I am planning on driving from Montana to Texas in a few weeks, with Willow.
My plan is to drive straight through to Texas without too many breaks because I'm mainly going there to visit my dad, who is old and unhealthy and I have big concerns about bringing him COVID (please don't start with me on that if you think that's an unwarranted concern--I would never forgive myself if I gave him COVID). Anyway, according to Google Maps, that is a 28-hour drive, so I will likely give myself 3 days + 2 nights (possibly an extra night if I can leave after work a day earlier).
Then on the way back I can take my time, visit friends, probably make it a ~4-day drive.
So, my plan is have Willow in her crate in the cargo area. Alternatively, I could put the crate in sideways and leave the door open so she can wander in and out and look out the windows, then go lie down in her crate. I will probably make pit stops every 2-3 hours so we both can stretch our legs and pee (and my new hybrid car doesn't have as big of a fuel tank as my previous car, so I'll have to refuel about every 400 miles which kinda sucks--last car went up to 600 miles on a tank).
I'm a bit nervous thinking about having her in her crate, though, for 10 hours at a time, for 3 days straight, with only a few small breaks. Is that OK to do to her? I would love if she could just be loose in the backseat, but a) she whines incessantly, b) it's not safe in case of an accident, and c) NEW CAR YO, no thanks!
We will also be likely camping at campgrounds or dispersed sites on the way there, then possibly staying with friends on the way back, and also visiting my brother and his family in Colorado.
Anyway...any advice from those of you who have done long road trips with your dogs before, I would take!
My plan is to drive straight through to Texas without too many breaks because I'm mainly going there to visit my dad, who is old and unhealthy and I have big concerns about bringing him COVID (please don't start with me on that if you think that's an unwarranted concern--I would never forgive myself if I gave him COVID). Anyway, according to Google Maps, that is a 28-hour drive, so I will likely give myself 3 days + 2 nights (possibly an extra night if I can leave after work a day earlier).
Then on the way back I can take my time, visit friends, probably make it a ~4-day drive.
So, my plan is have Willow in her crate in the cargo area. Alternatively, I could put the crate in sideways and leave the door open so she can wander in and out and look out the windows, then go lie down in her crate. I will probably make pit stops every 2-3 hours so we both can stretch our legs and pee (and my new hybrid car doesn't have as big of a fuel tank as my previous car, so I'll have to refuel about every 400 miles which kinda sucks--last car went up to 600 miles on a tank).
I'm a bit nervous thinking about having her in her crate, though, for 10 hours at a time, for 3 days straight, with only a few small breaks. Is that OK to do to her? I would love if she could just be loose in the backseat, but a) she whines incessantly, b) it's not safe in case of an accident, and c) NEW CAR YO, no thanks!
We will also be likely camping at campgrounds or dispersed sites on the way there, then possibly staying with friends on the way back, and also visiting my brother and his family in Colorado.
Anyway...any advice from those of you who have done long road trips with your dogs before, I would take!