Traveling Long Distance

[MyKaiju]

Hi all!

My husband and I are moving across country and are planning for a very long road trip from South Florida to Utah in November. I'm trying to decide what's best for my little yorkie, Kaiju. She's 7 months old and a real sweetheart

I've read online about flying animals, but a lot of what I read scares me. Booking a non-stop flight would be impossible and there are so many 'what-if' horrible scenarios already in my head!

I'm opting to take Kaiju on the road with me (my husband will be driving a separate vehicle), so I'll be alone. Luckily, I've taken her on shorter 2.5 hour drives before (though never by myself) and she's fine, no car sickness or anything.

I've been looking at some sort of backseat hammock for her so that she is not confined for the multi-day trip. I am open to all suggestions in general and have a few specific questions:

- Are there better ways of traveling with your pet across state lines?

- What are some things I will need to consider? (hotels, stopping for food, etc.)

- Have you had successful road trips with your dog? If so, what are some tips you may have for me?

Thank you for any advice you may have! I hope to make this trip as comfortable for both of us as possible

[Maximo]

Welcome to Yorkie Talk!

South Florida to Utah is a long trip. The only way I would fly is if my dog could come with me in the cabin of the plane, especially if not a direct flight.

Road trip: Happy to hear Kaiju does well in the car. My boys love their car seats. Both Snoozer and Pet Gear make very comfy seats that are great for a window view or sleeping.

Things to bring: a blanket or something soft to snuggle (pillow case), favorite soft toy, food and water bowls, bottled water (or buy on the road to make sure it doesn't overheat along the way), ID tags.

Many hotels accept pets for an additional fee. Just google for pet friendly hotel chains. I brought along my dog's favorite bed to make him feel more at home. An xpen or a crate is also handy to block access to the hotel room door and prevent escape.

My biggest concern about traveling alone with a dog is finding places for me to use the bathroom where I can bring my dog in with me.

For my food, I get everything to go and eat outside so that I can stay with my dog.

[Wylie's Mom]

A few years ago, me and hubby did a road trip from AZ to Minnesota and back later, with our 3 dogs. We bought the "Pet Tube" from Amazon and I swear, it was awesome!

You can get it Sm, Med, Lg: Amazon

Bc it has rounded edges, they don't slide around like they would in something flat. And it's nice and open looking/feeling.

Here is a travel thread you may want to read too: http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/tra...you-bring.html

When we were road tripping, we also brought along portable pet stairs for hotel beds, all their microchip info, and portable fencing for fencing them off in the hotel room or when stopping for pee breaks/car breaks....we brought the Iris pen along.

[Yorkiemom1]

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom

A few years ago, me and hubby did a road trip from AZ to Minnesota and back later, with our 3 dogs. We bought the "Pet Tube" from Amazon and I swear, it was awesome!

You can get it Sm, Med, Lg: http://smile.amazon.com/Petego-Pet-T...=pet+tube&th=1


Bc it has rounded edges, they don't slide around like they would in something flat. And it's nice and open looking/feeling.

Here is a travel thread you may want to read too: http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/tra...you-bring.html

When we were road tripping, we also brought along portable pet stairs for hotel beds, all their microchip info, and portable fencing for fencing them off in the hotel room or when stopping for pee breaks/car breaks....we brought the Iris pen along.

This thing is WONDERFUL!!!!!! I may very well have to get a couple of these for the back seat and the third row-back seat!

For trips up to my brother's place, I always take an x-pen and a plastic tarp to throw down on the ground so the dogs are not on the ground, with fleas and ticks and ants, and "things that have passed that way before"!!!!. I also dont want my dogs in direct contact with motel floors/carpet, so when we stay in motels, I throw down the blue tarps and set my crates and exercise pens up on the tarp. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE staying at La Quinta Motels....very pet friendly! I always get the large suite with a kitchenette....lots of room and when you ask them to stay out of your room, they actually do just that!!! They have an unbelievable breakfast buffet, with something for everyone!!! (I have every telephone number to every La Quinta starting 100 miles out from Houston, in every direction, in case we ever need to evacuate!)

[capt_noonie]

Another vote for La Quinta here! They don't charge a pet fee. Though bc they don't, be weary of other dog owners and like many places, most don't pick up after their dog. Once we stayed at a motel with Uni and Toto and I would walk them around the grounds. We noticed lots of poop on the ground so we would walk farther away. Well Uni ended up getting sick! Ironically, that motel shared a parking lot with a popular restaurant here in Vegas. They were shut down around that time for getting over 200 of their patrons sick. Now I'm beginning to think maybe it wasn't food poisoning, but workers bringing in germs from the dog poop outside into the restaurant.

If possible, stay at the La Quinta's that have the inward facing doors like a hotel, vs the outside facing doors like Motel 6. Although only the newer ones are like that.

Anyway, we drive from Vegas back to Orange county several times a year which is about 3.5 hrs or more depending on traffic. I have their Cloud 9, though it is safer to have a car seat where they can be restrained in case of an accident. Snoozer is very popular. If you are handy, you can make one out of PVC pipe and set in a basket and cover it with foam and fabric. I keep a cooler with frozen water bottles, their food, bowls, and they are already wearing their IDs and harnesses. We try to take them on pee breaks in parking lots that seem more quiet. We don't go to dog parks.

If you and hubby aren't caravanning together, best place to go to the bathroom for yourself would be like a Ross or TJ Maxx. I always see people with their dogs inside. So you can go and then you can take your dog outside to go. I see lots of people here bring their dogs to Home Depot also but some locations don't allow them.

[crazydoglade]

Last fall I took a road trip from so cal to michigan by way of texas. Just me and 7 dogs, round trip around 5500 miles in a little over a month with stops to visit friends and family. I used harnesses restraints and car seats. Took plenty of bottled water and their food of course, pottypads, collapsable stairs for beds and a few doggy beds and I found some portable pens that didn't take much room. I only had one small ton in either mississippi or Lousiana ( can't remember which) finding hotel that allowed pets, most without extra deposits. it was a wonderful trip and I plan ontaking a road trip to wyoming/montana area for 6 weeks next year. Can't wait.

[dinkster]

I would like to chime in about La Quinta. I stayed at one in Chicago (I actually did not have the dog with me that time. The service was exceptional, and the breakfast is great!