Traveling with Your Dog

Earlier this summer, my husband and I did a very brave thing—we traveled thousands of miles with our dog, Mocha. We really weren’t sure at the time if it was courageous, or really stupid!

I had a research trip to go on, along with scheduled book signings in upstate New York. This would have necessitated finding full time care for our 8-pound Chihuahua/ mix. We decided we couldn’t part with our eight-month-old pup for two whole weeks so preparations got under way to take her with us.

We learned a lot about traveling with our furry baby so I thought I’d share some of the travel tips that might help you, should you want to hit the road with your Rover.

1. Bring calming medication from the pet store or your vet. Also get pill pockets to hide the pills in, in case the medicine is not palatable. Those pill pockets were a life saver!
2. If your dog is small, invest in a doggie car seat. We ordered the “Snoozit 2” online and it was awesome. It fit in our seat belt in the back. We purchased an extension belt that attached to Mocha’s harness. That way she would not become a projectile object in the event of an accident. Bring your pup’s favorite toys and blanket.
3. Find hotels that allow dogs. LaQuinta Inn and Suites were our home-away-from-home for two weeks. Mocha made herself at home in each one!
4. Carry puppy pads and use them. No explanation should be needed. 😉
5. Stop every couple of hours at rest stops. You will both need it!
6. Bring a sweater if your dog tends to get cold. I was SO glad we did since it was rainy and chilly the whole time, despite the calendar telling us it was summer.
7. Bring food your puppy likes. Traveling can change their appetite. I know it’s a no-no but a few times we resorted to buying a plain hamburger and giving her a portion. It never upset her stomach or caused problems, and it gave her sustenance!
8. Protect your pup from the sun. We purchased a simple screen that attached to the inside of the window to give her protection from the rays.
9. Be a responsible pet owner. Don’t assume you can bring your pet wherever you go. There were times my husband and I had to take turns going inside libraries, museums, etc.
10. Give your pet a break from travelling. Non-stop travel on the road is no fun for anyone so plan on staying in one place at least a couple of days here and there. You—and your furry baby—will be glad you did!

 

Here are a few fun pics of our trip to New York from Iowa. And by the way, we are very glad we took Mocha. Now she LOVES to go in the car!! 🙂