Some people wonder if you can travel with a small dog. Or why you might want to. Besides the many benefits of traveling with your dog, traveling with a small dog, specifically, has several advantages. When you compare a big dog vs a small dog, here are the reasons I think traveling with a small dog is better. 5 Reasons Why Traveling with Small Dog is Better I love dogs of all sizes … [Read more...]
Dog Travel Essentials (Printable Checklist) for A Pet Friendly Vacation
I travel a lot with my dogs. So much that I've been able to refine my list of dog travel essentials over time and for different scenarios. To make taking a vacation with my dogs easier, and to make sure I don't forget anything, I created this pet travel checklist for when I stay in a roofed accommodation like Airbnb or hotel (we also camp, road trip, backpack, and overland and I'll be working … [Read more...]
10 Ways to Make Your Dog Comfortable in a Hotel Room
I travel with my dogs everywhere. It's one of my favorite things to do! But I don't want my happiness to be at the expense of theirs. I do my best to respect their preferences and make them as comfortable as possible. I find that one of the most stressful travel experiences for my dogs are when we stay in a hotel room (or similar like Airbnb). Over the years, I've developed a routine … [Read more...]
How to Keep Your Dog Calm When Traveling
Taking your dog on vacation with you can be a really fun and memorable experience. However, if your dog is not used to traveling, it may not go as smoothly as you anticipate. Dogs new to traveling may find it stressful at times. Whether travelling by car, train, bus, or airplane, dogs can quickly become anxious. The unfamiliar surroundings, smells, and experiences can … [Read more...]
10 Surprising Benefits of Traveling with Your Dog
There are a lot of benefits of traveling with your dog. Some are obvious and some are not so obvious. The more obvious benefits, which most articles about traveling with your dog mention, include: Your dog gets to experience sights and sounds that are different than around home You don't have to miss them You know they are well taken care of because no one takes better care of … [Read more...]
How to Enjoy National Parks With Your Dog
Planning to visit a National Park and bring your dog along? Do you know that there are a lot of rules about what you can and can't do with your dog in National Parks? While your dog is allowed to visit the park with you, they aren't allowed to hike or visit most of the sights in the park with you. Note: There are a few National Parks that are dog friendly but these are rare … [Read more...]
5 Tips for Flying with Your Small Dog for the First Time
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...]
7 Essential Items to Bring on Every Adventure with Your Dachshund
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 several essentials I take with us on every time we go on an adventure. 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 what I bring on every adventure. Disclosure: Some of the links below are … [Read more...]
3 Crucial Things to Know When Visiting a National Park with Your Dog
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...]
5 Mistakes That Can Get You Kicked Out of a Dog Friendly Restaurant
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 restaurants … [Read more...]
9 Things to Remember When Planning a Road Trip with Your Dog
Taking a road trip with your dog is definitely an awesome and an unforgettable experience. It's also a great way to put some adventure in your lives when the weather is less than favorable. To make that trip a more enjoyable experience, keep these things in mind before before hitting the road with your furry friend. Plan Ahead When Taking a Road Trip With Your Dog 1. Motion Sickness Just … [Read more...]
How You Can Travel More with Your Dog
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...]
9 Tips for Surviving New York City with Your Small Dog
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...]
Protect Your Car from Muddy Paws
You would be really surprised how dirty a 10 lb Doxie can get. After 12 years of hiking and walking in the rain with a Doxie, I am still surprised. I swear it's their paddle feet that flip mud and dirt on their bellies when they walk. I didn't care so much about my old car getting dirty but I bought a brand new car two years ago and started caring. If you look at my car windows, it's obvious … [Read more...]
9 Key Lessons Learned While Flying with a Dog In-Cabin
UPDATED: October 21, 2018 I've flown with my dog Gretel 4 times. I don't claim to be an absolute expert on flying with a dog in cabin but I am pretty savvy when it comes to traveling with a dog and I learn fast from experience (plus our Facebook followers gave me a bunch of great tips and advice). I've flown varying length and distances with Gretel. One was a direct flight but the others had … [Read more...]
Flying With a Dog: Getting Ready for Takeoff
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 reservations … [Read more...]
Best Websites for Planning a Dog Friendly Vacation
My hubby and I rarely travel without Chester and Gretel. We're going on an anniversary trip next week to Jackson, Wyoming and will be bringing them with us. I thought I would share some of the resources we use to plan a dog friendly vacation. It's a 14-hour drive from Seattle to Jackson so, to ensure we all get enough breaks, we will be playing the 100-mile road trip game and splitting the drive … [Read more...]
Things You Must Know Before Driving Across the Canadian Border With Your Dog
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 experience. Can I … [Read more...]
Driving with Dogs: The 100 Mile Road Trip Game
Driving with dogs can be really fun but it has it challenges, especially if it is a long road trip. I recently drove 2,900 miles in 8 days with Chester in Gretel. We dove from Seattle to the annual BlogPaws conference for pet bloggers in Las Vegas. Chester and Gretel love riding in the car with me. Gretel sleeps most of the time and Chester either dozes or looks out the window (he doesn't like … [Read more...]
Dog Diaper Bag – What to Pack
Whether you are traveling with a puppy, a dog that is not fully potty trained, an anxious peeer, or an incontinent senior dog, it's a good idea to bring a dog diaper bag. UPDATED: July 7, 2021 Bringing a doggie diaper bag is important because you never know when your dog may make a mess in a hotel, or friends house, or when they might roll in the mud (or something really stinky. … [Read more...]
