Moving help

[Discussing Labradoodles & Goldendoodles]

So I got a new job and we will be moving from north Dakota to Olathe ks! We were able to get a place where our dog can live with us woohoo!!!!! Kinda scary for a bit! However, need any advise on moving with a pet across the country! Some people said dramamean (spelling??) is safe to give them! Not sure I like that idea. Just want to make it as stressless as possible!

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

Unless you already know he won't do well I wouldn't give him anything. Daisy went on an 9 hour trip, she did wonderfully. She probably could do more. the distance is really not all that far from N. Dakota to Kansas is it?

Have you never had him on any type of trip? First you should determine if he might do okay without anything. Maybe a couple hours on the road will help you determine that. That stuff really wacks them out.

[Joe R.]

I see it's about a 800 mile trip. Andrea given you most of the advice I would have. We did about the same distance of a trip when we went to Floride to adopt our Lilly. Here's a great web site to help find pet friendly hotels.

http://www.dogfriendly.com/

 

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

800 miles is really not too bad at all. He should do fine, especially if you do half one day and the last half the next. Lots of stops for walks, potty breaks, sniffing and he will do fine. We have traveled thousands of miles with Murphy and he mostly sleeps or sat up looking out the window. Especially if you can open a window a little, he just loved the smells of new areas. Do you know if he gets carsick? If so, a pretty empty stomach with lots of layers of protection on your seats is best. Then drugs if you need it, but I'd hesitate and get some advice from your Vet on dosage if you are not sure.
Take your Vet records with you should there be any issues during the drive and you need to stop for care.
Please consider a seatbelt to tether him and get him used to that before the trip as well. Other than that I can't think of much else.

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

Good luck Scot.  My husband will be driving our 2 doodles from Chicago to Seattle in about a month and I'm worried about how they (DH and the doods) will handle the journey. 

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

We have done several trips of this length with the girls without any problems.  One thing I would add is that when we stop for the night I always ask for a room at the far end of the hallway so that I don't have people walking past the room and talking at all hours.  That tends to make the girls bark.  I usually use either Dogfriendly.com or bringfido.com to scope out pet friendly hotels along my route ahead of time.  Many hotels charge a hefty additional fee so I like to have a tentative plan at least before starting out.  We also use seat belt harnesses but they are long enough that Sophie can get on the floor because that is her favorite spot.  I have pillows (just like bed pillows) on the seat they lay on because it just keeps them a little more comfortable for a long ride.  I also pack a small bag of the things I'll need for them in the hotel room over night so I don't have to unload everything.  Our girls don't tend to eat much when we are traveling.  I'll get a few little treats into them when we stop but they don't eat a big ole bowl of food normally.  The other thing that I do is have a typed out sheet of instructions (normally in the glove box and in my purse) indicating that in case of an accident and DH and I are both unable to care for them or give directions, who should be called to make arrangements for them and that we want them to receive any medical care that they might need as well and that we will be responsible for the bills.  Good Luck with your move.

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

Lucy and Sohie are high maintenance compared to Daisy, we tried the pillow thing, even bought a special bed, she knocked them onto the floor and just laid in the seat. The only thing she wants is to lay her head on the front armrest sometimes - luckily her harness makes it there and DH built a soft landing with blankets from the back seat to the armrest. We take the Accord on trips - she likes it better being close and the gas mileage is much better. 

[Diana Erhart]

We did a move from Texas to Pennsylvania with our Charlie last January.  It was a 2 1/2 long days in the car.  Charlie loves to ride in the car but I was worried about it being so long.  His vet gave us an anti-anxiety med to take with us just in case he started to get upset.  We traveled in an SUV and set up the back seat with his bed and some toys.  He did great in the car.  Just one word of caution.  Make sure that there is alot of cool ventilation where your dog will be in the car. We had one incident at the beginning of the trip where Charlie threw up all over his bed in the back seat.  We figured out that he got too hot back there.  We got a seat belt with a thing that stretched across the back seat so that he could move around the back seat.  Remember to take some water and treats and also paper towels, baby wipes, doggie bags, and some soap or cleaner with you just in case there is an accident in the car.  Also, if you are planning on doing an overnight we had good experiences staying in LaQuinta Inns along the way.  They were very dog friendly and did not charge extra for having the dog with us.  Just do some homework on them because some are very nice and some are not.  Good luck and let me know if you have any other questions.