krbenjamin8022
Knoxville, Tennessee
JH
Posts:33
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| 06/24/2012 2:25 PM |
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Moving the family cross country at the end of July...2,220 miles over the course of three days.
We've never taken the dogs on a trip any longer than 4 hours...how should we prepare them for 10 hour days in the car? Should we tranquilize? What are some pet-friendly hotels? Are some more pet friendly than others? Have we completely lost our marbels taking two puppies in the car?
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Willowglen
Fort Collins, CO
MH
Posts:216
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| 06/24/2012 2:42 PM |
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I travel all the time with my dogs, a lot of those trips were driving back and forth between CA and CO. My dogs always ride in their crates and as soon as we get on the interstate, they crash and sleep until I either stop for food, gas, or a potty break. I try and stop every 2 or 3 hours for a break to stretch my legs and let them get out and romp. I like to look for local parks, patches of grass at the nearest McD, or a nice rest stop with lots of grass. After 5-10 minutes out of the car, they are usually ready to get back in and go back to sleep. It's when you get to the hotel that they will be crazy!!!
As far as pet friendly hotels - try Best Western, Super 8, Red Roof Inn, La Quinta, and Holiday Inn Express. Those are the ones I usually stay at. If you know the route you are taking, you can book your room ahead. I always call the local number for the hotel as some hotels have changed their pet policy and you would hate to be driving all day only to arrive and find out you aren't allowed to bring your dogs into the room.
Just remember that it is summer and it takes no time at all for the car to get hot. I bought a fan at Target that plugs into the cigarette lighter in my car - helps get some of the cool air all the way back in my car 
Other things to remember - have a current shot record for each dog. Antlers or bully sticks are great distractions and be sure you don't pack away all of their toys - you will need some in the hotel!!!
BTW, I would not tranquilize. Have fun seeing the country!!! |
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Christine
Willow Glen GSPs & Weimaraners
www.willowglengsp.com
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DuckFever
Central Oregon
MH
Posts:323
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| 06/24/2012 3:36 PM |
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| Growing up we took our dogs on 9+ hour trips from California to Oregon. None of them ever had an issue with it, except the last one, Katy who requires tranquilization due to stress/anxiety in the car. Other than that I wouldn't worry about it. Not sure about pet-friendly hotels. |
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The worst day of hunting is better than the best day at work. |
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Texas Belle
Austin, TX
MH
Posts:7862
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| 06/24/2012 4:08 PM |
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| I travel all over the country with my 4 shorthairs and they are great travelers. I have a truck and pull a 5th wheel so I don't have any issues where I stay. The down side though is I don't have room in the truck for 4 crates, so I put the back seat up and put their dog bed in the floor of the backseat. They get in and sleep in a shorthair pile. I stop every 2 to 3 hours and sometimes they want to get out and other times they look at me and let me know they are happy just to keep on sleeping. |
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Bev Quarles, the Pointer Sisters (Belle and Halo), the Outlaw GSP (Johnny Ringo) and the little Princess (Fauna)
Yellow Rose GSPs
   
"A dog has the soul of a philosopher." - Plato |
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Rose
MH
Posts:362
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| 06/24/2012 4:19 PM |
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I've done a few 8 hour trips with our GSP. I find him better in the back truck in a crate. In the backseat of a car, he can be a jerk, and starts barking. Usually means time for a break to stretch the legs.
They get in and sleep in a shorthair pile.
This sentence makes me smile. |
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smatulewicz
Michigan
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Posts:1197
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| 06/24/2012 4:47 PM |
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I was worried about Bella on her first 19 hour trip (about 10 hours in the car per trek). She did great. She just slept and if she woke up she watched out the window. She seemed to know her routine was different and took it well as we were with her and that's all that matters to her. We would find nice field areas to stop and let her stretch her legs )as I worry about welcome centers and state stops...you never know what kind of dogs have been there. I found it pretty easy to find alternatives. Hotels often have large open areas behind them.
There is an app if you have that type of phone that will determine where you are and list dog friendly hotels. It is based off the website "dog friendly" which you can go to and search the locations you will be. The website tells you dog parks, attractions that allow dogs, places to eat you can have your dog, hotels...etc. smaller cities don't have as much info, but I found metro areas to have a ton of info.
Good luck with you move! |
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kpwlee
Raleigh, NC
MH
Posts:999
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| 06/24/2012 5:30 PM |
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I thought my dog would be a nightmare when we drove to Fl - 700+ miles. We only stopped for us to use a bathroom and get something to eat, he on the other hand was fine and dandy watching out the window.
I have an SUV and he is in in the back with a pet barrier as I learned quickly that he wasn't a back seat sort of guy. I put a bed down and 1 -2 safe chews and he's fine. Eventually he even slept LOL |
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It's Bugsy's world...
http://dailyzoomie.blogspot.com/ |
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Smylinacha
Connecticut
MH
Posts:1208
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| 06/24/2012 7:13 PM |
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Definitely a pet barrier if you put the dog in the back. We like to keep the windows open all the way - keeps them busy and not drooling on us LOL.
Edit to add: yes, they are belted in w/ those doggie seat belts, if not they'd jump out of the windows! |
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Splat
Illinois (Northern)
MH
Posts:3136
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| 06/24/2012 7:58 PM |
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| Ours have gone 8 hours... they just traveled in the cargo area of our suv... ours were fine with stopping when we needed fuel and no special stops just for them... now we will be leaving in a few days for a huge 20 day vacation from Illinois to Montanna to Banff Canada back to Illinois... we will be in an rv though but we will have 1 or 2 days of almost 10 hours on the road... now blitz will potty but wont poop for 2 days when we travel then he settles and goes pretty regular... striker has no issues going where ever he is... as for hotels americinn is nice with dogs even 2 50+ pound dogs... |
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krbenjamin8022
Knoxville, Tennessee
JH
Posts:33
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| 06/25/2012 9:55 PM |
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Patch does not like the car at all. She doesn't get motion sick, but I think she may have been traumatized as a puppy when she was in her crate in the back of my SUV because she will absolutely not get in it anymore...thats why our vet recommended sedating her, just to make the trip slightly more pleasant for everyone involved. So when we take her in the car, she just sits on the middle row and has a bit of an attitude. The look she gives pretty much says, " Seriously, Dad? I don't like this at all, but I'm going to cooperate." It's actually quite adorable.
Huey loves to go in the car, but he's 15 weeks old and a ball of energy, so we will probably keep him crated for the duration. Which of course means buying a much smaller crate for him, just for the trip...to get as much stuff in our car as possible. |
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Texas Belle
Austin, TX
MH
Posts:7862
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| 06/25/2012 11:58 PM |
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| What does Patch do? If she just sits there why would you sedate her? Does she misbehave in another way? |
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Bev Quarles, the Pointer Sisters (Belle and Halo), the Outlaw GSP (Johnny Ringo) and the little Princess (Fauna)
Yellow Rose GSPs
"A dog has the soul of a philosopher." - Plato |
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krbenjamin8022
Knoxville, Tennessee
JH
Posts:33
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| 06/26/2012 12:40 AM |
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Nope, she usually just sits on the backseat and looks out the window, but her demeanor changes so drastically in the car that it seems like she is distressed, anxious or upset. She doesn't seek attention from either me or my wife, doesn't have her usual playful attitude and doesn't seem happy. (this from a dog who sleeps between the two of us and still tries to sit in my lap) She won't voluntarily get in the car, and no amount of kibble or special treats helps encourage her.
We're looking for the least stressful solution, since moving is a stressful event as it is. We will be under a tight timetable to get to Montana with little time to spare should one of the dogs decide they would rather not spend 34 hours in the car. |
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DLord
Holly Springs, NC
MH
Posts:89
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| 06/26/2012 5:57 AM |
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Several years ago I made the trip from NC to Canada with my 2 Springer Spaniels I had at the time. I had an SUV and I did not crate them I put the back seat down and they had the entire back of the SUV. Jackie was about 3 yrs. and she hated riding in the car and Maggie was 18 months and didn't mind at all. I sedated Jackie for the trip up and it's the worst thing I could have ever done! It made her mean as hell towards Maggie - if Maggie just looked at her the wrong way she would attack. I had to separate them and keep one up front and the other in the back. I did not give her the sedative for the return trip and everything was fine. I asked the vet about it and he told me that it can have that affect on some dogs. |
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smatulewicz
Michigan
MH
Posts:1197
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| 06/26/2012 11:01 AM |
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If she is just sitting and watching out the window, I wouldn't sedate her (I didn't read anything that would make me think she needs it). She may not be seeking any attention from you because she knows the acceptable spot for her is on her seat and not in between yours, and she is busy taking in all the sights. Bella loves the car, but she is quite and behaved in the car and focused on watching the world go by. Keep in mind certain GSP traits when overstimulated that non GSP dog owners might interpret as anxiety. For instance, when Bella is standing looking out an open window as the car moves, her tail is tucked and sometimes she is even shaking. Neither of which are bad things in the car, she is excited and stimulated. I suspect she tucks her tail because as much as she loves standing to cruise in the open window, she never feels quite stable.
With your young pup, have the two ridden in the backseat together? Do they get along well? I'm not sure I would keep him crated the whole time unless you plan on always crated him in the car. The trip could be a great training opportunity for a pup of that age. The might also soothe one another and keep each other occupied.
I know others have said they didn't make any special stops, but it seemed to do Bella well (and us when we stopped for the night and were too exhausted to entertain a wound up pup due to no chance to be active. The mental stimulation of watching world go by is great, but Bella really benefited from having a couple of stops for maybe just 20 minutes or half an hour to stretch and run. I sure know I can't stand being in the car too long without a chance to stretch my legs.
If you're worried about it, take sedation so you have it on hand. But try it out without. Coming out of a sedative is hard on a dog. Feeling groggy and sluggish (grumpy too) and not understanding why.
Good luck! |
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Texas Belle
Austin, TX
MH
Posts:7862
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| 06/26/2012 11:55 AM |
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A couple more thoughts. First, sedation can work in reverse, so if you decide to go that route I would try it while at home first to see the impact. Second, does she drool allot while riding in the car? If so she may be slightly car sick. They do not always vomit when car sick. My youngest used to get car sick and she would drool. She was always reluctant to get in the car. Since she got older she no longer gets car sick, but is still reluctant to jump in the car even though she wants to go. That is improving over time, but the memories of when she did get car sick are strong.
if she does get car sick you can try peppermint candy and/or ginger snaps just make sure they are made with real sugar as substitute sugars are like poison to dogs.
Also, benadryl might be a good alternative to a sedative and it will also help with car sick dogs. The dosage is 1 mg per pound, but you might still want to talk it over with your vet. |
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Bev Quarles, the Pointer Sisters (Belle and Halo), the Outlaw GSP (Johnny Ringo) and the little Princess (Fauna)
Yellow Rose GSPs
"A dog has the soul of a philosopher." - Plato |
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krbenjamin8022
Knoxville, Tennessee
JH
Posts:33
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| 06/26/2012 3:13 PM |
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We will have to go for some short test runs and be observant as to Patch's behavior. Its hard to keep track while driving...I don't think she drools an excessive amount as I've never seen puddles or anything, but she just seems...off (and looks scared). However, I am hardly an expert so she may very well love riding.
As for the little guy, he's done fine in the car with Patch and they get along splendidly...right now they are playing chase with a dishtowel. Hilarious to watch...
but he's very active and chewy in the car...and for safety and mental health's sake, we're leaning towards crating him for the duration. We may let him out from time to time, but our car will be packed to the gills with everything we don't want the movers to have, so the potential for him to get into trouble is high, and there is not an excess of space for him to move around. |
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