Traveling with your dog

[Jax08]

In May, I'm going to KS from PA for my sister's wedding. From there, I'll go to Houston with my other sister. I'm thinking of driving instead of flying to allow me more leeway on when I leave, where I go, and because I just don't want to fly.

So....not wanting to drive alone from PA to KS and then from TX to PA, I want to bring Jax. Any tips for long distance travel?

Should I map out where I"m going to be to make sure I can find a hotel that will take animals? I'll take a crate (obviously) but seatbelt her in the backseat during the drive. I feed RAW but how to keep the meat frozen for the trip and where to store it? So, is there a dehydrated option to take with me?

She'll be left crated in the hotel room during the wedding. I don't anticipate any issues with that. She's pretty quiet but has never been left alone in a strange place so maybe I'll crate her at one of my sister's houses during that day and pick her up after.

[mleun481]

We've never tried the frozen so I can't compare but our dogs seem to love the Stella & Chewy's freeze dried raw.
Having a map of dog friendly hotels/motels to stop is a great idea.

[Matty]

I've looked into hotels that allows dogs and while I found plenty of hotels that allow dogs none of them allow you to leave the dogs unattended in the hotel room. I would look into seeing if any of the hotels have a doggy day care option or just play it safe and crate your dog at your sisters house.

[Jax08]

I'll probably stop in Indianapolis for the night so I'm sure there will be lots of hotels to choose from that allow dogs.

Thanks for the tip on the freeze dried. I"ll probably buy something along that line.

As far as doggy day care...I don't think that would really be an option in Fort Scott, KS. And even if it were, she isn't a candidate for doggy day care. But of course I will check with the hotel to make sure it's ok to leave her unattended and crated but I would feel safer if she's crated at my sister's house where a stranger would have access to her.

Now...as far as actually traveling with her...what issues might I run in to while I"m traveling alone?

[mycobraracr]

If you are just looking for a cheap easy motel, I stayed at Best Westerns when I drove cross country with my pup. They only charged an extra $5 a night for her. Plus they are easy to find right off major highways and usually somewhat decent.

[NewbieShepherdGirl]

Having traveled alone on a 10+ hour trip I would just say pick your gas stations carefully. That's the biggest safety concern I ever had. I always tried to pick gas stations that were in a fairly busy area. That way there were lots of people around if I needed help.

As for the dog, they make portable dishes that would be really handy if traveling a long distance. Or, if she'll drink out of a water bottle you could just do that.

[KZoppa]

on my trip to Colorado, I actually went into my favorite pet store here and asked if there was any way I could get a couple cases of their samples dog foods they put out because it was easier than portioning out food before we left. I could just open a bag or two of the samples, feed and go. They got water when I stopped for gas or potty breaks.

I usually stayed at Super 8's and didnt have any problems. As long as the dogs were destructive and/or crated and quiet, they didnt have any issues with me and the kids leaving them in the room to go get something to eat. As long as she's quiet in her crate and you put the Do Not Disturb sign on the door, you should be fine there.

[Jax08]

Originally Posted by mycobraracr

If you are just looking for a cheap easy motel, I stayed at Best Westerns when I drove cross country with my pup. They only charged an extra $5 a night for her. Plus they are easy to find right off major highways and usually somewhat decent.

I like Best Westerns!! Never had a bad experience there.

Looks like I'll be stopping in Indianapolis on the way to KS and probably Chattanooga on the way home from Houston and she won't be left alone in the room when I stop so that isn't any issue.

KZoppa - I feed RAW so I would rather stick with something similar and I'll be gone for a couple of weeks so it will get used up. She hasn't had kibble in two years so I'm a little leery on putting her on it for the trip.

[asja]

I've travelled with my dogs across the country, so here's some things I've learned.

Try dehydrated raw food, like Honest Kitchen or Addiction. Those foods are easy to travel with because they don't take up much room, and you just add warm water to it and stir. My dogs like it, but try to find one your dog really likes. Bonni seems to prefer beef and lamb to chicken, so we've had the lamb Addiction and the new Honest Kitchen beef variety called Love.

La Quinta Inn takes dogs, and they have a decent hot breakfast. Having a decent breakfast is one of my husband's requirements! Some Best Westerns, but not all, take dogs. Super 8 and Days Inn take dogs too, but are not as nice as La Quinta Inn or Best Western. If you belong to AAA, their guide books are good and list dog-friendly hotels. If where you are going is a touristy or busy place, decide by the afternoon where you will stop and then call for a reservation. We made the mistake twice of not doing that, and then trying to find a dog-friendly hotel at 9 or 10 at night. So now we plan ahead by afternoon where we will stop.

Try to take something your dog knows is hers, like a travel bed. If you need a travel bed recommendation, I like the West Paw eco mats; they are fuzzy and comfy and I keep it on the car seat and then bring it inside.

[Liesje]

I've traveled with dogs a lot. I prefer La Quinta but have also used Red Roof a lot. Ask for a first floor room so it's easier to potty the dog.

Most, if not not ever hotel I've been to does not allow you to leave the dog in the room unattended so be sure to check into that. My van always has crates/kennels and all my dog gear so I never leave the dog in the room, they can just stay in the van wherever it is we're going during the day (but they have traveled so much and are in the van every weekend so this is second nature for them being in there, sleeping silently).