Kalidor – On the Road To Santa Rosa, The First Part of the Journey

Indeed, what an adventure!  Almost 15 hours in the car just one way!  I have to say, Kalidor was a great traveler.  Not a peep out of him except for playing in his water bucket in the crate when he got bored.  And going into strange motel rooms with his folding crate was a breeze.  

So, how did that happen that he was such a good traveler?  I did many things to encourage that. First, he was crate trained WELL before our trip.  He was happy in a crate and knew great things come in his crate:  his dinner, special treats, and sleep time.  Every time he came inside from the backyard, he got treats in his crate so pretty soon, the second he came in the door, he ran to his crate. Even if I didn’t keep him there for long (10 or 15 minutes) it became such a fun place to go.

Why is a crate important during traveling?  It’s truly a safety thing.  Dogs that are allowed to be loose in a car while traveling risk being killed in an accident and if not killed, they can be thrown from a car, disoriented then lost.  Young puppies can become destructive and take your mind off the driving.  Older dogs can become barkers at other dogs or people.  I know of an incident where a puppy was loose in the car, got under the driver’s leg then caused an accident that everyone was killed. Yes, it DOES happen.  

To keep Kalidor happy, I did lots of pre-planning. I brought lots of long term chew treats, bones, and even kibble dispensing toys to feed him while he traveled.  I taught him ahead of time to relieve himself on a leash so a leash did not become a problem when we took breaks.  It is dangerous for a dog that must potty OFF a leash.  Many dogs can become confused at being in a new environment and may run off, even those dogs that have a great recall.  

Along the way, I looked for fenced in, unused areas, like school yards when school was not in session, especially elementary schools, roadside farms that did not appear to have planted fields, or even a large church with large grassy areas or areas that are un-landscaped.  And most of all I ALWAYS CARRIED BAGS TO PICK UP POOP!!!  When possible, I asked for permission to use those areas if I could find someone to ask. But, I always used those areas with respect.  When we found those areas, the first thing is to go potty, then a chance to play with a toy on a string, or retrieving toy so he was tired enough to get back in the car. In our case, we had another puppy along the same age and they played together respectfully. I avoided areas like rest stops if I could because so many dogs use those areas and they are a breeding ground for disease.

Traveling with a puppy takes pre-planning to make it safe and fun for everyone!