Hattie's First Vacation-Tips?

[Discussing Labradoodles & Goldendoodles]

Hattie and I are leaving Saturday morning for a 12 hour road trip to a relative's house. She rides very well in the car and loves it, but to this point has only been around town. She wears a harness and was being seat belted in, but I bought her a zip line to attach to her harness last week so she has a little more room to move. We are leaving at 6 a.m., before her usual breakfast time and won't arrive until a few hours after her usual dinner timet. When should I feed her? How much water should be allowed? I plan to stop for two or three breaks and lunch romp. Thanks everyone!

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

I don't know the answers to your questions, but wanted to say good luck, and HAVE FUN!

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

When I drive to Atlanta - I always leave really early (4:00 a.m.) so on that first gas/potty stop (7:30/8:00ish) - I feed the boys breakfast.  By the second stop (10:30/11:00) they are ready to poop and play.  I take a Gulpy (dog water bottle) and some extra bottles of water and give them small drinks when we stop.  I keep poo bags, treats, wet wipes and paper towels at the ready.  I also keep extra leashes in my glove compartment.  Have a great trip!!!!

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

Every dog I have ever had just sleeps.  Stuart will be sleeping before I back out of the driveway and Rooney will watch out of the window from his car seat for a while and then he too will just sleep.  Only waking when I stop.  I'm always alone so I have to handle both boys by my self so pit stops are not as quick as they used to be - lol - but I love road trips with my boys.  She'll do great!

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

We've never taken our Doods on a road trip that long, so I have no good "hints".  Just wanted to say have fun!!!!

[Rose Ann and Amante]

Have a safe trip!! Sorry no advice.

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

I remember the advise my breeder gave me when we were traveling with Murphy on all the long drives and to all the strange places.....He will be happy wherever he is if he is with YOU!. And that has always been true. He is the best traveler and has always just seemed so content and relaxed on our trips.

I would stick with her routine normal feeding times, stopping for those, and the same with her routine potty times. I have always had a travel bowl with some water in it on the floor and it is always accessible, but if that isn't possible, I'd offer water at least every few hours. Then a potty break.

A new toy or two or a chewie of some sort, nothing new at this point, don't want to find out it doesn't agree with her in the back seat of your car!  That's it. She will probably sleep for most of the time, once she gets used to the idea that this isn't her normal trip around town...

Good luck, I love road trips with my Murphy,.  Bella is a road trip work in progress though.

[Kaytlin and Cooper]

we are doing a 3 day road tip so I feel your concerns. Im hoping Cooper will sleep most of it!

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

That;s the ticket. That's what DH is here for. He drives, we sleep!

[Janice Hammond]

I am sure that Hattie will be just fine. When we take Sadie on longer trips she just hunkers in and sleeps most of the time.Has a look at anything interesting. We always have a few breaks and lots of water but sometimes she will hardly drink until she arrives at her vacation stop.

She never seems to get tired of ridning.

 

Have a great time.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Lucy and Sophie are normally asleep before we are out of the driveway and only pop up when we stop.  I would say I normally have to stop for a break more than they really need to, so they get plenty of breaks.  My only advice would be to make sure you don't travel on an empty.  Jane's suggestion to just keep to her regular schedule sounds good to me.  If it were me, I would also just try the trip with her buckled in and just bring along the zip line if being buckled in doesn't work.  I think that I would worry that the zip line might not be strong enough to hold her in the car should you get involved in an accident.  Plus, since I'm guessing it is just the two of you, you really don't want to be distracted by her moving around too much in the back seat.  Chances are if you buckle her in, she is just going to lay down and sleep pretty much the entire way.  Good luck.  One other thought, Rest Areas don't allow dogs in the rest rooms, so plan your potty stops accordingly. 

[Linda, Webber and Seda]

Sandy, Webber and I drove from North Carolina to Washington State, California, and back home.  I fed Webber each night, no food in the AM before travel and took an ice chest with cold water (and snacks for me) and offered him water every time I stopped for gas and to use the restroom. He really never drank too much, but usually some.  I took some dehydrated chicken breasts for occasional treats on a long day.   We traveled 8-10 hours a day and he slept about 3/4 of that time. Before our long adventure I had taken him to Boston and to Atlanta.  I think I stopped about every 3 hours for one thing or another and let him stretch his legs and do his business.  Seda has been back and forth to Atlanta since she was a baby and both dogs travel well.  Have a good trip and drive safely.

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

Good luck and have fun!!!!!