To travel or not to travel?

[Topknot Crew]

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Hi

I wonder if anybody can give me some advice. I will set the scene first. I have two pooches, a young pup of 20 months and a rickety old lady of 13 years. I have to go and visit my mother who lives approximately five to six hours drive away. We have in the past, both dogs in the back of the car and driven there as both travel well. However, the young one has a tendency to sit on the old one at random... on her head, on her legs, on her back. Last time we did the trip the old girl seemed rather dazed for the first few days away.

Which do you think will stress my old girl out more a) leave her with a dear friend who has two dogs of her own (they show little interest in my girl) or b) take her with me on my travels, accepting it's a strenuous journey but she'd be better off with my company?

I have been agonising over this for days and getting nowhere...except upset. I would be grateful for your wise words. T

 

[lurcherman]

It's a no brainer for me , leave with friend if you trust, had a similer issue with mine a few years back on my 6 hour journey and that was the last time I did that journey with dogs, for me you should never stress a dog out if you no that's the case.

 

[Topknot Crew]

I just could not decide *which* would stress her out more and was hoping the view from outside my dilemma was clearer. I would love to cancel the maternal visit but that's just not possible! Thank you for your thoughts, very helpful. T

 

[gypsysmum2]

Would your younger dog travel in a crate? That would solve the whole problem. Or the older dog come to that?

Do you have time to crate train either one of them if you have not already done so? This problem may crop up in future and your friend may not be available to care for your older dog. Or your older dog may not be very well and you might like to have her with you.

Introduced properly, crates become havens and dens for dogs. They do not look on them as cages.

If your car is not suitable for a crate, what about a harness fitted to the seat belt? Are you having a passenger with you who could have one or the other dog in the footwell close to them?

Just thinking in the long term and for emergencies when you need to travel with both dogs. Long term I would also be training the younger dog with an "off" command so that he learns to leave the older dog alone.

If all else fails I am sure your older dog will be fine left for a few days.

 

[Topknot Crew]

Hi

Thank you for your comment. They're both standard poodles and so a cage or the footwell not really a practical solution due to their size (in our very ordinary car..). They both wear seat belts but there is necessarily a little slack so they can change position. We usually prioritise poodle wellbeing, and would defer trip until suitable sitter available, but mum poorly so must visit now. Last Christmas one of our crew was ill (RIP) so we cancelled our trip. Best wishes and thanks agsin T