planning a 10K mile trip

Again, thanks to all for responding, you really are giving me a lot of ideas and material to work with!

Judy, thank you for your take on the canine companion question...I have the same concerns that you do. I've learned from experience to find places to eat and parks that are pet friendly. My big question is whether two months on the road, in a new place every few nights, will be too stressful for a dog that is very much mired in routine. And I was a little concerned about being able to feel totally carefree and spontaneous when I have her to take care of. Judging from the responses I've gotten there are definitely pros and cons to taking her..so I will continue to think it over. If i don't take her, my other question is, what to do with her! I've heard of doggy "camp"...basically a glorified boarding kennel, but has anyone ever left their animal for TWO MONTHS in a place like that? She is a high energy dog and none of my friends or nearby family have a yard or the time to really give to her, so I just don't know what to do. Any creative ideas would be helpful.

Thanks to AZBuck for the alternate route to Santa Fe! That is very good information and most likely what I will do. When I said that I wanted to "span the gaps quickly" I just meant that I couldn't spend a whole day or half a day at parks or museums, but spending a little extra time on the road in order to drive a more scenic route, that I will definitely do!

And Brad, I got the Rand McNally atlas and I've already zeroxed the maps and begun highliting different routes. I wish I could drop everything and start the journey today!

-Annie

As a dog lover, I'll focus on this issue....

I have never had the luxury of a 60-day trip. 12-14 days is the longest I've ever been able to get away. And we have lots of family in the area who can take care of our dog while we're gone so boarding isn't an issue. And the family who care for her when we're gone know her, she knows them, and they have dogs that she enjoys playing with. Evenso, after 2 days she greets us as if we have been away for years. I can't imagine how she would act after a 60-day separation.

All dogs love routine but, even more than that, dogs love being with their parents (I refuse to be called an owner). Dogs are so attached to those they love that I think they suffer more from a long separation than they would from loss of routine.

I really think if I was going away for so long and didn't have family that she knew and was comfortable with to stay with, I would find a way to take her with me and make it work. However, this is going to mean some compromises on your part. That's not a bad thing. It just means your trip will be different than if you were traveling alone. I also think you will enjoy your trip more if you're not worrying about your dog's well-being when you'r on the road.

So, some things you can do are:
* study books and websites about traveling with dogs so you get a good feel for the resources out there
* investigate day kennels available in areas where you want to mountain bike (and she can't run along side of you) and where you want to do other activities where she can't tag along
* make sure your dog travels well....dogs that don't do roadtrips much sometimes have motion problems when in the car for a long time. My dog loves it but I know of others who have dogs who get sick. Make sure your dog enjoys shorter trips closer to home before taking her on a longer trip
* face the fact that you will likely cover less miles on a day with a dog as you stop so she can do her duty, stretch her legs, etc. Of course, stretching your own legs is a good thing so this isn't a bad way to remind us to get out of the car on a regular basis
* make sure your dog is well-trained enough to be in crowds and the excitement of travel without become a risk to herself or others, including the ability to follow basic commands
* make sure your dog has had all vaccinations and that you carry such documentation with you
* make sure you dog is well-marked with identification tags, including a number where you can be contacted (possibly your cellphone number AND the phone number of a trusted family/friend at home)
* it might be a good idea to invest in a chip as well
* learn some basic dog 1st aid, i.e. looking for chiggers after you've been in heavy grass, etc. and invest in a 1st aid kit with specific items for dog-related injuries

You may not be able to travel as far, or do as many things on your trip with your dog with you. But your dog will also add to your enjoyment. I really wish my dog could take the heat better...she has a very heavy coat...as she IS tons of fun to travel with. I'm sure whatever concessions you have to make to make the trip fun for the both of you will be worth it if you choose that course.

Oh, and if you are going to popular, touristy areas that have dog kennels available, you may need to make reservations for her to stay there well ahead of time.
*

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by sunwater

...Judging from the responses I've gotten there are definitely pros and cons to taking her..so I will continue to think it over. If i don't take her, my other question is, what to do with her! I've heard of doggy "camp"...basically a glorified boarding kennel, but has anyone ever left their animal for TWO MONTHS in a place like that?

---

Annie,

One more view on this subject. Having had a number of canine companions over the last five decades or so, I am not really convinced that dogs really "miss" their human companions when they are not there. Dogs have the admirable capabilty to "live in the moment" {Love the one you are with} and they also have the ability to go into "neutral" when their human buddies are not about. This is not to suggest that they don't portray their obvious glee when the "missing" human comes home again.

I think it is possible that the human would miss their companionship more over the two months.

Mark

Any veterinarians in the house? Any pet psychics? This is such a difficult decision! I'm sure that when i think about the two month separation and worry about how it will affect my dog, i'm probably projecting my own emotions on to the situation. I'm going to consult with my vet this week and get her professional opinion and go from there. I have quite a bit of time before i hit the road to try and find the best possible place to leave her...and if i can't find someplace that i'm comfortable with, then she's coming along with me. she and i took a short road trip to the beach this weekend and we both had the best time, so i know it's possible to bring her, if not ideal. i'll let you know what the vet says! thanks!

Although AZBuck mentioned the America's Byways web site be sure to request their free US Scenic Highways map. It may help you decide which roads to take between stops.

As to your Seattle to Missoula portion of the trip, you won't go wrong taking either the north or south part of the "loop" although I loved going across WA20 to US2 in MT & down US93 or MT83 to Missoula on a trip last Spring (we went the other direction & drove up MT200 which let us stop at the National Bison Range a little west of Missoula.) I would also find a way to take the "Going to the Sun" highway through Glacier National Park, providing you will hit the park after the road opens in mid June. One of the most beautiful roads in the US!

When in NY, try to see some of the Adirondacks - maybe taking the ferry across Lake Champlain and NY3, 30 & 28. If you need to make up time, you can catch interstate 87 at Diamond Point.

Have a great trip!

While I totally agree that dogs live "in the moment", I have also known of a couple of dogs who have had major personality changes when separated from their owners for long periods of time, even though they were being cared for by good dog people who they were already familiar with. One lost his sunny disposition and became mopey. The other became quite aggressive. Both returned to normal TO AN EXTENT upon their owner's return...although, in both cases, the dogs still had after-effects and were never quite themselves again.

Of course, I've also known many other dogs who have not been effected at all so those affected dogs are more rare.

I don't think it's a cut-and-dried issue.