My travels with dogs
This is Kahsha on her third trip with me. After I got her in StL we flew back to NYC where we lived, drove up to Connecticut for a few days then flew out to Seattle and drove up to Mt. Baker. It was week 2 of our time together. She was so small that I made her a sweater from a men’s crew sock. (This was before you could get dog bags and clothing for them everywhere.) We traveled like this together until I had ES. She is nearly 11 now and although she loves and is very protective of the kids, she lives in fear. At 6 lbs she was not durable enough for 4 kids under 4 and has moved into retirement, along with my father, and now lives with my parents. She is much happier and much less stressed. I want her to be happy and she is.
The kids really wanted a dog. They couldn’t figure out why whenever we went to my parent’s house Kahsha didn’t want to leave. I always had one. So, we let Kahsha stay and got a more sturdy replacement. This is Layla when she was 10 weeks old. No one loves her more than G & H. It was a challenge getting use to having a big dog– She’s about 75 lbs now. She’s can better stand up to the kids, but they are still getting use to standing up to her– she thinks she is just kid #5. Finally she is learning that although part of the family, she is still in fact a dog. Finally, she is learning some manners– too bad she did not learn before she chewed up 2 seat belts and the corner of my third row of seating. But she is great for the kids and the family and the kids love her– usually.
Traveling with a small dog is easy. Kahsha and I went everywhere together. She flew on the plane with me under the seat. She went to any hotel, restaurant or store whether dogs were allowed or not. People never knew. She never barked– she just slept in her bag until we got outside. What I learned traveling with her is that people don’t really pay attention to those around them. She was the perfect little travel companion.
Layla is not easy to travel with. There is no sneaking her anywhere. It is either the 3rd row of seating of my Honda Pilot, having a trunk, or Layla. I desperately need exterior cargo space. I always wondered who those people were that had a car that seated 8 and still needed roof storage. Now I know– they are people with big dogs. I think I want the Thule 688BXT Atlantis 2100. Oh, the space I will have– eventually. Besides the actual transit issues there is what to do once we get there– finding dog friendly accommodations, parks, beaches and activities. It’s annoying. I cannot believe that so many public places do not allow dogs. It makes me sad. It makes my kids sad. In a world where so many people’s pets are a part of their families how is that still possible? Thankfully, unlike when I traveled with Kahsha, there a lot of online resources to assist those of us traveling with our dogs. I’m adding a few of the links that I find helpful to the sidebar.
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