Road-Tripping with Stella

This week’s blog is from Carolyn Lavin—my friend, a marketing professional extraordinaire, and fellow dog-lover.

Carolyn has been a guest blogger here before. She wrote, Lessons Learned From My Dog, which was posted in October 2020. That essay is as poignant and relevant today as it was four-plus years ago; the wisdom of Webster, a hound Carolyn and her husband adopted, is timeless. As I reread the piece, the lessons seemed particularly valuable now. 

This time around, Carolyn is writing about the challenges and joys of long car trips with a dog. Thanks, Carolyn. You’ve given us some good tips.

PS
Interested in being a guest-blogger? Contact me.  

Road-Tripping with Stella

Are we there yet?

Taking our four-year-old dog, 20-pound Stella, for a two-day car ride can be an adventure that requires careful planning—think of it as prepping for a road trip with a furry toddler who’s had way too much caffeine. Stella is nervous during travel, showing signs of violent shaking and loud panting. To keep her zen, our vet suggested a mild sedative, aka doggy chill pills.

Before hitting the highway, we administer the medication well in advance of take-off, so Stella doesn’t start her nap mid-traffic jam. On long driving days, it’s better to skip her breakfast to avoid turning the backseat into a certain disaster. We’ve learned that securing our canine co-pilot in a comfy car seat with her favorite blankie and toy can turn the journey from “Are we there yet?” to “Wake me up when we get there.”

Finding Dog-Friendly Accommodations

Sniffing out suitable places that accept dogs can be a bit of a scavenger hunt. Many online options exist, but comfort and cleanliness vary. Pet-friendly rooms sometimes come with lingering odors or furniture that looks like it’s been through a few too many chew toy wars. And walking the grounds is sometimes like tiptoeing through a minefield of doggie waste. It’s wise to investigate reviews from fellow pet owners and to give the place a call to confirm you won’t end up sharing your room with more than just your dog.

Dining Out with a Dog

We have found that eating out while traveling with a very social and (overly) friendly dog can be tricky. Lodging restrictions often don’t allow leaving pets alone, which means dining al fresco is our best bet. Outdoor dining can be fun if your dog plays it cool and doesn’t start begging other patrons for their burgers. In our case, Stella likes to say a nice hello to every person and every dog within sight, often making her the belle of the ball.

Embracing the Joys of Traveling with a Dog

Traveling with a dog can create memorable experiences, such as meeting new people, having companionship to walk the beach, and laughing over war stories about pet antics. For instance, when we all arrived groggy from our two-day journey to warmer climes last year, we met a fellow traveler in the dog park with tips on a local and dog-friendly restaurant for our first night, which meant we didn’t have to leave Stella all alone in a new spot (and in her semi-drugged state).

Though traveling with our beloved Stella comes with its quirks and challenges, the joyful moments far outweigh the hurdles. She certainly adds a spark of hilarity and fun to our vacation, ensuring every road-trip is unique and full of tail-wagging adventures.

Carolyn

Carolyn Lavin is the founder of Lavin Marketing Communications, a company specializing in marketing for professional services—law, accounting, finance, and technology.

You can connect with Carolyn on Facebook, LinkedIn, X, or YouTube.