Two doddles, two totally different perspectives of camping

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

First, I promise to post pictures as soon as I get home to my computer. But for now, I am sitting outside a campground lodge, to pick up the wifi during a weekend of camping out in a National Forest in Az. Murphy has traveled the country with us, in our RV since he was a pup, so camping to him is a way of life.

Bella on the other hand is a city girl and with the exception of car trips around the city, she doesn't get out much and hasn't traveled at all with us.

We decided it was time to take her camping, in a much smaller RV, but out it the boonies, just the same.

Our 3 hour commute from the city to the forest started with Bella puking out her breakfast, last nights dinner and every treat she had in her tummy for the last 24 hours. When that was over, she drooled and salivated buckets the whole rest of the way.

Murphy, he just sat quietly, starring out the window watching life pass by. No problems.

We get to our campsite and Bella has to explore, everything, everywhere and everybody!!! OK, so off leash isn't gonna work here. Murphy, he just wants to stay by daddy's side and set up camp.

So, we are all settled in, sitting by the fire, Murphy laying nice and toasty by DH, and Bella is jumping at every little sound, crickets, chipmuck scurry by, mosquitos, and ofcourse the dreaded coyotes howling. Up and down, up and down, "lay down Bella" "Leave it Bella" Watch me Bella" "Want a cookie Bella?"  Finally after about an hour of this she settles.

Okay, now time for bed. Murphy hops up on the bunk, he knows his place in life, and Bella walks around in circles trying to figure out the best place to plop.  Down she goes, ahhh, peace at last. NOPE.....a dog barks in the distance, UP she goes to the window, pushing the metal blinds all askew with her big head. OK, fix the blinds, "Bella, LAY DOWN" and we try again.

 

5 minutes at best, someone walks by the camper, talking, with a dog! Now Bella tries to get out the screen door!. NO BELLA! 

The whole time Murphy hasn't stirred a hair. Wonder what he's thinking about all this? She finally settles for the night, and all is quiet. Except for the Bear like growl of a snore coming from DH!! Glad he and Murphy got some sleep.

Bella and I are going home to take a nap back in the city, where there is so much noise you can't be bothered by crickets and dogs barking and God forbid Coyotes!!!!!

 

 

 

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

@Deanna - I'm with you girlfriend. I want the same anymore. Been there, done the tent thing. I know Bella had a blast in the forest, it was just so new she was on hyper alert, I don't think she knew what her job was out there in the wild. Protect mom and dad? Chase chipmucks? Fire? What do I do about that? 

@Allyson, I hope Peri gets used to it because the bunnies and the deer aren;t leaving. Sounds like a beautiful setting to live in tho.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

We moved from the city - a condo - to a house a little farther out. We have an acre and it is sooo quiet. Peri barks her head off all the time now.  Every rabbit that comes into our yard. Any dog barking in the distance, a deer in the woods. It's like a nature preserve and it makes her crazy!  So I totally get this!!!

[Deanna & Desi & Cori]

Sedona loves traveling in our "little house" - which is the ONLY way I'll "camp".  I've got to have my hot shower, my warm, cozy bed, my DirecTV, etc.  None of that sleeping on the ground stuff for me.

[Mimi Linna, Lilly and Lolly]

didnt read that others had suggested the ginger cookie..great photos, what happy dogs.

[Mimi Linna, Lilly and Lolly]

ha ha ha.... thank you for posting this... sounds just like a first born and second born child..can't wait to see photos.. maybe she is more the spa kind of girl instead of out in the woods camping gal:)... try giving her a ginger cookie before traveling and see if that helps her tummy... it does with humans.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

It sounds like a great time was had by everyone, and I love the photos.

[Jennifer and "Cooper"]

Hope it works.  Good luck!

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

Thank you Jennifer, That makes total sense and so worth a try. Better than drugs, that;s for sure. I am going to the grocery store tomorrow and will take her for a test drive later in the day and get back to you!

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

As promised here are some photo's of our romp in the woods. We let them off leash and they had such a great time just being dogs and following new strange scents. I did stop to take some shots of Bella for the calander, as she likes her picture taken more than Murphy. He just won't stand still for that little black square in front of mom;s face unless dad is with him!!

[Jennifer and "Cooper"]

Ok, you are going to think I'm crazy but give her 2-3 (human) gingersnaps about 30 minutes before rides in the car/RV.  Cooper had horrible car sickness for about the first 9 months of his life and nothing worked.  A fellow customer at a pet store told me about the gingersnap cure and I admit I thought it was crazy but figured it couldn't hurt to try.  Worked like magic.  Never had a problem with car sickenss again.  And thankfully he eventually outgrew the car sickness completely.  (I don't know why I didn't think of it myself.  I take ginger capsules when I fly to combat air sickness.)