Road Trip!

[Susan, Coby & Chloe]

We're undertaking something brand new this weekend: a 6 hour drive in the car with 7 mo. old Bosco to a visit his big (human) brother in LA and stay at a dog-friendly hotel.

I feel like I'm packing similar to when my kids were babies: food, water, wee-wee pads (tho he's been trained for months), poopie bags, collapsible soft crate, toys, extra leash.  I even applied Frontline the other day b/c I've heard of dogs coming back from never-been-to places with fleas. So what else is there?

In all 14+ years we had our other dog we never took a trip like this before with doggie in tow. Bosco's been pretty good about staying on the floor of the back seat for most local trips but this is a lonnnngg time to go in one position. Any suggestions on how to make the drive and stay easier would be most welcome.

[Susan, Coby & Chloe]

woops, just read that. I didn't pack leashes and crates for my kids when they were babies....lest anyone get the wrong idea as to my parenting skills.

[Carla, Lucca and Izzy]

How about putting a blanket on the back seat so he can sit and possibly look out the window. I know Lucca likes to go from the middle section of our SUV to the back. I know many out there will say harness...which wouldn't be a bad idea for safety for the long trip.You'll have a great time. I hear what you're saying about all the paraphernalia...we usually bring the bed and toys when we go on a 2 hour trip if we're staying overnight.

They ARE just like kids. I have a toy box at home and Lucca is always in it taking the toys out and bringing them all over the house. Too bad we can't teach them to put the toys away....lol

[Susan, Coby & Chloe]

I've been TRYING to get Bosco to clean up the toys he's strewn about the house, believe me! Like fetch and drop. Have to say, the trainings worked well. Bosco seems to enjoy watching me fetch the scattered toys and drop them back in his basket.....!

I'm going to look into the harness tomorrow. Thank you.

[Taylor & Huff]

I think you should bring a soft blanket or a bed. You should also Give him a break from the car every two hours or more. Even a doodle who doesn't usually get car sick might get carsick if he is in the car for a long period of time. Plus, he might want to stretch his legs. Good luck and good road trip!:)

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

Woo hoo - road trips are so fun! When we had our labs they were great riders, but dogs can get a little bit stiff if laying or setting in one spot so we always made lots of extra stops to stretch those legs. Have a blast.

[Liz & Emma]

We took Emma 8 hours for July 4th weekend when she was only 4 months old! We folded down one of the seats and laid her bed on it - at that time her bed had..well walls i guess you could call them...so she snuggled in there for most of the ride- we got her a new bone for the trip and made sure she had her snuggle puppy in her bed with her. we stopped about every 2 1/2 hours and ran around a bit to stretch her legs!

Overall it was great- she was great! You'll be fine just make sure your dood is comfortable (maybe bring his bed along) and give him something to entertain himself (a bone, favorite toy, kong)!

Good luck!

[Susan, Coby & Chloe]

Glad to hear it went so well! Hope we're as successful...alas, we had to put down our Snuggle Puppy by summer's end when he was reduced to stuffing. RIP, Snuggle Pup :-(

[Taylor & Huff]

Oh, how sad:( I am sorry for your loss.

;)

[Melissa]

My husband had a gig in Columbus, OH (we live in south suburbs of Chicago) a couple of months ago. We decided to make a little trip out of it and go to St. Louis after that to visit my parents. We packed a lot of what you said, but we used a crate for Buddy. And with my husbands equipment in the back, it helps keep Buddy out of trouble. :) He rides well in it and we also stopped every couple of hours and let him walk around. Once we stopped at a rest stop and they had a small field to take your dog so we actually let him run around. I feel like we are in the monority with the crate. He doesn't mind being in there and usually just sleeps most of the way. He is crated at night so it helped in the hotel room as well. Just my 2 cents! :) Have a great trip!

[Susan, Coby & Chloe]

Thanks, good suggestions all. I'm taking Bosco tomorrow afternoon to be fitted for a harness atop his sleeping mat - it definitely sounds more comfortable for him than remaining on the rear passenger side floor the entire trip. Two hour breaks may be a bit difficult as so much of the drive is though long....boring....stretches.....of desert but I'm sure we can manage a couple of stops at least along the way. He's not a big barker and he's generally quiet in his crate so hope he behaves well in my son's ap't while we're out to dinner Sat. night. I actually tried to decline going to stay with Bosco but dh and ds wouldn't hear of it. Oh my....is that a headache I feel coming on???

[Taylor & Huff]

Oh no, it is especially important that you take a stop every 2-3 hours especially when you are driving in the dessert. The first time we were driving in the dessert with Huff, he got carsick after about 3 hours, I think. Bosco will be grateful even if it is just a stop in the gas station to drink some water and stretch his legs.

[Lynda Kamrath]

If he is going to be left at all during the trip, I suggest he use his crate. He will feel much more comfortable in his own crate. I use a crate sometimes with my puppy, but our cars are puppy proofed. However, the puppy crawled under the caging and ate part of the armrest in the back seat while we were in a shop on the open studio tour last month. It was close to home, but he was unsupervised in the car while we were in the studios. In a hotel room or in an apartment, I would leave him in his crate. And rest stops are essential while you are traveling. We plan to stop and take them for a walk and a potty stop every two hours. Plan the extra time. Our boys actually get to know the rest stops between here and Arizona and here and Oregon. There are usually areas for the dogs and they love to check out who has been there before them. Remember to bring along plenty of water for them and for you. Doodles are fine with traveling and usually really enjoy it. When our boys see us packing for a trip, they are ready to go. But they have never been left at home for more than a day trip. We take them everywhere we go.