Traveling With Your Big Bow-Wow

We love our big, snuggly pups, but they’re not the easiest travel companions. It can be hard to bring them along on trips with the fam, but there are ways to make it work. Here are some tips and tricks from some celebrity dog owners that can help you explore with your hefty hound.

When you’re planning a trip:

This might seem like a no-brainer, but always make sure the places you’re planning to go are dog-friendly. Some destinations, like a lot of National Parks, surprisingly don’t allow pups. But if you’re looking for some adventure for you and your pooch, there are plenty of great destinations. Chase (@sometimescarl) and his fur family recommend Woodstock, NY. “We had heard that Woodstock was a very pet-friendly area, and we were able to find the teepee by searching for dog-friendly rentals on Airbnb. It was a beautiful drive there, and the area was SO welcoming for Chase,” said his owner.

this is NOT my 7th ave apartment 😑. #whatsthewifipassword #wheresmybed

A post shared by Chase (@sometimescarl) on May 9, 2015 at 4:09pm PDT

Gus from If It Wags loves to explore the beaches of the Oregon Coast and Tofino. He’s even been known to hop on a paddleboard, too. For the Gone To The Snow Dogs family, nothing can beat the adventures in Hocking Hills, Ohio. “That entire park and area around it is extremely dog friendly.  Our dogs got to go on every trail with us, hike to waterfalls, down into caves, stayed at the campground,” said their owner.

When you’re in big cities:

Subways in cities like New York only allow service dogs and dogs in carriers. Our larger furry friends unfortunately don’t fit the bill, which leaves only walking or taking a cab. Regular yellow cabs usually aren’t too happy to pick up a drooling doge, but Uber is a little more flexible. When you book a car, make sure you call the driver to make sure he/she is pet-friendly. It also helps to bring a few extra supplies for your darling doggo. When traveling with Chase, his owner “ALWAYS [makes] sure to bring a big blanket…for Chase to sit on. [She] also [throws] a few paper towels in [her] bag to alleviate the inevitable drooling situation.” Being prepared is the key to a successful trip.

When you’re in the car:

Road trips are usually the best way to get around with your big bow-wow. But that doesn’t make them easy. Some dogs get really anxious or sick in the car, so it’s important to always check in on how they’re doing. If your dog gets nervous, start with smaller trips and work your way up to longer distance. When it comes to Gus, this is what his owner had to say: “Gus used to hate the car, he would get anxious and sometimes get car sick. We found doing daily trips to fun places to hike or swim at the beach has changed how he see’s the car..he now sees it as adventure and knows it takes him somewhere great.”

With some dogs, you might have the opposite problem—they’re too excited. For a frenzied Fido, Gone To The Snow Dogs’ owner had this great advice: “We try to make sure that within the first 15 – 30 mins of the ride, we let them get out and go for a short walk.  For some reason, this tends to calm down their crazy ride brains and they relax after that.” Frequent stops for walkies and potties are always a good idea.

When you’re flying:

For most big pups, flying is pretty much out of the question. Airlines only allow small dogs in the cabin, while the big dogs are stuck in the cargo hold below. This can be a really scary experience for most dogs, so many pet owners avoid it completely. “I absolutely refuse to fly if my dogs are not allowed in the cabin.  I wish airlines would change their rules on this.  I would gladly pay full price for a seat for my dog if they could fly with me,” said Gone To The Snow Dogs’ owner.

Gus from If It Wags flew in cargo just once when he was being adopted, but his owner said she wouldn’t do it again. “I’ve heard too many horror stories of dogs being lost and I imagine it would be pretty scary for them,” she said. Now, Gus gets the bougie perk of flying in a private float plane. Since it’s owned by a smaller company, the airline lets Gus get his own seat. He straps on his earmuffs for safety and gets to look out the window as he snuggles up to Dad.

Special pup Smiley also gets some exclusive travel treatment. Since he’s a registered therapy dog, he is allowed to fly in the cabin. But it’s definitely no walk in the park. Since Smiley himself is blind, he needs extra time to get through a busy airport, a hectic check-in process, and an always-awful security line. Once on the plane, Smiley’s owner makes sure he is nice and cozy in a big, thick dog bed. “The great part of traveling with Smiley is the joy and therapy he brings to others on the plane,” said his owner. “I think air travel would be better for everyone if we could have a therapy dog on every flight.”

Sarah Cookson

Writer/Dog Enthusiast living in New York City. Only goes to parties in hopes there will be a dog there to hang out with. Her resolutions for 2017 were to eat healthier and pet more pups. Bet you can guess which one she stuck with.