The best-planned road trips should include a dog. Dogs make the best travel companions. They never complain about the style of music or make comments about singing abilities — or lack of. They never complain about driving skills or give back seat driver advice. They just sit quietly, trusting that they will arrive at some exciting destination which, to them, is the best place ever as long as they are with their person. 

My four-year-old dog, Duncan, is one of the best furry travelers I’ve ever had. We’ve traveled thousands of miles together and he has loved every minute. This summer, we traveled to the East coast and back, stopping in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Concord, North Carolina, and even Myrtle Beach. He was called a “Rock Star” in downtown Southport when several shoppers came up to say hello, give a pat on his head or a belly rub. He played with his furry friend Roy in Shallotte and he definitely loved our night-time walk on the beach. 

Although Duncan and I have traveled together for a long time, I still make a list of things that I will need for his safety and comfort and I am always researching new items that make traveling with a dog easier. This year I discovered a wonderful new app called “Bring Fido.” It has listings for dog-friendly restaurants, hotels, activities, events, and services for any place you may be traveling. For instance, I found a great dog-friendly bed and breakfast in the town of Sapphire, located in the mountains of North Carolina, called The Brook Trout Inn. They had a dog trail, doggy bags, and disposal, and welcomed Duncan with open arms. Other “Bring Fido” users leave reviews — a heads-up for future visitors on the places that are listed. 

More and more restaurants are excepting dogs on their outdoor patios which makes it very easy to bring them along instead of having to eat-in all the time because they can’t come. I still kind of struggle with hotels, though. In my opinion, the most dog-friendly hotel we have experienced is the La Quinta. Their pet fees are the lowest at $20 per stay. At the Wingate Hotel, I was told that they needed to know in advance, had to relocate us so that we were put in a “dog” room and their fee was $35 per night — I have yet to find a space to put “have dog” on the online booking sites. At the Country Inn and Suites, they put us in a “dog” room and it smelled like it. Next time I will bring some air freshener.

We hit ten states including New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas South Carolina, Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Missouri, and North Carolina. Most states had rest areas that were very accommodating but some didn’t. One thing to remember about rest stops, including gas stations, is that many other dogs from across the country use the same space. It’s a good idea to make sure your dog is up to date on shots, including Bordetella. I also keep Duncan on heartworm/parasite medicine and something for ticks and fleas. Compared to Arizona, the eastern southern states’ forests are much denser, greener, and full of ticks, fleas, and chiggers. 

Duncan and I hiked the waterfall trail in Sapphire. It was very hot and very humid and I worried about my Arizona-dry, high-desert dog in this type of weather. It’s important to keep plenty of water on hand for drinking as well as cooling down. Duncan’s black fur absorbs heat much easier than a light-colored dog and he can go through several bottles of water on a hot and humid day. Thank goodness we took a dip in the French Broad River — it was a black lab’s paradise.

During this trip, Duncan got a scrape on the inside of his leg from running full speed with his friend Roy. On our trip back I noticed it was swelling. I happened to have alcohol wipes in my first aid kit and some antibacterial salve and by the next morning, the swelling was gone.

Even the best-behaved dog needs to stay on a leash when traveling. They are dogs, with the mental ability of a 2-year-old. I keep a 6-foot leash on the back seat ready for a walk at a rest stop and in hotels and restaurants. I also have a seat belt harness for Duncan that attaches to a strap that clicks into the seat belt buckle of my truck. The seat cover is the sling-type that goes up the back but also up the front of the seat so he is cradled inside. 

Not every dog likes to travel and perhaps not every dog is as well behaved as Duncan. It takes time and practice to create a fine furry traveler. I feel that the more I expose Duncan to things that are unfamiliar to him, including people and dogs he doesn’t know, the better socialized he will become — but, even good dogs have bad days. 

During our stay in West Memphis, I walked Duncan down to the main lobby for a snack. When I started back to the room, he wouldn’t come with me. He planted his front paws squarely on the floor. As it turned out, he had to use the “outside facilities.” Afterward, he walked back to the room, past the desk clerk who was amazed. 

“I did not just see him do that!” She said to me.

When I got the bill, they had removed the pet fee. 

Good dog.