Being able to enjoy my vacations includes having lots of opportunities to take my dog, Mr. Darcy, along with me. Mr. Darcy is a seasoned road tripper at not quite the age of three. He travels with me regularly with me to Stratford, Ontario to visit family, has travelled all around Lake Superior through three U.S. states (including a Ferry ride to Mackinac Island) and this year we visited Prince Edward County (PEC) for the first time.
Keep reading for tips for a great road trip with your dog and a list of dog friendly Prince Edward County places to visit as a bonus!
Packing for a Dog Road Trip:
Water - Travel with a container of fresh water and a bowl for your dog. I have a couple of collapsible silicone bowls and try to keep one clipped to my purse. It doesn't take long for your dog to get thirsty on a hot summer drive!
Rewards! - Always stuff a few treats in your pockets. Firstly, you can reward your dog and let them know that the places you visit are associated with good things. Secondly, if a stranger dog wanders your way you can reward your dog for good behavior...or toss the treats behind the other dog to distract them while you get out of Dodge. I'm sure you can picture both situations! My clients end up shopping for clothing with pockets and get used to "treat dust" very quickly.
3. Poop bags & hand sanitizer - Keep a box of poop bags in your car on a permanent basis. I can't tell you how many times I've forgotten to attach a new bag to my leash! Volunteering at the shelter and dealing with all kinds of poop has also taught me to double bag my hand. On a road trip this is a really important tip to avoid a situation where your bag breaks mid-clean up! Ewww. Ewww. Ewwwww!!!
Mr. Darcy loves nylon leash material and likes to mindlessly chew on it to relax. I've bought him toys that are a better option, but sometimes he gets his mouth on a leash when I'm not vigilant. Driving through Whitney, ON last year, I didn't realize Mr. Darcy had chewed a little hole in the bag that was tied to his leash. I found out in the midst of using the bag....nuff said.
4. Dedicated dog bag - Put all your dog related items into a backpack that you are only using for their items. Toys, treats, chews, grooming supplies, etc. all go into the bag. I have a backpack that I keep stocked with all of my dog travel items so that I can grab and go! It reminds me of the diaper bag backpack I had when the boys were little.
5. Containment plans - I have heard more than one story of a car accident where someone was very glad they had a crate with them. If you are forced out of your car at the side of the road it's a great space to keep your dog safe from traffic and to try to minimize the trauma of this kind of event. Please make sure that your dog has been conditioned to like a crate before you need to use it. Contact a dog trainer if you aren't sure how to do this. Another option would be a leash that clips to your waist and leaves your hands free to empty your car (of people or things), fill out paperwork, take pictures etc.
6. Towels - It is amazing how often I am glad that I brought a few towels in the car with me. In addition to cleaning up unexpected messes and dirty dogs, they can easily create a nice bed for your dog in any space. Nothing smells as good as home! Well...maybe a meaty bone...
In addition for being prepared for meeting your dogs food, water, safety and entertainment needs, you also need to pack your share of patience. You are very likely to encounter other places, dogs and people on your journey that may cause your dog to behave differently. You may have situations where your dog is barking, pulling on leash and generally making you uncomfortable. This is where exit planning is just as important as entry planning.
Doggie entry planning is making sure you have what you need to enter a space:
Permission from other people. Don't be offended if you ask a store owner if your dog can go in and they say "no". It doesn't matter what the reason or whether it makes sense to you. You are the visitor.
Scan for triggers. Triggers are things that your dog might react to. This could be other animals, people in hats, loud noise, etc. Be aware that in a new space your dog
might be primed for overwhelm and with enough of those triggers present you could be setting yourselves up for a negative experience. If you want to learn how to condition your dog to be less reactive to triggers, please reach out to a professional dog trainer.
Look at your dog. What is your dog's body language telling you when you are preparing to enter the new space? Ideally, they are relaxed and confident.
Doggie exit planning is more self-explanatory, but something even the most experienced dog handler might forget to do. I have definitely walked into a space that was too small and would never allow me to leave without having to come very close to other people. Picture someone walking in with their dog and both dogs start to pull on leash and jump towards each other. You may need to ask whomever is between you and the door to walk back out for a moment so that you can exit without incident. Don't worry if this seems like it might make you seem weird to the other person. You are on vacation - odds are you won't see them again!!
Our recent holiday to Prince Edward County was a great experience because of what I've learned on past trips. If things don't go perfectly, that's where you learn for next time and try again. Before I close off this post I wanted to give you a little bonus with a list of some places in PEC that were dog friendly for us in August of 2024. Wellington and Bloomfield seemed a little more open to us than the Picton downtown. Overall, the area was what I would consider to be above average to canine visitors and I hear it's even more beautiful in the fall!
Dog Friendly Prince Edward County:
I hope you enjoy your next dog friendly road trip with these tips and suggestions!
Lisa
Kinder K9
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