Traveling with a Dog Reminds Me of Traveling with Children

From the appearance of the first bags, Dagney becomes a permanent appendage to my body. She follows me up and down the steps as we load it with food, clothes, and toiletries. Then we repeat the process to pack all Dagney's supplies. If I were to count, it is possible she has more stuff than I do. I have heard we grow into our space. So true!

As our accommodations have grown, the time needed to pack has increased. In the motorhome, Dagney occupies two full cupboards for her food, treats, winter clothes, and assortment of shampoos, hair detangler, medications, etc. In a compartment under the motorhome, we carry a dog cage to setup outside when we are parked, a bicycle basket, and an assortment of leashes, doggy supplies and of course, more toys Actually, it is kind of embarrassing to share this information.

We have joked that we bought a 40-foot motorhome for Dagney, our Yorkshire Terrier. In fact, this is partially true. We used to ride our Harleys and Dagney loved the feel of the wind in her hair. Like us, I think she like the mode of travel better. However, my husband and I missed out on some sightseeing opportunities and eating in restaurants due to rules that restricted dogs. So, we bought a motorhome.

One of the advantages of driving an RV is the in-house bathroom - works perfectly for a human. Dogs, on the other hand, prefer a little grassy spot, an area to turn several circles, sniff, and smell the fresh air before doing their duty. We find ourselves pulling over at rest stops and parks more often now that Dagney is part of our family. Sometimes we stop at gas stations/convenience stores with candies and ice cream. This is a plus, but I may be gaining weight with the increased exercise of walking our dog.

I remember all those times with kids in the back seat listening to them whine and ask, "Are we there yet?" Dogs are just as inquisitive. Instead of words, Dagney communicates her impatience's by whining and if that does not get my attention, she stares at me for extended time periods, a little unnerving. I keep a couple toys nearby to entertain her at these times. When all else fails, a bully stick eliminates the whining, but they make her thirsty and then we have to stop to let her pee.

Once we traveled from Idaho to Tennessee with the children. It felt like we stopped at every park along our path. Our two daughters were young and often needed a chance to stretch their legs and play. We discovered exercise would wear them out for a bit and they would fall asleep. Thank goodness the same is true for our dog. The exercise also helps us relax while getting our blood pumping for the next leg of our journey.

Dagney loves long walks but must be supervised. Since she can't read, sometimes, she tries to enter areas she is not allowed. Reminds me of the time I had to chase our youngest daughter when she ran down the dock towards the ocean at the end. Boundaries are difficult for children and dogs to understand.

Image from author's photo album.Traveling is made more challenging with a dog but also more exciting. I miss the children, now grown, when we travel but since we have welcomed Dagney into our family, it is almost like we still have kids riding along. 

Sometimes the kids claim we love her more than them when we send pictures, but I just explain that she is easiest teenager who has ever lived in our home. She eats everything placed in front of her, doesn't complain about where we stop, happily offers cuddles, and though she whines a little she does not argue. Dagney might be a little more time consuming, but we are retired and love have her jouney with us. 

All pictures in the article were taken during our stay at Newport Dunes Resort in Newport, California.

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My retirement hobby is to write stories that make readers laugh and appreciate the love of their furfriends.

Belief Statement: Humans make life too complicated. If we want to appreciate life, watch a dog for a day. They don't over think problems, perseverate on the impossible, worry about outcomes, or hold back affection. They see what they want, sniff it, lick it, roll in it and accept it.

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Happy tails. :)

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