Rooney's Big Road Trip

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

Rooney and I packed up our car on Thursday evening so that we could leave very early on Friday.  I had gotten one of those new soft, folding crates, a new smaller dog bed and you add that to all the toys, food, dishes, snacks, poop bags, etc., I really felt like I was traveling with a small baby.  Luckily for me there was still room for me to bring a few of my things - lol.  I got up at 3:00 a.m. and Rooney was strapped into his car seat with his new American Tourister safety harness and we pulled out the driveway at 4:00 a.m.  Rooney has never ridden for more than a couple of hours so I wasn't sure how he would do but my little guy just slept in his car seat and never made a peep.  The only thing that bothered me was stopping at the rest stops.  They won't let you take a dog inside with you so I would lock Rooney in the car, then I would run, yes run inside and pee so fast, shoving old ladies out of my way to get back to my car to make sure someone had not broken the window out and stole my best friend.  As it gets hotter down here I don't know how I'll handle this because my car (I've been car shopping and very few cars will lock with them running these days) will not lock with the engine (airconditioning) running.  After 10 hrs it was so wonderful to see my daughter, her boyfriend and their yellow lab - Cal.  The most fun was after a 4 mile walk through the park along the river - Cal wanted to swim and Rooney got dirty for the 1st time ever in his life.  He played in the mud and went nuts.  I thought I would never get him cleaned up!  We drove home yesterday and made it in 9 hours.  We'll be doing this trip again soon I hope!

Mom, I don't even have my eyes open yet!  Yawn.

Wohoo - the most fun EVER!!!!

[Debby Bee]

You sound exactly like me.....the running in and out......and worrying!

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

Wait Christine said that her Nissan will lock with it running so I might have to go back and look at that Armada again.

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

Talking about shopping for a car that I can lock with the engine running. 

I think a Ford is going to be the only thing I can buy that will allow me to lock my car with it running.  So far I have looked at;

Lexus GL - too big in the drivers seat area, I'm 5"2

Accura MDX - 3 row seats too small for adults

BMW didn't have a larger SUV

Mercedes GL class - ooow, very nice but we have many friends & family struggling right now in this economy & I just would be kinda embarrassed to drive it, I'm not into trying to make a statement

Audi Q7 - small 3rd row

Nissan Armada -liked it a lot but nobody else is sure about reliablity

Cadillac Escalade - can't do it - kinda gaudy, too much bling

Toyota - I'm leaning towards the Toyota Sequoia but I still have to look at the Fords.  I won't consider any other domestic makes as I refuse to buy from anyone that took the bailout money.  One thing that can be done to all of these is to get an after market remote starter.  So if I were traveling alone with Rooney - I get out and lock the door, then hit the remote start and then the little bugger wouldn't fry in the car.  People -  please don't think I would just be locking my dog in my car on a regular basis but in FL it can get hot very very quickly.  I am mostly alone here as dh works out of state or country so I have to travel alone most of the time.  Also a plus with a new car would be that down here they tint the windows very dark and it would make it much harder for people to see my cute dog from the outside.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

The car/air conditioner problem is not something I ever think about because we usually have the RV when we go places where we have to leave the dogs in the car.  When you chose a car that allows you to keep the air on without permanently locking you out, please post.  Rooney looks like he had a great time.

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

What a great time you guys had.  Doodles are soooo happy when they can get wet and dirty and no one yells at them or tells them NO.  My Gracie Doodle is happiest when she looks like little Rooney looked.  I am so glad he got to be a "dog" for a few hours...a Doodle Dog though...not just a dog!  I have left my Gracie in the car to run into a restroom but so far it  hasn't been hot.  If you have a sun roof you could leave it open.  I also leave the windows cracked and park smack dab in front if possible.  Grace would never bark at anyone approaching the car but I have been gambling on the fact that she is huge and that might keep people away.  Most of the time when we take long trips I have DH with me and we take turns walking her and visiting the restroom.  When looking at cars you might inquire about the ones that have the combination key pad on the outside door post for unlocking your car.  We have one on our 2002 Ford Explorer and also on my new 2011 Ford Flex.  I haven't tried it out with the ignition on and motor running.  I'll try to remember to test it out tomorrow and get back to you.

[Christine & Shelby]

Love the road trip story.... I haven't done one with Shelby yet!   I am fortunate that my car will lock with the AC running Nissan Murano w/ Intelligent Key system!.    Rooney looks  like he had a great time....

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

You all do my heart so well, you get my worries, you get my joy, you get my boy in the mud - nobody does it better than DK!  Love ya all!!!

[Linda, Webber and Seda]

When Webber and I went on a road trip I took him into the bathroom at the gas stations when I got gas to limit the times I had to lock him in the car.

[Carol and Banjo]

I'm glad you had such a fun trip with your buddy and got to see your daughter too!   It looks like Rooney got to get down n dirty!  Woo hoo Rooney!!!

[Anna and Achilles]

Sounds like a blast!