There is probably a thread about this already but I couldn't find it.
On Tuesday we are heading to Florida (from MA) with Abby.
She is almost 5 and we have never traveled more than 300 miles with her.
We are bringing along Benadryl just in case. Looked up the dosage, etc.
Most motels are pet friendly and easy to find on the web.
We expect to stop every 2-3 hours for water, food, etc.
Any tips or caveats are greatly welcomed.

For some reason my pups always seem to be on the side of the sun. So I buy baby screens that attach to the windows to help keep the sun's glare out.

Make sure the pup is wearing ID where you could be contacted even while traveling (cell phone number). Any carry a picture of your dog just in case.

Bring more water than you ever think you will need.

Call the Hotel/Motels ahead of time to make sure they are GSD friendly. While I find it rare, some places only accept small dogs. I always laugh when I call as I say 'I see you are dog friendly! Are you little dog friendly or three GSD's friendly?'

Bring a toy from home which provides comfort to the pet while in the hotel room.

Try to find some fun events for you and the pup along the way. These can be dog friendly events, lakes to swim in or other fun things for both of you!

Plan on lots of stops. I avoid Rest Areas but usually find a place close to one that I can pull over and let the dogs run a bit and get some water.

Sorry, I had to stop real fast.

Make sure to bring your doggie first aid kit.

I divide the dogs food into meals in baggies before I leave. That way I just have to grab what I need when I enter the hotel room. I also use plastic containers for feeding them when we travel. Granted I have three I travel with, but I have so much to drag into the room each night every pound counts with what I have to drag back and forth Don't forget a little dish soap to clean the bowls.

I carry a cheap blanket I can put over the bed. A sheet will do. But again I travel with 3 Long Coats so I try to keep the room as tidy as possible. The first thing I do when I enter the motel room is to make sure the toilet seat is down and then I put fresh water out for the pups.

Consider fun things to buy for Abby along the way. One thing I like to buy for the pups is bandana's with the different states they've traveled through. They love the bandana's and it's a little keepsake we have when we get home.

Bring a Chuck-It (ball thrower) for those rest stops. That way you can take full advantage of them stretching their legs.

Have treats available for both you and Abby in the trunk. Enjoy those rest breaks and be festive. This will be a very special time for both of you. Appreciate every moment. Take lots of pictures!

I'm sure I'll think of more. I always have such fun planning the trip with the pups in mind. I search the areas we can stop in for fun things along the way. I use Google Maps to check out the areas and look for lakes and things. I always get the Vistors packages offered by each state and some cities before hand. You can request these on line. It helps me to get to know the area and fun things the pups might enjoy. My pups especially enjoy drive through animal parks so you might be able to find some of those along the way.

If its just you and the pup, be prepared to eat lots of drive through foods.

Well that's it for now. I'm sure I'll add more. I'll be planning our trip this year soon and am so looking forward to that.

I'm so happy for you. Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!!!

Just remembered, be sure to bring a copy of Abby's latest vaccine's.

These days probably everyone has photos of their dogs on their smart phones It won't happen, but in case a dog gets lost on the way, these pics would come in handy.

Grimmi says: "Think about da stinks!" Be sure to bring along something to put Abby at ease in the hotel rooms that has a strong, homey scent, such as her bed (with the cover NOT washed recently) or a throw you have on the sofa at home (again, not recently laundered). You can bring a lintbrush if you wish in case you feel the need to tidy up after, but I've just tossed Grimmi's bed on the hotel room floor, and it's made the place smell homey to him.

Be sure to pack comb and brush for Abby and leave them in the car. This way if she gets into burr's you'll be able to get them out of her fur. I try to be careful and check the area we are stopping in but sometimes I miss and the pups get covered in burrs. Those are the times I'm so thankful for having the comb and brush.

I also pack nail clippers just in case we were to have a broken nail. I just put them in the first aid kit.

Did someone say 'Road Trip?'

So many GREAT tips!! Thank you tons!

Rosa !!!!

I don't know how you contain Abby but when we did our marathon 22 hour roadtrip, I bought some crate water buckets (they clip onto the crate).

Also if she doesn't travel well, some ginger just in case!

Have a great, safe trip!

Excellent suggestions! I made it a ticky, since it' the beginning of vacation season. Please feel free to add or provide feedback!

Abby rides in the back seat. Didn't lie down for the first 10 hours and hasn't
eaten in 2 days. She will eat treats but won't touch her regular kibble. So, ya, cut out the treats. Gets lots of water and sleeps good at night from being up all day. On the second day she finally laid down a few times. ...8 more days...

Oh dear, that is going to be a long trip

If she's not eating because her stomach is "off", the ginger capsules are a great idea - hope each day gets easier!

Three days not eating. Will, however, take any non-kibble offerings.
brat
Wondering where I might find ginger.
DEFinitely has a waistline now.
50mg Benadryl helping the hyper-sensitivity to lane changes.

I guess the waistline is a positive side effect, but not eating is definitely disturbing!

This is the ginger that I use on Jazz, with great results:
http://www.vitacost.com/natures-way-ginger-root
I tried the Whole Foods brand and it was pretty useless. Some fancy supermarkets may carry ginger capsules in the supplement section. I looked and CVS and Walgreen's have it on their websites?

No fun worrying about how the dog is doing when you are traveling, hope things get better!

The homeopathic remedy Nux Vomica is really good for stomach issues and also stimulates appetite. Petroleum is also a good one but I don't think it would be readily available whereas you could get Nux Vomica in a local health food store.

Don't forget about slippery elm! Where will you be passing through next? Maybe we can find a health food store for you.

She will eat any treats, hamburger, hot dog but not her regular kibble.
Doesn't seem sick just VERRRY fussy.
Thanks for all your help. Trying canned dog food next.
brat

PaddyD, I don't like to work too hard to entice a dog to eat if they are stressed and don't feel like eating. This could potentially lead to problems. Have you tried feeding Abby after she has a chance to unwind after being in the vehicle?