Day Tripping With Dogs
We love taking our dogs with us everywhere we go. Whether it be for a week long vacation or a quick day trip up the coast, pretty much anywhere we go, they go. With that being said there are a few things we have learned from experience that will make a day away from home (with dogs) go as smoothly and stress free as possible.
We always pack a Dog Bag. Dogs are kind of like children in that they somehow require a lot of "stuff." We use our handy Rebel Tote which is just the right size for carrying dog necessities with enough room for our people things too.
What's in our bag:
1. Collapsable water bowl and a giant size water bottle of fresh, clean water. Lots of doggy germs are found in communal water bowls, so even if shops are dog friendly and provide water, we still like to bring our own.
2. LOTS of treats. Our dogs were trained using positive reinforcement, so they are highly treat motivated. Lots of small treats are great for ensuring cooperative behavior. It's also fun to have our dogs show off some of their tricks for excited little onlookers.
3. Doggy wipes. For quick treat clean-up, and for human hands too. We personally like the Eco Bamboo Pet Wipes because they are easy on the dog's coat, and they smell good!
4. Poop bags. A given, but hey, sometimes we forget the obvious.
5. An extra leash. Because you never know. We have been on walks and found loose dogs, so having an extra leash convenient is a good idea.
If we are going to be gone long past dinner time we make sure to bring their pre-measured dinner along with their actual food bowls. We then scout out a good spot to stop and let them eat. The familiarity of the same food, at the same time, from the same bowl makes for a quick meal.
We swear by the DogGoes app for finding nearby off-leash dog parks for potty breaks. Like most dogs we are sure, our dogs will not relieve themselves while on the end of a leash. So, we have found this app to be awesome and highly useful for finding a quick spot to pull off the highway and let the dogs stretch their legs.
We have found that the key to a good day out with dogs, is patience. Take time to let them play and be dogs.
{Dakoda is wearing the Dakoda Collar in black in size medium with the Chain Gang leash. Diesel is wearing the Diesel Collar in black and nickel in a size large with the Chain Gang leash.}