For the last few years, I have made the drive from Patagonia up to Montana and Saskatchewan then back again. It sounds straightforward, but when you add 16 bird dogs into the equation, that adds a whole new level of concerns regarding their comfort and safety.
Although the number of dogs I travel with is unique, as most ‘normal’ people don’t have that many dogs, the same canine road travel tips apply. They are just dialed down.
Being a bit of a country bumpkin, I don’t enjoy driving through major cities, namely Phoenix and Salt Lake City. Therefore, I make my drive through both cities on the weekend, thus dodging rush hour traffic, which makes both cities easier to navigate.
Also, as I am towing a trailer, I never exceed the speed limit. If anything, I drive 5 mph below, which allows for easy passing by road warriors.
Because I’m driving through the desert, temperatures are hot, especially in late August or early September. To help keep the dogs cool, all the vents are open on my dog trailer and the dog box in the back of my truck. I also place a block of ice in each compartment which provides some micro-cooling.
Our departure from Patagonia is usually in the early morning with hopes of dodging 1000 temperatures. Stops are made every three hours to air and water the dogs. Over time I have found a number of ‘safe’ places well away from any traffic that I can let the dogs run around and air out. Failing that, small town rodeo grounds and obscure parking lots suffice.
The dogs are clipped to the trailer with tie out cables and on our stops, we always park facing the sun to provide some vehicle-made shade. Feeding times are kept to our usual time of 5pm, with water added to the dogs’ food to ensure they are well hydrated.
As the day turns into night, I start looking for a place to pull over and sleep. The beauty of the west is the incredible amount of public lands. Having the OnX Land app on my phone ensures I am not going to be trespassing on private property when the time comes to pull off the highway and dry camp.
If camping is not an option, I seek out an old-style motel. I can park my rig in an out-of-the-way parking lot and have easy access to the dogs, and any barking is not going to disturb other guests. For the dogs’ security, the boxes are all locked up for the night. Of course, dogs are going to have to do their business and rather than being that guy who did not clean up after his dogs, I carry a pooper scooper and an empty dog food bag to place waste in.
The return trip to Patagonia can be different, as winter weather can be a factor. Having a good insulated dog box and trailer ensures that the dogs are safe from the elements and, of course, my driving speed is road condition-dependent and always with the safety of the dogs in mind.
Most of the above tips or points are geared for traveling with a lot of hunting dogs, but dogs are dogs, and they all get somewhat stressed out with change, in this case a long road trip where they are confined for extended periods of time. Hopefully some of these points will help you and your four-legged friends next time you travel.