Stupid Dog Travel Questions
 

I have numerous of questions that I am wondering about "if" I will take my dog. Seems like a lot of trouble to take him, is it~? I don't have kids and seems like I would have to consider him like a kid and take a bag for him, right~? Here are some other questions I have:

How much of their food and/or treats do you take with you~?

Do you pack it with your boarding bag~?

Do you take toys, and how many~?

What about a gate, do you take that with you to gate them in the bathroom at the hotel~?

Do you leave them in the hotel room if you can't take them with you where your going, like to dinner or a not-pet friendly tourist attraction~?

Thanks :)

I have numerous of questions that I am wondering about "if" I will take my dog. Seems like a lot of trouble to take him, is it~?

depends... some people find it a hassle, others dont... I dont mind doing pet friendly things or returning to my room frequently to care for my kiddos, so its no big deal to me... I have eaten numerous meals in the car because there was no where to leave the dogs and I refused to leave them alone, this doesnt bother me, it may bother others.

I don't have kids and seems like I would have to consider him like a kid and take a bag for him, right~?

Yes, I always pack a separate bag for the doggies.


How much of their food and/or treats do you take with you~?

at least a weeks extra... beyond what is needed for the trip, you never know.

Do you pack it with your boarding bag~?

In your boarding bag I would pack, some food, unopened water bottle, a wee wee pad, and baby wipes. Everything else can go in the checked luggage.

Do you take toys, and how many~?

I take toys, a few of their favorites is enough.

What about a gate, do you take that with you to gate them in the bathroom at the hotel~?

I dont take a gate, I take a folding canvas crate and lock them in this and then in the bathroom when I leave them at the hotel... this way if they got out AND someone came in they would still have another level of protection.

Do you leave them in the hotel room if you can't take them with you where your going, like to dinner or a not-pet friendly tourist attraction~?

Yes, BUT CHECK HOTEL POLICY FIRST... some do not allow unsupervised dogs... I try to stay at one that does, if I cant find one then they need to be with me at all times and this can be more difficult... usually they take your cell phone number when you arrive and will call if there are any complaints about your dog, I have never had this issue but it is nice to know that they would call me first before calling Animal Control. I also always make sure to leave the "Do Not Disturb" sign on my door when I leave. I also try to take the dogs out to do something in the morning so that the cleaning girl can come in and clean without them bothering her... at this time I also put ALL of their stuff inside their crate and the crate in the corner... no reason she should be bothered cleaning my dogs stuff.

There a couple of web sites that list pet friendly hotels. One I believe is Take Your Pet. Was it you that was asking about FL a few months ago. Be glad to help finding accomodations. La Quinta is pet friendly. Best to come down here before it gets too hot/humid and tropical storm season revs up by Aug. Previous post, ArmaniMan's, pretty much sums up what you were asking. The most important thing is to check pet policies. Some places can have hefty pet fees.

I'm the one who asked awhile back about Florida :D I know that pet fees can be costly from what I learned during our storm last year. I lost electric for a week or two and after 2 days, I couldn't handle it any longer. I checked around here and was surprised about the costs, but ended up in southern Indiana since there were rooms available there with low pet costs. The rooms here were full and higher pet costs. I like hot weather and have been there years ago in August as well as the storm seasons...or maybe that was Cali. I forgot. It's been so long ago since I traveled (10+/- years) and feel I need a vacation....if I can physically and mentally get aways.

Thanks ArmaniMan for the info :) I know I can purchase food wherever but may not be able to find it. You never know. I know when I have stayed over locally here, he didn't like it when I left the room :eek: I gated him in the bathroom and he had a fit:eek: I didn't think I would need a special crate like a folding one, good idea :) I'm not sure I am going to take him or when I am going.

Armaniman gave good ideas. The only thing I would change is puppy wipes instead of baby wipes. You can find them at any PetSmart. Dogs have a diff skin PH level, and even if you get the gentle, unscented ones they still make a difference. Kaji had a red irritated "Mr Peeper" and surrounding skin because I used baby wipes instead of puppy wipes.

I've traveled with Kaji a bit, and I only plan dog friendly activities. Why bother bringing him if he's going to be locked up in a hotel room? I have left him at a friends house for an hour or two, but most activities are Kaji oriented.

I use to use "Earth Bath" wipes on him that I found in the dog pet stores here, until the Vet told me to change to wash cloths. Traveling tho would make sense to use the doggie wipes tho. If I do travel I was going to make it a pet friendly trip. There is a dog website in Florida that has posting of dog events that I would take him too. There are pet friendly hotels that have all sorts of dog activites. I definitely wouldn't leave him locked in the room all day. I would walk him on the beach and go to pet-friendly restaurants. But there are places that dogs aren't allowed, perhaps like at the zoo. At least our zoo here doesn't allow dogs. So, I would have to have him stay in the room while I ventured out too.

Oh no! I wasn't insinuating that you would leave him locked up. You're still haven't made a decision and that to me would play a big role on whether or not my boy would come. If I were you and this trip was a trip for me to go and do things like zoos and concerts and other non dog friendly things, then I would leave Kaji at home with his friends.

Whose "Kaja"~? My Yorkshire Terrier is named "Maxwell". I keep looking on the dog event calendar in Florida for dog events and other info that they have. Some of the events are people friendly which dogs can attend. I was going to bed, but now you have me wondering if anyone posted :)

I said if it were me traveling, I would do things for my dog, Kaji. I wasn't trying to be rude, just trying to give you food for thought.

Sorry that I misunderstood. I'm tired, been up early and drove over an hour past Ft. Knox, KY area to locate a jalousie door lock (without success). I'm going to bed. BTW, I just found time shares...and some are dog friendly :D Good night.

Personally I still prefer to take mine even if they have to stay in the hotel for periods of time, they stay alone at home... there is no difference. They would rather get to come and spend most of the time with me, then be left at home for days. I dont take my dogs when I go out to dinner at home, no reason they cant stay alone when I go out to dinner in another city.

I have the option of leaving him with some YT friends, so to me that makes a big difference. I guess I'm lucky to have made "real life friends" that I see off the board. I don't go out to diner either, the few times I go out with my boyfriend our dates are centered around Kaji friendly activities. That's just me though. I leave him "alone" enough when I'm working (there is always someone at my house) and when it's my free time, it's *we* time.

Here's a good site too:)

BringFido.com - Pet Friendly Hotel & Dog Travel Directory

Some really Pet Friendly and Nice Hotels
 

There is a chain of Boutique Hotels that are truly Pet Friendly. They are the Kimpton Hotel Chains. They are not everywhere but if you can find one the reviews our fantastic. They even welcome your dog on their chalk boards when you arrive. I have also found that they do not charge a fee for your pet, you just have to sign a waiver when you arrive being responsible for anything your pet does. Also we are going to San Diego in February and I found the Omini Chain that charges $50 for your stay and they are a 4 star hotel. They told me that Bella would be allowed anywhere in the hotel, even the pool area. The only place she wasn't allowed to go is the inside restaurant and bar, but no problem as the restaurant continues outside to a patio where she is allowed. This is a McCormick Seafood Restaurant which is a very nice restaurant so it is a beautiful thing when you can take your baby to dinner. Our last night in San Diego we are staying at a Westin and they too are pet friendly and do not charge a fee for your pet and like the Omni chain she will have full run of the place other than the inside restaurant and bar. Hope this gives anyone looking for a hotel some ideas on traveling with your babies. We always travel with Bella and even took her to Aruba with us. I have always taken her out of her crate when the plane is taking off and put her under my jacket and she sleeps and we always seem to have a lookout for the flight attendants. We got caught once and the stewardess just put her hand up like she didn't see her on my lap. But you have to be careful because it is an FAA rule. I always put her in her carrier before we land. I'm not sure but the noise I think hurts her ears as she doesn't make any noise until we are taking off and then she cries and that is why I always take her out at that time and the flight attendants are buckled in so I don't have to worry about them at that point of time. We love to take her and always plan our vacations around her so we can take her with us. When we have left her at home we end up missing her so much we don't enjoy our vacations nearly as much as when we have her with us. Sorry for writing a book but I don't post much just generally read all of your post. Happy Traveling!!!

Thanks for much for your info :) I'll check what you posted out :) It was very informative too :)

Thank you :) This is a great site too :)

We bring a pen too (a regular pen if we are driving or one of the canvas pens mentioned in the first reply). Charlie is a bit of a door dasher, so I worry that if someone from the hotel came in and propped the door open, he might dart out. I think a pen in the bathroom is the safest too.

Before I let them out in the room, I also check over the floor. I found a sewing needle once and some kind of pill on a hotel floor once. Sometimes things get dropped and the vacuum probably doesn't pick it all up -- I just always check all over the carpet for anything dangerous.

Its fun having them along! I think its worth the extra work to have the whole family there :-)

Have a fun vacation!!!

12 hour car ride with the Furbabies
 

Ok my YT friends need a little help here. Next month we are off to Illinois. It is a 12 hour car ride for just me and the 2 furbabies. I have never traveled that far with my babies. How often do we stop? Do I stop every 2 hours? Do I get something to sedate them? Help. I need all the advice I can get.

I don't believe in drugs or sedation. That is awful to sedate them when they can enjoy looking out the window and enjoying the smell.....at least my Yorkshire Terrier enjoys car rides with the windows open....the smell and looking at doggies as I point them out. They would be missing a lot don't you think~?

Sorry I didn't mean to put this post here. I thought I was starting a new thread. I didn't realize I wasn't on the main page. Is there a way to get this moved so it doesn't take away from the OP??