I drove 24 hours with Aspen when she was about 6 months old. She slept most of the time. I let her out to go to the bathroom when we stopped for gas. I filled a couple of Kongs for her. I offered her water every gas stop because it was such a long drive. When we go camping, it's usually about 4 hours away and I don't bring anything for her. She sleeps and she can go to the bathroom and drink when we get there. It's not a long drive and she goes longer than that in the house haha
What to do during a road trip?
Hello folks!
We're going on a road trip this weekend (well, only a four hour drive one way, but the longest that Bri ever had).
What do you give your dog in the car or do with them? Or do you just leave them alone and let them doze off?
Bri has a harness with a lead that is attached to the seatbelt of the backseat. I have bucket seats in the back, so no long bench for her to lie down on, only a seat (she can go to the cargo area though, where there is space to lie down, but she never does, since we are upfront). Her normal position during driving is sticking her head in between the front seats and resting it on the middle console.
The longest drive she ever encountered (with us that is), was 30 minutes.
How many stops should we make? Offer water or no?
As you see, I'm absolutely clueless
Thanks in advance!
We're going on a road trip this weekend (well, only a four hour drive one way, but the longest that Bri ever had).
What do you give your dog in the car or do with them? Or do you just leave them alone and let them doze off?
Bri has a harness with a lead that is attached to the seatbelt of the backseat. I have bucket seats in the back, so no long bench for her to lie down on, only a seat (she can go to the cargo area though, where there is space to lie down, but she never does, since we are upfront). Her normal position during driving is sticking her head in between the front seats and resting it on the middle console.
The longest drive she ever encountered (with us that is), was 30 minutes.
How many stops should we make? Offer water or no?
As you see, I'm absolutely clueless
Thanks in advance!
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Thanks you two!
The air conditioning is no problem and I doubt that we would stop for dinner and need to leave her in the car, but if something like that should happen, I can always leave the car running and keep checking on her (I do that if I have to quickly get something from the store when we're coming back from the park, e.g.).
My husband suggested putting her in her crate (which we take anyways, because I'm not keen on cleaning up motel floors and not sure how well house trained she is outside of the house ), but she hardly never misbehaves during car rides, so I don't see why that would be necessary.
Stops and stuff are alright (he would be able to hold it for 4 hours, but since I work in the morning before leaving and will have loads of coffee, I probably won't be ), I was more thinking about what to do while driving? Kongs sound good, maybe an antler? I never thought about if she gets car sick. She definitely never showed any signs like vomiting. But, as said, the drives up to now were only about 30 minutes long.
Thanks again!
The air conditioning is no problem and I doubt that we would stop for dinner and need to leave her in the car, but if something like that should happen, I can always leave the car running and keep checking on her (I do that if I have to quickly get something from the store when we're coming back from the park, e.g.).
My husband suggested putting her in her crate (which we take anyways, because I'm not keen on cleaning up motel floors and not sure how well house trained she is outside of the house
), but she hardly never misbehaves during car rides, so I don't see why that would be necessary.Stops and stuff are alright (he would be able to hold it for 4 hours, but since I work in the morning before leaving and will have loads of coffee, I probably won't be
), I was more thinking about what to do while driving? Kongs sound good, maybe an antler? I never thought about if she gets car sick. She definitely never showed any signs like vomiting. But, as said, the drives up to now were only about 30 minutes long.Thanks again!
We regularly drive home with our dogs, which is 7 hours. They hang out in the cargo area of the SUV. I usually make it super comfy back there, a couple of big dog pillows and blankets. They also have a couple of non-noisy chews. Antlers, Himalayan chews, or bully sticks/pizzles. They are offered water at every rest we take (usually one every 2.5-3 hours), but they don't often take it.
At rest stops my hubby and I trade off. He runs in and pees/gets food while I play with the dogs, and then we trade.
During the summer, we keep the AC really high, and we just wear sweaters and pants in the car.
Honestly, they sleep 95% of the time. If they are up and getting REALLY restless, we assume they have to pee and find a place to let them out.
At rest stops my hubby and I trade off. He runs in and pees/gets food while I play with the dogs, and then we trade.
During the summer, we keep the AC really high, and we just wear sweaters and pants in the car.
Honestly, they sleep 95% of the time. If they are up and getting REALLY restless, we assume they have to pee and find a place to let them out.
My mom, her two RRs and I have road tripped from TX to NY and back, as well as TX to PA.
They just hung out in the back seat with blankets and a couple toys (which they didn't care for. Just sleeping and looking out the window.)
Usually just taking breaks when we do, but sometimes we'd plow through so we would take special stops for the dogs and to stretch.
We didn't feed them until we stopped somewhere to park and sleep so their food could settle. We did offer water every time, often politely refused.
We never ate out, it was either the ice chest or fast food.
They just hung out in the back seat with blankets and a couple toys (which they didn't care for. Just sleeping and looking out the window.)
Usually just taking breaks when we do, but sometimes we'd plow through so we would take special stops for the dogs and to stretch.
We didn't feed them until we stopped somewhere to park and sleep so their food could settle. We did offer water every time, often politely refused.
We never ate out, it was either the ice chest or fast food.
Just to be clear, I have a start button car and keyless entry, so the car is locked, but the engine is running. I wouldn't leave my car open with the engine running and key and Bri inside.
As to everyone else: Thank you so much for answering, I might just take the tip with making the cargo area more comfy for her and creating a little "nap" spot for her.
But I'll have some chew toys handy.
Himalayan chews or bully sticks are not a good choice for me, she chews them down in 5-15 minutes...
The exercise before starting will also be plenty, so she is tired enough.
I hope we'll have a smooth ride
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