amazon.com/Travels-Charle…

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CAR_IS_MI > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
08/05/2014 at 18:06

Good point on the car sickness thing. Shes been good on the few short trips I've taken her on but this is a different game. Good thing the whole inside of the Jeep is scotchguarded.

CAR_IS_MI > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
08/05/2014 at 18:13

Shes pretty good in the car or on trips, as long as shes near me she does not care where we are. This trip will be between 13,000 and 16,000 total miles and between 3 and 6 months of travel, and with all my family living on the opposite coast, leaving her behind isn't really an option (never mind what that would do to a rescue dog whose lived solely with me for the last 3 years mentally).

I fully plan on planning out the trip step by step to make sure I have all the info on pet welcome-nes as well as a backup plan just in case, that way these stops get avoided.

Thanks for the link, it will help.

Textured Soy Protein > CAR_IS_MI
08/05/2014 at 18:14

With enough planning ahead you should be able to find pet friendly hotels without too much trouble.

Some suggestions based on what my parents use with their dog:

Get a seat cover for your back seat so the dog can hang out back there and not shed on everything. Like such:

Kinja'd!!!

The one my folks have, unlike this one, completely covers the seat.

They also have the dog wear a harness that hooks up to the seatbelt. There are lots of variations on this theme.

Kinja'd!!!

CAR_IS_MI > Textured Soy Protein
08/05/2014 at 18:24

Back seat will be fold flat with her bed back there and she can use the front too. I'm not too worried about the fur and I heard those seatbelts do more harm than good in an accident.

Gimmi-Sagan-Om-Draken > CAR_IS_MI
08/05/2014 at 18:35

There are actually a lot of nice hotels that allow dogs in certain rooms, you have to book in advance or you won't get them. I have been all over the USA with a bulldog, lots of B&Bs too that love animals, there are websites that list them.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > CAR_IS_MI
08/05/2014 at 21:28

Sounds pretty great. I adore my wife and kids, but an extended trip with just my dog by my side would be pretty fantastic. I work half-days on Fridays, so the hikes I take with my hounds those afternoons are a great time for me to decompress and get my mind right before the weekend.

Sir_Stig: and toxic masculinity ruins the party again. > CAR_IS_MI
08/06/2014 at 12:03

We use the harness seat belts on our puppy to keep her from trying to get to the front, not really for accident safety.