Help! Harrison, MI & travelling 600 miles with my dogs
Am I crazy? I'm beginning to raise that question. I'm seriously thinking about taking the pack to a training seminar up there. They'll be in crates and we'll travel overnight so it won't get too hot. I plan on stopping every 150-200 miles. Is that too long between stops? The farthest we've travelled before is 125 miles, non stop and they did fine. Any suggestions are most welcome. |
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| I drove directly from NY to St Louis for SheepiePalooza. 18 hours (14 driving) I try to stop every 2.5 hours or so. If the dogs are quiet (usually are) then I go a little longer. when I stop they each get a long walk and I try to make them drink - they tend not to drink alot when we are in the car.
I also drove to florida and back last year with the two of them (straight through). My guys love the car and since we often drive 2 or mor ehours each way to a class they are used to long stretches. I pack a few frozen Kongs and chew treats for boredom - but they love looking out the windows and I think they get their stimulation that way. |
Nah...you're not crazy George.  We usually stop about every 2.5 - 3.5 hours, too, depending on whether or not they're sleeping. If they get bored and restless, we stop after 2.5 hours. I have driven as long as 4.5 hours when they were sacked out.
Like Kerry, I take stuff for them to entertain themselves with and when we do stop, they get a long walk, potty break, water, usually interaction with people at the rest areas. They tend to travel really well. I'm sure you'll do fine and they'll enjoy it! |
| When we went to St. Louis (10 hours each way), the boys mostly slept. They do fine with normal stops- they're ready when we are! |
My suggestion is this. From experience, we know to always bring paper towels and nature's miracle JUST IN CASE there's an accident. And of course, dog food. 
Have fun. We also only stop every 2.5 hrs or so. |
| George, we took two weeks and drove out to Colorado a few years ago. We stopped every 2-2.5 hours for potty breaks. Simon was just a year old and NEVER slept in the car. If possible we take the boys with us when we go on vacation and in my opinion its more fun. |
When we do the long ride we take a break ever 2 - 2.5 hrs on the road. Of course we don't crate so they frequently get up and walk around the back and then lay down. If they start barking - it's potty time break. Bring lots of water from home in gallon jugs so that the difference in water doesn't upset their tummy's until you get there. My dogs love going for long rides but then I think they believe we are going to your house to play with the other sheepies.  |
| Thanks for the encouragement. We're going to a training seminar, so the guys will get plenty of opportunity to make a fool out of me. If they don't mess up the hotel room I'll consider the trip a big success. |
| Yeah, every 2-3 hours in the car during the day, but if you are doing a night drive, they get bored, especially if it's wilderness driving, that is no scenery out the window and will sleep most of 5-6 hours.
Ditto's Jo's suggestion, have the Oooops! material packed. Accidents happen. |
| You may want to make a list of pet friendly hotels along the way just in case you get tired driving. I have a book you can borrow that lists hotels by state that are pet friendly.
Be very careful at reststops there is not always a great area to take your dog especially if you are traveling alone and at night. It is fun traveling with them though and they get used to it. When are you going and for how long will you be gone? |
| Hello George, I travel long distances with my sheepies mostly to shows, if it is going to be warm I always hang white towels on the back windows in my car this cools the car down. When we are travelling we stop every 4 hrs for at least 30 mins. Have fun and we hope it will be a success. |
| The longest road trip I've taken with my girls is from Florida to Michigan and back again....22 hours one way. We stopped off every few hours and got them out to potty and stretch their legs. Violet and China are very good travelers. In September we are making the trip again, but this time with Asia aboard also. I have them travel in the car everyday with me, so everything will feel normal.
Good luck on your trip. |
Hi George if they like the car they will be fine with the distance. I've travelled from Melbourne to Sydney about a 10+ hour drive (around 1200Km's) and also to Adelaide about 8 to 9+ hours drive (around 900 Km's), I find every 2-3 hours we have a scheduled potty break and a drink, walk around at some town to strech their legs and mine and absolutely no problems what so ever. Even with youngsters, as long as you make scheduled stops for a strech, drink, potty they seem to enjoy the long distance of travel and all the sights along the way . 
Emjoy the training seminar with the kids and look forward to hearing how they enjoyed the long trek and how the seminar went. |
Oh my............  my guys know that we get in the car and before the end of the block they are sleeping. The know i do not stop until I need gasoline! Or, *I* have to go........... which depends if i am drinking lots of fluids! Usually 4 1/2 to 5 hours....... I figure if they can sleep 8 hours at night they can hold it............. i guess i got that from my dad as he never stopped....... unless we needed gasoline!! |
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