The thought of flying with your dog may send shivers down your spine; no doubt you've heard more than a few terrifying tales of fellow dog owners who've had disastrous experiences taking their pups along with them. Whether you are moving overseas, or are fortunate enough to take your pooch along with you on vacation, the process may seem intimidating. However, there are a number of tricks … [Read more...]

I've been hiking, camping, and traveling with my Dachshunds over 15 years. I love dog gear but, over time, I've found that there are a few essentials I take with us on every time we go hiking, camping, traveling, or just walking around the neighborhood. My dogs may be small but I know my must-have list would be the same even if I had a bigger dog. Here is my minimum, must-have list of … [Read more...]

When your dog is your constant hiking or travel companion, there will be a lot of picture-worthy moments. The camera you are most likely to have on hand when you want to capture the moment - because it’s the only one you have or you forgot your “good camera” in the car - is your smartphone. Unfortunately, it can be a little tricky to get an Instagram-worthy snap or high-quality Facebook … [Read more...]

You've been eyeing the beautiful pictures on Instagram or online for a long time and you're finally going to visit that National park this summer. And, of course, because you hardly do anything without your furry sidekick, you're dog is coming with you. Then you find out that dogs aren't allowed in National Parks and your dreams are dashed. Are Dogs Allowed in National Parks? First, … [Read more...]

We are lucky to have a lot of dog-friendly restaurants in Seattle. Not only are there restaurants where you can sit on the patio outside with your dog, but there are a few that allow you to actually eat inside with your dog! I love taking Gretel with me to a local pub or cafe on the way back from our hikes. I admit she is not always the best behaved dogs though. I see some dogs in … [Read more...]

Gretel and I recently got back from a 9-day, 4,000 mile road trip to the southwest. Earlier this year, we visited Canadian National Parks for a week, went on several multi-day camping trips, and had many more mini adventures. People often tell me I’m lucky that I get to travel so much with my dogs. I admit that I got out with Gretel more this year than I have in most other years but it still feels … [Read more...]

I visited New York City for the first time last month. I heard it can be pretty crazy there. Not one to shy away from adventure, I decided to take my small Dachshund, Gretel, with me. Adventure is what I got too. People warned me before I went that it might not be wise to bring a small dog to such a crowded city. I won't lie - it DID make the trip a bit more tricky - but I had a blast doing New … [Read more...]

I found out about a week ago that Gretel gets to fly with me to Knoxville, Tenn. when I visit the PetSafe headquarters. I've never flown with a dog before, and Gretel has never been on a plane, so we were going to have a lot of preparing to do in two weeks time. The first thing I had to do was research the pet policy for American Airlines. I was lucky because American Airlines takes … [Read more...]

I take several road trips a year from the US into Canada with my dogs. People know I like to travel to Canada so they often ask me questions like "Can I take my dog to Canada?", "How hard is it to cross the US-Canadian border with my dog?", and "What rules do I need to follow when crossing the border with my dog?". I'm always happy to share what I know based on research and … [Read more...]

Recently we took a great dog-friendly trip that didn't turn out to be as dog-friendly as we expected. With much excitement and anticipation, our friends from Life with Doxies and I loaded up my car and drove 2.5 hours east of Seattle to the town of Zillah, WA for the Cherry Wood Canine Wine and Walk. It sounded like the perfect trip. I like hiking with Chester and Gretel and we would be hiking … [Read more...]