My hounds all love to travel. It’s a prerequisite of life with Claudia. If a car door is open, they are in the car. And they will stay in the car just waiting for me to take them somewhere. CAR has played a very important part in every hound’s life passing through Gang’s doors. You can read about our first CAR here. Then CAR, TOO here. So many memories in our cars.
We did a survey of greyhound lovers about their cars, and these were the opinions they had.
But back to traveling in car. The hounds are better travelers then I am. I have to stop every 250 miles or so, and go to the bathroom, buy junk food and gas up the car. They patiently wait in the car until I return. They can easily go hours without getting out of the car. We’re headed from Utah to Florida in November, with 9 – 10 hours a day in car. They’ll love it, I’ll probably get hemorrhoids, and gain 5 lbs.
Here’s how I make my hounds comfortable.
First, I make it very comfy for them. The back seats are never up. Human passengers don’t exist in my car – only hound passengers.
The back is fully covered with egg-crate dog beds. Then I have a cover over the dog beds, just in case something should happen. I don’t put any of my luggage in the back with them. That is either all in the front, or on top of the car. They can stretch and stand and move and stay comfortable.
When I’m doing a road trip with hounds, what I bring for them is always more than what I bring for me. Here’s a list:
- Dog beds. There are the ones in the car, but also ones I roll up with a handle so I can sling it over a shoulder easily to bring into hotels or homes.
- Sheets to cover bed covers in homes and hotels where we stay. Old Towels, Paper Towels, plastic bags, poop bags, roller.
- Food – raw for us, so that means refrigeration. Bowls. Metal Fork. Aluminum Foil. Can opener. Tip-proof water bowl for car.
- Toys.
- Supplements – Neem Flea Spray, slippery elm, joint supplements, salmon oil
- Pertinent vet records
- Dog coats or blankets if needed
- Muzzles, Leashes, extra collars, name tags
Before I leave, I check on-line for fenced dog parks in the areas I’m traveling through and to. I also see if there are any greyhound lovers, with fenced yards, along the way to stop and visit with.
And the adventure begins. This year I will attempt to chronicle it on Gang’s Facebook page. Do honk and wave if you see a black Ford Escape Hybrid SUV whizzing through your town! We’ll be staying in Santa Rosa, NM, then a few days in Ft Worth, TX at Remember the Greyhound Event, then Hattiesburg, MS, then Jacksonville, FL. Final destination Jensen Beach and West Palm Beach.