I haven driven across the Canadian border from the United States several times with my dogs. People know I like to travel to Canada with my dogs 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?" "What rules do I need to follow when crossing the border with my dog?". I'm always happy to share what I know … [Read more...]

I love visiting the beach with my small dogs. The beach is wide open and we often seek out secluded ones. Because of this, it’s one of the few places I feel comfortable letting them run around without me holding on to the end of the leash (or without one). It also provides a lot of mental stimulation and variety from our routine.  Most of our time walking and exercising is … [Read more...]

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...]

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...]

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...]

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...]

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...]

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 in this article … [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 restaurants … [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 reservations … [Read more...]

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...]