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Road Trips with your Golden

6K views 31 replies 26 participants last post by  MaureenM 
#1 ·
Hi all,
I know we're really early in thinking about this, but my partner and I are planning on taking a road trip through the Eastern Coastal states this coming summer (we're originally from Ontario, Canada), and we'd love to take Diesel along. We know that bringing a dog on a road trip sounds like a daunting idea, and a lot of people think we're crazy for it.. but we'd love to have him with us. So I was hoping those of you who have gone on road trips with your goldens might be able to share some stories of how it went, things to keep in mind, things to plan for... anything is helpful! He does do well in the car, but keep in mind the longest car ride he's been on is about 2.5 hours, and we'd probably drive around 5-6hrs a day, with stops at towns along the way obviously. He doesn't get antsy in the car and he doesn't get car sick, which is a plus. He hasn't ever stayed in a hotel though, or even slept anywhere but here at home.
Any input would be great, we want to make sure we plan this thoroughly so that it's an enjoyable trip for Diesel and for us humans!
Thanks all.
 
#2 · (Edited)
BringFido.com has a lot of good info about dog friendly places to go to throughout the US. Places you can visit, dog friendly beaches, hotels, restaurants, etc

They have an app you can download too.

Last year I took my two to GA, we rented a pet friendly house through VRBO.com.

I always take a Dog first aid kit, a copy of their vaccination records and rabies certificate. I also find out ahead of time, E-Vet locations on the route and also where I am staying at.
 
#3 · (Edited)
It's the most satisfying and enjoyable experience in the world. Our Riley absolutely loves to travel. If you can get him certified as a Service Dog, it'll eliminate some potential problems.

If he has a bed, bring it for the Hotel. Also, practice leaving him in the vehicle alone. This is inevitable on a road trip, so make sure he's comfortable with it. Riley just keeps the seat warm for me.

Other than that it's like bringing a child with you (and we have three). Water and potty breaks.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
#4 ·
Our dogs have always enjoyed road trips. We do a lot of them, for agility trials. It's never been difficult to find hotels that accept dogs (we never reserve in advance). You should take a crate with you if you can - folding crates are great for this - because you should never leave the dog loose in a hotel room when you're not there: not only to avoid damage (chewing etc.), but also to avoid the risk that the dog will escape from the room if a hotel staff member opens the door and comes in. Most hotels don't allow dogs to be left alone in the room, period, but we've always left them there while we go for breakfast. It's not long and provided they're crated, it's not been a problem so far.

The main difficulty on summer road trips is that it's often far too hot to leave the dog in the car - so you have to eat elsewhere than in restaurants. We often get sandwiches or fast food for lunch, and eat them at roadside rest areas. Same thing applies for visiting indoor attractions or places where dogs aren't allowed. If it's hot, someone always has to stay outside with the dog. In the evening, if the dog can't be left alone at the hotel, we get takeaway and eat it in the hotel room. If your car is big enough for a crate (e.g. we have a Toyota van), you can often find restaurants where you can see the car from your table, and in this case you can just leave the dog crated in the car with all the car doors and windows open, while you go inside to eat.

Things to take: a folding crate, a water bowl and something to carry water, a plentiful supply of poop bags, a couple of leashes, a spare collar, the dog's vaccination documents if you're crossing the US-Canada border, a tag for the dog with your home and cell numbers on it, blankets to put on the hotel bed (to protect the linens), a roll of kitchen paper just in case, treats, a bag of the dog's usual food (enough for the entire trip), and two bowls for nights in hotels (one for water, one for food).
 
#5 ·
I've had wonderful trips with my dogs.

Once I was driving from Washington DC to Los Angles with the dog in the back seat the whole way. I think this poor dog ate at every McDonalds drive-through from coast to coast...and loved it! Ever since, she goes crazy whenever we go through a drive-thru. :D We also got out at a rest stop somewhere in the mid-west, and she found a pond to swim in...without permission. :eek: When she got out, she stank like death warmed over, and there was no place for 200 miles to bathe her. I spent hours trying to get the stench out of the car, with no luck.

On that same trip, we got to a motel and my dog WOULD NOT go into the room. It turns out that someone had recently been murdered in that room! Needless to say, we went to a different hotel, and I learned to trust my dog!

My dogs go out with handlers for dog show circuits. They spend long periods confined in crates inside trucks and vans. They all get used to it and do very well. Your dog will have a great time on a road trip with you. Once they realize it's not a quick trip to the dog park or the vet, they settle in and generally travel very well. Goldens are, as a rule, great travelers and great road companions. :)
 
#6 ·
Many years ago I traveled from Ft. Worth, TX to San Diego, CA, just me and my golden rescue. I won't take another trip without my dog, I have never had so much fun. They have off leash beaches in CA. just for dogs, it was awesome! Because the weather is so mild there most of the really nice restaurants have outdoor seating. Any well mannered dog is welcome, this was the most dog friendly place I've ever seen.

Enjoy your trip!!
 
#7 ·
I LOVE road trips with my dog. I find it really strengthens your bond somehow because you have to totally work as a team - from pit stops on the road, to finding places to exercise, to how are you going to eat. All very doable.

The longest road trip I have done with my dog was Toronto to Illinois and then on to Nashville and then home. I also had a friend and her dog, who is my dog's best friend, along for the ride. It was the BEST time. We are planning to do another long road trip all together soon!

Hotels: it is SO great when you can get a hotel room near to the door outside to the grassy area where they want the dogs to go. Definitely call and talk to the people at the hotel and see what the set-up is and what your room options are. I never leave my dog alone in a hotel room, but if I did, I would definitely take CeeGee's tip and use a crate for the dog's safety. I have found that both my dogs were always a little more alert, more cautious, a little longer to settle on the first night in a new hotel. New sounds, new smells, etc. I just take it in stride, try to be confident, and eventually they relax. Taking them to walk around the hotel and get to know what is outside the door really helps.

Food: We would get food and bring it back to the hotel room, or eat at dog friendly places where the dogs could be on the patio with us. (Or we were in friends' homes!). For bathroom breaks on the road, you'll be fine because there will be two of you. You won't need to leave the dog alone in the car. What I have discovered is that there are really great rest areas - the ones with no gas and no food, maybe just some washrooms. They often have big grassy areas where you can stop and throw a ball for 20 minutes. Bring lots of water in the car with you.

That's all I can really think of. Both my dogs travel really well. I try to stop often and let them stretch their legs (Shala travels in a crate in the back of an SUV). Generally, I let her sort of dictate stops. If she is sleeping, we drive. If I start seeing her getting up, changing positions, getting up again, sitting up, I know she needs to get out. It adds a lot of time to drives. My 8.5 hour drive to my relatives' house takes about 11 hours with my dog. But I love having her along.

If you are going to cross into the US, you just need to make sure you have a rabies certification from your vet. If you didn't get one at his last vaccination, they can give you another. But I have honestly never had to show it. The fact that I offer it up always seems to be enough.
 
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#8 ·
Other things- La Quinta all takes dogs, and many Hiltons do too-
Bringfido.com is not always utd so check ahead.

ALWAYS always always look under the bed and desk at the hotel. Maids miss things and some hotels use permanent bug/vermin devices under the bed.

Always pick up his poop.

You may want to bring some water from home.
 
#9 ·
I recently moved from Kansas City to Boulder, CO. We regularly take our two goldens on 9 hour car rides. You can do it. Just make sure they get water and when you stop for gas they get to walk around and stretch out. As long as they have enough room to spread out I would do it. They want to be with you anyway. Have fun.
 
#10 ·
My pup Scout and I made the road trip from the North East to Utah. Brought his crate with me in the hotel. There's a website that lists all the hotels that are dog-friendly. They even have places where they have designated for potty and offer plastic bags and trash bins.

Just have to warn you, they may not eat much on the road trip and potty becomes more difficult due to unfamiliar surroundings.
 
#11 ·
We did a 3 week trip (but stayed at one location) last summer when W was 14m. 6 hours each way. Definitely bring a crate and make sure your dog is used to it. Then you can use it in unfamiliar locations to keep the dog safe from anything that might have been left out and the dog has a place they feel comfortable. If you keep it folded down in the car, use bungees or something to secure it so it doesn't become a projectile. Our dog prefers to ride in his crate (we use an airline style and have a minivan) and then they are safer as well but I know that's not for everyone. There are some good harnesses (Kurgo all Metal) that will act as a restaint. Sorry - I do child car seat checks for a large children's hospital and we educate people on projectiles, including unsecured passengers:). You don't want your dog flying around the car or into you when you have to stop quickly on route 95.

Check out daycares near where you are staying if you want to do a day without the dog. Call ahead and bring all the needed paperwork. We took W to one while we were gone, as we didn't have a yard there, and it was a lifesaver. He went a couple times a week and had such a good time.

I think you've gotten great advice from others. Have fun!
 
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#12 ·
La Quinta all takes dogs, and many Hiltons do too-
Bringfido.com is not always utd so check ahead.
Whenever I make Hotel reservations, I go directly to the Hotel's location website to book them. I double check their pet policy, have had to call a few. I found the Pet Policies vary between different locations for a chain. I found a few hotels that were pet friendly had weight limits at different locations and I wasn't able to stay at them due to the weight restrictions. When I traveled with my Senior Bridge girl, I requested a ground floor room as she had trouble with stairs.
 
#13 ·
Thank you all sooooo much for your replies. I've noted down some key points you've brought up to help us in the trip planning process. It's starting to seem less daunting and even more exciting, now that we know that it's definitely possibly to have a great trip with our golden!
The biggest issue we're having at the moment is taking his food across the border. I was doing some research and it seems that if the dog food contains lamb/sheep/goat, it'll be turned away at the border when we're entering the US. Diesel is on a beef based food but it does have lamb listed in the ingredients. And being that it's only sold in Canada, it's not like we could pick up a bag once we cross. I'm wondering if this means we have to switch food? We've thought about doing so anyway, road trip aside, but I'm not sure. I might take a peek at the food forums on here though.
 
#15 ·
The biggest issue we're having at the moment is taking his food across the border. I was doing some research and it seems that if the dog food contains lamb/sheep/goat, it'll be turned away at the border when we're entering the US. Diesel is on a beef based food but it does have lamb listed in the ingredients. And being that it's only sold in Canada, it's not like we could pick up a bag once we cross. I'm wondering if this means we have to switch food? We've thought about doing so anyway, road trip aside, but I'm not sure. I might take a peek at the food forums on here though.
I have never had my dog's food checked at the border. For years, I just put food into a bin and brought that. Then I read that you have to bring an un-opened bag, so I started to buy a small bag to bring. I think you will be okay. Buy a new, unopened bag to be safe, but like I said, mine has never been checked. I always have it in full view on the back seat. I think if they know that you are just bringing food for your own personal use (ie. not importing huge amounts) you should be okay.
 
#14 ·
I have 4 Goldens. We never travel without them, but I will confess that we own an RV so it's much easier than traveling by car.

One of the most helpful things I've found for long road trips is finding off leash dog parks along your route. We always do this and try, if possible, to stop at one every day so that our Goldens have a chance to truly stretch their legs and exercise.
 
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#16 ·
Take your dog, it makes your trip more enjoyable. You will meet lots of dog friendly people along the way, people that want to pet your dog because they aren't traveling without their own and they miss him.


Lots of good advice from others on here. Just be sure to plan ahead, I swear we packed more for the dog than we did for ourselves but we were prepared for anything. Hotel websites aren't always up to date so it's best to call the hotel direct to see if they take dogs. And try to mention golden retriever since they are known for their manners.


We drove from the Chicago suburbs to Phoenix, Arizona with Flirty, and she was blind. She did fine. Have fun!
 
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#18 ·
We have taken two long trips with Foster. The first was to pick him up from the breeder (almost 5 hours from where we live). He was 11 weeks. He sat in the crate staring at us and didn't make a peep.

The second was at Thanksgiving. We drove almost 7 hours in my husband's Chevy Cruze (yikes). Next time we take the SUV.

I think it depends on the dog, Foster has never been one to whine or get sick in the car. We did bring a gallon of water and his water dish for rest stops, and we planned ahead for breaks accordingly. We bought him a couple new chew toys to occupy him. We also put towels down in the back seat.

I am paranoid about busy rest stops near highways, so I made sure his harness was one so he couldn't pull the leash and get away.

Other than that, I would say it is not a bad experience at all and totally worth having your dog with you. I was so glad we didn't have to find a sitter and be away from him. I would do it again!
 
#19 ·
The family version of a road trip can be interesting.

On our Christmas trip with our whole family, luggage, gifts, etc. there was not room for a GR size crate in the van. We did take the collapsible pen for crating at our destination, but Pippin was on the floor of the van for the duration. On the whole, this went well. He did make eating an exciting game. At a table, he has good manners.... not so much in a car. Also, the family had to assist with keeping the driver safe from love attacks.

This picture is me in the passenger seat:
 

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#20 ·
I can't imagine a long road trip with Bagheera right now because he insists on visiting me as I drive and sitting on my lap. This was cute as a 6 pound puppy. This is distracting with a 30lb lummox. :)

I tease. He's never allowed to do it when there's even the hint of traffic around. Otherwise, he lays down or sits in the back seat. Eventually we will introduce him to the back of the car where there's a rubber mat for him to drip on after swimming.

Ceegee has given you great advice, all spot-on. Lots of other great advice too. I love DanaRuns' comment about fast food drive thrus! During my last semester as a grad student at Eastern Illinois University I was "gifted" with what I assumed was my mom's dog. Lupo spent the rest of his life with me and is the smartest dog I ever had. Anyway. I was a Wendy's addict at the time. One of the clinchers was that the local Wendys would keep "dropped meat" for dogs. Lupo thought he died and went to dog heaven.

Gods... to have THAT metabolism again, to eat burgers that much... and stay skinny... :)
 
#21 ·
My golden and I take a road trip every year.... Ohio to Key West and back! We have been doing this for 5 years so we pretty much have the routine down!!! First of all make sure your dog is utd on all their shots... stopping at rest areas and other places where there have been many dogs makes this a must! I always take water,treats and doggie waste bags with me for our stops along the way. We usually try to stay at a LaQuinta or a Red Roof Inn... they are pet friendly motels that don't charge a pet fee! I also pack a bag just for her.... some of the things it contains is her vet records,first aid kit,baby wipes, and many other misc. things! ( and a few of her favorite stuffed animals!!!) She loves to ride in the car and she is better behaved than most kids!!!!
 
#22 ·
We do basically the same thing! I get a huge discount from a rental car company and we rent a van with the stow n go seats, lay them all down... put blankets and their dog beds in there for them to rest and stretch and get up if needed.

We go to California every year with them (if not twice a year) and Colorado once a year with both goldens.

Our Golden Mack has been to California I think at least 6 times and Colorado 3 times in the 6 years we have had him.

Our golden jake has been to California I think 3 or 4 times and Colorado twice.

We have slept in the Van, La Quinta, a tiny home, other hotels, etc.

I didn't know aboue the La Quinta's until my wife found out about them. Awesome with pets, we stopped in the St. George, UT one this summer and they were awesome there!

We also rented a "tiny home" in a ghost town in UT for a night on the way back, pretty cool as well.

We always bring treats, poop bags, leash, records, toys, food, at least a couple gallons of water (and refill at the hotel as needed).

Pretty much anything you can think of we bring.

Heck they stayed with us in September in my mother and father in laws small camper in Colorado! They love being with us anywhere we go.
 
#23 ·
I didn't read through all the responses - but if this is a repeat - my apologies!

IF traveling during the summer - be cautious of rest areas - watch out for fleas! My Golden got fleas and I hadn't started her on Trifexis yet - she was just on heart worm meds - so be careful - maybe apple cider vinegar?
I love road trips with my Golden - she travels well and most places will take her in the room - even without reservations (we never knew where we would be stopping for the night)
Travel safe!
 
#24 ·
We have only traveled once with "the kids" and it was during a time when we just had Belle and Georgie. It was wonderful and we want to take all three somewhere at some point. Our destination was dog friendly, so that was a big help. We took them to the finger lakes in NY and many of the wineries there are dog friendly.

Everyone has given you wonderful tips, I don't think I have much to add, but for a good laugh read David Rosenfelt's Dogtripping book! 25 rescue dogs, 11 people, 3 RV's! I have never laughed out loud so hard reading a book. You will laugh, and cry a little... but it makes traveling with "only a few" dogs seem easy!
 
#25 ·
We love traveling with our dogs when possible. Last fall we went to the Berkshire Mountains and stayed at a dog friendly B&B. Luna loved it and there was another couple with a dog in the next room :). This summer we're vacationing in Maine at Mount Desert Island (Acadia National Park) and going with our 2 sons, their families & dogs. We'll have 3 dogs total!!! It wasn't really an issue finding a house to rent, Maine is VERY dog friendly :). Have a wonderful time! If you have time please stop by NJ, it really is a beautiful state :).
 
#26 ·
Thank you all so much for the amazing tips! We plan on starting a packing list early on so we add things as we think of them, and also make sure he's up to date on shots and have the appropriate paperwork. Any ideas on good in car chew toys to keep him entertained?
Thanks again!
 
#27 ·
Honestly, mine has never once touched a toy or bone in the car. If he's anything like mine, he'll just sleep. They are really great travelling companions. You'll be so glad you did it.
 
#28 ·
We have taken many road trips with our Rosie who is 15 months old and she loves a car ride she loves looking out the window from her secure car seat.

we have always been to pet friendly places and she loves sleeping on the beds lol one place we stayed was in the Breaks VA we stayed in a cabin and she loved the pouch and looking out at the Forrest and mountains.

we have one road trip coming up in march to WV and another in Sept to WV again and possibly one to GA in the summer(if we decide to forgo the timeshare and just stay in a hotel)
 
#29 ·
Some great advice here! I definitely would use the flea and tick meds; in my sidecar travels with my dogs they are exposed to different insect vectors and different diseases in various parts of the country, so I'm particularly mindful of that. Don't forget regular play breaks! If it's pouring rain when the time comes for a pee break, look for a self-service car wash on your GPS. Nobody washes their car in the rain and it's great place to get some relief without having to endure wet dog smell for the next couple hundred miles. I normally carry some meds for the dog: pepcid, benadryl, pepto-bismol, and metronidazole (if heading into an area where giardia is endemic). I make sure only good, fun things happen in the sidecar so if Tully is ever startled he would run to the sidecar and not out into a road; That would probably work with more traditional forms of transportation as well. I always carry ginger snaps in case of carsickness on the twisty mountain roads. Just make sure they contain no artificial sweeteners. Lastly, if your pup has an upset tummy and needs to be on the sick puppy diet, you can always find rice at a chinese restaurant, and more often than not they will grill up some plain chicken with no spices for takeout.

 
#30 ·
There is no certification for service dogs in the US. Those registries are fake and really harm the people who actually have debilitating illnesses and rely on a service dog for independence. It's also illegal to claim your dog is a service dog if it isn't. By law service dogs require extensive training.
 
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