Do You Travel With Your Dog(s)?

G

Gayle

Cathlete
For the last few years, DH and I have been including Rascal on our vacations...he's well behaved and travels really well. We're pretty outdoorsy people, so it's easy to include him in our leisure activities.

So far, we've limited our vacations to Maine (Acadia/Bar Harbor are VERY dog friendly :) ) mostly because it's a reasonable driving distance for us, but we've toyed with the idea of testing out other areas of the country and Canada.

Anyone know of some other great dog friendly places?

FWIW - The Midcoast/Acadia/Bar Harbor region(s) of Maine (and I think most of Maine in general) is fabulous for dogs. Rascal ate at several different restaurants that had outdoor dining, went on schooner rides, visited many gift shops...not to mention the hiking. One cool thing that we kept seeing were signs on store entrances that read "Dogs welcome, but leave your ice cream outside". :)
 
My parents struggle with this a lot. They own a home in Vegas but live in San Franciso and travel back and forth several times every few months. They always have to drive because a plane ticket costs more than 2 adult tickets. My kids really want a dog but my husband and I worry so much about having to limit our travel because of a pet. By the way your dog is way super duper cute!!
 
Gayle, I have to admit DH and I haven't travelled away from our animals very often. We are down to two GSDs and one elderly Husky. I am praying that once the Husky passes away we WILL be able to travel with our babies. They are both young and healthy. It is so hard to trust someone to care for your animals while you are away and we hate the idea of a kennel. So to answer your question "no"; I wish Utah was more pet friendly. Maybe with the economy in such a mess, the hotels will begin to loosen up on the rules around here. :)
 
My two (a chocolate lab and a goldendoodle) love to have the windows down and stick their heads out (the one throws up if he doesn't have air) so we limit the travel to the store or over to the barn.
 
No, we can't take our guys with us. It sucks because most hotels limit the size of the dog to under 20lbs.
I'm lucky my two boys boxer sit, or my oldest son's GF will do it. We pay our sitters well:)
Maximus mopes the entire time I'm away. He loves his human brother's, but he is such a mama's boy!!! OMG, he is really bad:D:D:D
 
We're lucky in that we my in-laws love to Rascal-sit so we'd actually have a reliable place to leave him and travel. But DH has decided he doesn't want to travel WITHOUT Rascal. :rolleyes: I actually think it's an excuse to not have to fly. ;)

So, needless to say, any overseas trips do not include DH.

Melissa - I think there is a growing travel industry that's figured out that pet crazy people will actually spend a few extra bucks to be able to bring their dogs along. I think you see it more in certain states. I'm sure certain animal control laws have something to do with that.
 
Gayle . ..

we did travel w/our big babies .. we had a second home at the beach about 4 1/2 hours away .. it was the ULTIMATE .. and they loved it .. they would even go deep sea fishing w/us when it was not too hot for them .. the neighborhood was perfect and I felt very secure leaving them alone in the house ...but sad to say we had to sell the house .. and have not been able to find pet friendly places that I trust... so my big babies are staying home w/my aunt checking in on them .. but they are not happy when they see the suitcases come out .. poor things they put a REAL guilt trip on us!!!:(

Since our vacations are active (we boat, dive, fish) .. I would have to trust the place enough to leave the dogs inside .. (worry about someone stealing them).. I would look into pet friendly beach/mountain houses w/good security and nice neighborhoods ... more and more people travel w/their pets .. but for me it would have to be a lot of research on my part b-4 I trusted a place ... (yes I am a worry wart) .. LOL!!!!

I am like your DH ... dont like to fly ... and would be VERY scared for my pets to fly .. my little girl flew when she was a puppy and she was a huge MESS when we got her .. poor wittle thing was scared to death!!!!!
 
We don't travel with our pets. They're 55 and 85 pounds. Plus, they're not socialized well enough for us to trust them to behave. But we have a fabulous young woman from our church that does house sitting and pet sitting and she comes and stays at our house when we go out of town. She feeds them, plays with them, loves them, and leaves our house in immaculate condition when we return and the dogs are always very happy.
 
I've driven across the country 2 times with an 80 pound dog and 2 cats, and never had trouble finding places to stay, even on the spur of the moment (I never made reservations). Many places are pet friendly. Of course we stayed at Best Westerns, etc, but Ritz Carleton and Westin properties accept pets as well and even have fun little things for them.

We sometimes bring Jimmy with us (he's 60 pounds) - it really depends on what we're doing. We took two dogs to Carmel, CA one year and had a blast with them. Several of the better restaurants have seating areas for dogs (all outside, but hey, it's California - if it's not warm, turn on the outdoor heater and it will be warm!) and separate menus for them as well.

We also have a condo in Napa (a Westin Property) and we bring Jimmy with us when we go there. He's well behaved and very well socialized to dogs and people (wouldn't have a dog any other way), so I'm not afraid to take him anywhere.
 
I have taken my dogs from Arizona to Minnesota by car, they went to Lake Tahoe, the Peaks Resort in Telluride, Colorado and Northern Arizona. Most Best Western, Holiday Inn Express and LaQuinta Hotels allow dogs.

I love these places in Lake Tahoe - I don't know if that is too far for you. It's not luxury category by any means but it's nice to get away with the dogs and do something outdoorsey.

http://www.hollysplace.com/index.html
http://www.sprucegrovetahoe.com/default.html

This is a camp for doggies and their owners. I have wanted to go there but it hasn't worked out so far. Hopefully this year.

www.campw.com

You can find a lot of info on www.dogfriendly.com

HTH
 
I am usually too poor to afford both a trip and pet care for my doggies, so if I take a vacation, the doggies always join in the fun. As a result, I plan most of my trips to be fun for all of us - lots of hiking, camping, etc. We currently live in Maryland and there are plenty of parks and places to visit with your dog. I have never had trouble finding hotels and motels that take dogs. In a pinch, Motel 6 and Super 8 pretty much always allow pets.

Austin is super dog-friendly (we lived there for five years), many restaurants and cafes have lots of outdoor seating where well-behaved dogs are welcome. Barton Springs has a separate pool for dogs and their people. There are lots of great places to hike & bike with your dog!

We recently got the Burley "Tail Wagon" so the dogs can join us on bike rides. (I have miniature schnauzers, not the canine world's best distance runners). They LOVE it! And people love visiting with them in their cute little chariot. So now we can plan bicycle adventures and the dogs can join in. :D
 
hiitdogs said:
This is a camp for doggies and their owners. I have wanted to go there but it hasn't worked out so far. Hopefully this year.

www.campw.com
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Carola - This looks a lot like this camp here in Vermont. I've wanted to try it too, but the $$$ keeps getting in the way.

http://www.camp-gone-tothe-dogs.com/

While we haven't done a ton of traveling with Rascal yet, I must say it has been pretty easy to find pet friendly accommodations.

I would love to do a road trip out west with the little guy...and DH. ;) Thanks for all the info.

Poochy - I'm with you. I'd be very afraid about flying with my dog. It would be okay if he could sit in coach with me, but I hate the idea of him being stuck down in cargo. :(
 
We have a 100 pound golden retriever. He goes everywhere with us when we travel by car or on our boat. He loves it and we love it. Many hotels are pet friendly and many are not. But you can usually find options by googling for dog friendly hotels on the internet. Many beds and breakfasts allow dogs as well. When we fly, however, Ripken must stay at home. We are lucky that my son-in-law and his wife are able to take of him, so we never have to worry about kenneling him. I also have alot of neighbors with dogs who are Ripken's buddies, and we all look after each other's pups from time to time.
~michelle
 
<<<Poochy - I'm with you. I'd be very afraid about flying with my dog. It would be okay if he could sit in coach with me, but I hate the idea of him being stuck down in cargo.>>>

LOL .. glad there is someone else that feels that way .. if he could sit next to me (or in my lap .. lol) I would take him on a plane .. LOL!!! My 130 pound lap dog would keep everyone entertained on the flight .. LOL!

I wish we had more pet friendly places down here .. there are houses that are .. and rentals .. but I am such a worry wart I would want to stay w/them all the time .. :confused:
 
Poochy said:
<<<Poochy - I'm with you. I'd be very afraid about flying with my dog. It would be okay if he could sit in coach with me, but I hate the idea of him being stuck down in cargo.>>>

LOL .. glad there is someone else that feels that way .. if he could sit next to me (or in my lap .. lol) I would take him on a plane .. LOL!!! My 130 pound lap dog would keep everyone entertained on the flight .. LOL!
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This is how I feel. I just couldn't handle putting my babies under the plane. I would be so sick with worry the entire time.
A few airlines carriers allow a dog in coach if they fit in a purse. I wanted a purse dog to travel with, but the more my DH and look at other fur babies, we realized we are flat out boxer people. We love everything about our boxers. They are such a joy. I thank God I have them.:)
Funny thing is, I always tell them the story of how I became their mother. They both have a cute story:D Don't let me get started on how much I love the way they smell!! I'm a boxer sniffer:eek:
 
fit44 said:
This is how I feel. I just couldn't handle putting my babies under the plane. I would be so sick with worry the entire time.
A few airlines carriers allow a dog in coach if they fit in a purse. I wanted a purse dog to travel with, but the more my DH and look at other fur babies, we realized we are flat out boxer people. We love everything about our boxers. They are such a joy. I thank God I have them.:)
Funny thing is, I always tell them the story of how I became their mother. They both have a cute story:D Don't let me get started on how much I love the way they smell!! I'm a boxer sniffer:eek:
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Do tell, Cynthia. How did you become their mother?

I don't fly with my dogs either. I don't like flying anymore and the thought of putting my babies in the cargo hole has me in tears.

If I ever have to fly with them I'll need a private jet :p:cool:
 
hiitdogs said:
Do tell, Cynthia. How did you become their mother?
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Ok, so it's not super exciting, but it's our special story:)
I picked Mercedes out of a cardboard box!
First time I laid eyes on her she was sitting in a box with her sister (who peed on her:confused:).
I loved Mercedes the moment I saw her. She was the runt, but she looked like her mother. A beautiful deep mahogany fawn with the sweetest face. My mother was with me and tried to talk me into taking Mercedes' sister. I knew Mercedes belonged to me;). I just knew it!
I loaded my mother and Mercedes in the back seat of my car and we were on our way to our new life together. I would say minutes into the drive home we had to roll down the windows of the car. Mercedes smelled like pee! :eek::eek:OMG, it was bad! She was so cute. She just sat in the back seat with this concerned look on her face. She sat so still, eyes wide open. She didn't know who we were, or where she was going.

I stopped at a Petsmart on the way and loaded a basket full of toys, dog bed, dog food, and shampoo. While in Petsmart, I ran into a woman with a male boxer who stopped me to ask about my boxer girl. This woman called the same breeder and was considering Mercedes' sister.

I bathed Mercedes the minute we arrived home. I wrapped her in blankets and put her in bed with me. Her brothers climbed in bed and cuddled with her. From that moment on, I could not get Mercedes out of my bed! LOL

I could go on about how I bonded with her in puppy school, but I'll spare you all the details.:eek: I will say she received honorary mention for having the fastest recall. I was a proud mama:D. We went through puppy class and obedience class together. It was a great experience and she was a wonderful student. Very eager to please me and has wonderful manners. That is when we decided to find her a brother.;)


I began telling stories to my boxers after meeting a woman who took her boxer to a pet psychic. Apparently, they understand more than we know. I'm not sure I believe 100% of what the psychic told this woman, but some of it was impressive. I know my boxers love it when I hold them and tell them stories.
Keeping with the theme of the thread.....I telll them when I'm leaving them, when I'll be home, and ask them to be good and not to worry.

FWIW, if you would have met me before Mercedes. I was NOT a dog person. I thought dog people were sort of crazy!:D:p:eek:
This little boxer girl changed my life in so many wonderful ways. I'm so much more relaxed, and do not feel the need to have everything perfect.
 
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