Road Trips with Basenjis

[LovingLola]

My husband and I are planning to drive from Seattle to Denver next month for a vacation and we're taking Lola with us. :D Right now the plan is to take the scenic route and camp along the way.

Has anyone taken a long road trip with their dog? I wonder if she'll settle down and relax. I don't want her to be bored. I'm also concerned about the safe way to have her in the car. She's usually good in our van, but we let her run around, which I know is not optimal for safety. I'm pretty sure she would hate riding the whole way in her crate or fastened in. We're renting a Ford Escape, so we might be able to put the seat down and give her the whole back. I'm open to suggestions :)

[lvoss]

I travel with my dogs quite a bit. They all travel in their crates and are quite happy about that. Sometimes they may have a chewie or a toy in their with them but for the most part they just lay down and sleep while we are driving. It is important to make sure you stop every couple of hours to walk and potty them. If you can plan out your trip so you know where the rest stops are that is great. We usually are travelling from NorCal to SoCal so we know where the good rest stops are.

[tanza]

I would be very, very careful about letting her ride loose..... I bet that she would be just fine in her crate...

[Basenji_Boy]

Our's get traveled around a lot too and we always use a crates, mostly the plastic type. We used to let them loose in the car, but have since learned it's far safer for them in the crate.......they actually like it.:D

[LovingLola]

Yeah, I'm not comfortable with letting her ride loose. I've felt bad about it every time. She's also had a fit every time we tried crating her while driving. I'm thinking about one of those back seat hammocks.

[tanza]

I use wire crates for mine in the car, I can see them, they can see me....... and they could look out the windows, however 1 mile down the road and they are sound asleep....

[LovingLola]

Wow. Sound asleep!? Not Lola. The only place she relaxes enough to sleep is home.

[lvoss]

When I first got Nicky, we took him Dillon's Beach the weekend we got him. It is about a 2.5 hour drive and he screamed in his crate pretty much the entire drive there. He slept the entire drive back, so I do understand the crate screaming. Nicky has long since learned that to ride in the car, you must be in your crate and has also learned that almost always, riding in the car means going somewhere really great. He now happily jumps into the car and crates up. He is pretty much asleep by the time we hit the freeway. He will occasionally whine when we start to get close to certain destinations because he is excited to be there. So if you use the crate consistently in the car and the places you are taking her are fun for her, she will start associating positive things with riding in the crate in the car.

[Basenji_Boy]

Yeah, I'm not comfortable with letting her ride loose. I've felt bad about it every time. She's also had a fit every time we tried crating her while driving. I'm thinking about one of those back seat hammocks.

Whatever you decide, have a great vacation and safe trip. Oh and lot's of pictures of that B on vacation too.:D

[Nexa]

We tried crating Nexa in the car and she hated every second of it, crying and peeing the whole way. She does great in the house in her crate, but hated it in the car. Our trainer suggested a pet buckle that gives her the freedom to move around, but not far. It attaches to the seatbelt buckle so it's secure. So far she has done great with it, she can't get to the front seats either. It's worked for us. We are going on vacation from Indiana to South Carolina in two weeks, hopefully she handles the long trip well. Good Luck!

[JazzysMom]

Jazzy gets car sick, so the crate is not a good option for her. She throws up all over, slides around in it, cries the whole time. ugh. She can be a disgusting mess by the time you reach your destination. At least she stopped pooping all over in it, which she did the first couple months of her life.
Keoki has crate stress, so he cries and pees the whole time.

I bought the travel harnesses that attach to the seat belt. Now both dogs curl right up on the seat and sleep for the entire drive, except for potty breaks. The longest we've driven with dogs in the car is about 7 hours/day.

I think they're a great option for dogs that can't handle traveling in a crate, or for folks who just don't have the space in their vehicle for crates and luggage!

[jys1011]

If the plastic crate seems too confining please use a wire crate that way she can see all around her & not feel locked up. If you also need her to chill out on the road I would suggest you use Rescue Remedy. It's a spray that you spray in their mouth a couple of times & it's all natural.

They can relax for the car ride in their crates :)

[vstripe]

I'm a fan of the travel harness I buckle him up in the back and put a mini bed down on the seat. Once he realizes we are going for a long trip and not to the park he lays down and sleeps the whole way.
A few things to remember some water for your B maybe some treats when your at the rest stops a familiar toy from home sweater or blanket if it gets cold.

& enjoy your trip!

[JazzysMom]

With Jazz being able to see where she's going has no effect at all. Even in the harness, where it's all open air around her, she gets sick. I love the harness, where we can hold up the trash can in front of her, she throws up right in it like the good girl she is, and we can carry on.

Actually, Keoki threw up in the car today, twice, which was odd. Although, the roads we were on were a bit curvy, so that may have gotten to him.

I am a huge fan of the harnesses for dogs who get carsick and for dogs who have crate anxiety!

[tanza]

With Jazz being able to see where she's going has no effect at all. Even in the harness, where it's all open air around her, she gets sick. I love the harness, where we can hold up the trash can in front of her, she throws up right in it like the good girl she is, and we can carry on.

Actually, Keoki threw up in the car today, twice, which was odd. Although, the roads we were on were a bit curvy, so that may have gotten to him.

I am a huge fan of the harnesses for dogs who get carsick and for dogs who have crate anxiety!

Yes, those are a good choice as long as they don't chew through them..:D

[annandael]

we use our vari kennels if we have a long trip ahead of us...otherwise we just use the back of our Element where there is a dog bed for them and they calm down once we hit the highway.

Oh! And you're coming to Denver?! Cool! If you want to do a Basenji outing at a very nice State park off leash area let us know! We live right outside Denver in Aurora! :)

[hdterry]

Jojo HATES the crate...the longest trip she has been on is from Tamp to Knoxville and she did great. She layed down on the seat in the back and slept most of the trip. Jojo cannot be crated (adopted her from BRAT and this was something BRAT emphasized about her). Ther are pros and cons for every way to travel with a dog but I feel the most important are not to have them in your arms if you are the driver and to stop every couple of hours to let them go for a walk and to use the bathroom. Which ever way you choose have a fun trip...

[tanza]

Jojo HATES the crate...the longest trip she has been on is from Tamp to Knoxville and she did great. She layed down on the seat in the back and slept most of the trip. Jojo cannot be crated (adopted her from BRAT and this was something BRAT emphasized about her). Ther are pros and cons for every way to travel with a dog but I feel the most important are not to have them in your arms if you are the driver and to stop every couple of hours to let them go for a walk and to use the bathroom. Which ever way you choose have a fun trip...

Can you not use the doggy seatbelt on her?.... It is so scary to think of a dog riding loose... if you ever have an accident....

[LovingLola]

No, we can use the doggy seatbelt and I think we will. In fact, we have to drive somewhere today, so I think we'll get one and start using it. It really does sound like the best option. I know letting her loose is the worst thing to do. Every time we drive I think about the worst case scenario.

[Capt_Jack_our_Basenji]

We are a military family and we are currently in CT but our family is in Ohio so every so often we drive home for vacation or holiday. we have taken jack with us 3 times now. The first time i gave him travle anxiety drops and he slept a GOOD deal of the way, but on the way home i didnt give him any and he slept about the same amount of time. Jack DOESNT do crates he absolutly HATES them, infact he hurts himself when we try and put him in a crate (and completly bit thru his wire crate when we first got him) he made his paws bleed from pawing at the crate and everything, SO we let him have the back seat of our Rav 4. We lay down puppy pads (tho hes never had an accident he great about that) and a blanket over top. give him a meat bone or pig ear to chew and all he does is eat the bone and sleep the whole 10+ hours there and then 10+ hours home. I think sometimes its good to have the travel anxiety at least with you in the car incase your B gets upset or over excited. it helps calm their nerves...Anyway, i hope i helped HAVE fun!!!

[LovingLola]

We just bought a car harness and it worked great! We drove around with her, wearing the harness, and whe was really calm. It also doubles as a walking harness and it worked out better than the one we had before. I think we've found the solution. We'll get some of that spray stuff (Rescue Remeday, or whatever it's called), in case she freaks a little, but I think we're going to be okay.

BTW, we decided not go all the way to Denver. We're going to stop in Yellowstone and enjoy the scenery. Yellowstone, here we come!

Thanks for all the great suggestions :)

[tanza]

We just bought a car harness and it worked great! We drove around with her, wearing the harness, and whe was really calm. It also doubles as a walking harness and it worked out better than the one we had before. I think we've found the solution. We'll get some of that spray stuff (Rescue Remeday, or whatever it's called), in case she freaks a little, but I think we're going to be okay.

BTW, we decided not go all the way to Denver. We're going to stop in Yellowstone and enjoy the scenery. Yellowstone, here we come!

Thanks for all the great suggestions :)

Sounds to me like you found the solution... that is great...

[Gooby]

We have one of those Flexi-line leashes. For road trips I lock it on the 2 foot length and buckle him in.

[LovingLola]

Well, I could hardly believe it, but Lola was a perfect angel during our vacation. We got a car "hammock" for the back seat and she slept like a baby the whole way. It was wonderful.

She was also terrific at the many different hotels, houses and town we visited. The only time she was a pain was around the two campfires we had with friends in CO. I think the sounds and shadows scared her.

As usual, I was so preoccupied that I hardly took any pictures. The few I did take are under Member Galleries titles "Road Trip".

[Basenji_Boy]

As usual, I was so preoccupied that I hardly took any pictures. The few I did take are under Member Galleries titles "Road Trip".


Thanks for the pics, sounds like all had a great vacation.:)

[luzmery928]

O.k what kind of travel harnesses is everyone using. I bought on the other day, the kind that you can also use for walking and not only did it take me half an hour to strap my B in but it took him about half a second to wiggle his way out. I know it's not safe but my only option right now is to carry him on my lap. I do hold him tight but I really with there was another way. My car is small so a crate is not an option. What else can I try?

[Barklessdog]

Well, I could hardly believe it, but Lola was a perfect angel during our vacation


I was really surprised on how well or dogs do on vacations. we crate them both in the car and at the places we are staying when we go out.

They seem to be happy as long as they are with you.

Actually they get so much attention, they seem to have a bit of trouble once we get back, after all attention, everyone goes back to their regular lives which usually do not include them.

They seemed a bit sad & mopey for a bit.

[dash]

lovinglola- which hotels did you stay at?

[Robin_n_Jack]

I have been taking Captain Jack on road trips almost since I got him. He loves it, once you get going. I don't crate him, because he just screams the entire time. We have one of those seat buckles, but he can't figure out how to sit with it on without getting completely tangled up in it and the seat belt itself.

For the holidays, we drove from Boston to Atlanta. Took two days. My husband drove the whole time and I was in the passenger seat. Wouldn't you know that within the first 15 minutes of being in the car, Jack figured out how to unbuckle the seat belt? I buckled him back in once, figuring it was just a fluke. 2nd time, I was like that's bizarre, and buckled him in again. The third time, I said forget it. He rode the rest of the way in my lap, usually curled up and sleeping. My legs fell asleep with the weight, but it was totally worth it. He was so cute!

I can't believe he figured it out! I am constantly amazed by how clever and smart these dogs are.

Robin and The Captain

[sharronhurlbut]

We take my 2 b's down to the Oregon coast and they love it.
All the family is sad when we get back.
I keep telling my 2 that the lotto win will make EVERYONE so much happier...
Laugh, until then, we can only vacation and enjoy it a couple of times a year.

[lvoss]

My basenjis travel with us all over. They all ride in their crates and once we are at near freeway speeds everyone quiets down and curls up for a nice nap. When we first got Nicky he would scream in the crate for the entire trip but we remained firm that he had to be crated in the car for his safety and ours and it did not take too many trips for him to figure out that riding in the crate in the car usually meant going somewhere fun.

[serenjane]

When Seren Jane was a puppy we tried a few short trips, an hour or two, however she whined, drueled and jumped around the entire way. Crateing her was out of the question, she hurts herself. Perhaps I will try some anxienty drops and try her again.

[Solomon]

I take my Basenji's with me almost anytime I travel in the car, I won't subject them to a plane. They get a sitter if I have to fly, I have tried boarding and Solomon lost a lot of weight and I was not very comfortable about the boarding process. I allway's put a kennel in the back and allways leave a 6' leash on them anytime they are in the car. It make it much easier to control when you make stops. Mine don't get car sick but My daughters B allways got sick and we started giving a couple of ginger snaps and that as cured her car sickness. Best of Luck!
Glenn

[dmcarty]

Riding free in a vehicle and riding with a harness.

For those of you that do not remember this or the people involved. There was an accident with a full size van and it's attached travel trailer that got hit with some high winds and rolled. 3 adults 1 child and lot's of senjis and 2 malmutes. All the dogs were in crates (kennel aire to be exact) and the crates were bungied down. All humans were wearing their seatbelts.

The only injury was an adult shoulder that got whacked when it hit the one childs childseat. The dogs suffered 1 torn toenail. No imagine that with a dog loose in a vehicle - the dog would be dead AND perhaps when the doggy projectile was flung forward - you would be too - killed by your own dog. Now imagine the dog in a harness hanging in the air upside down neck or back broken by the impact.

Folks I don't care how much they carry on you should have your dogs in a crate when you are traveling. They are not humans they are not playing car bingo - they our both our treasured companions but also our responsibility. You need to work with your dogs until you find a combination that works (like go in a crate and stop and the Dairy Queen - that works for me :))

Please crate your dogs AND tie down your crates.

Sorry - off my soapbox now.

[markusa59mn]

My Luxor has gone some 160,000 miles with me in trucks and other vehicles. He settles down after a couple hours, but I try to keep him awake so he's as tired as me at the end of a long drive. We're leaving for Fla. next week and will be looking for boarding in Austin, TX and Miami, FLA so dad can get out for some fun!

[crystalncody]

So would you suggest the crate be in the front seat or in the back? The reason I ask is that I am moving in less than 2 weeks. I drive an SUV, but pretty much everything I own is going to be packed up in the back, so not only will it be cramped, but in the front he won't be as hot, which is something else that I worry about. Is there any danger in having his crate strapped into the front seat?

[dmcarty]

'If' you do the front seat - make sure that the crate is secure and disconnect the airbag. I would always opt for the back but sure understand sometimes there is no option.

[Rita Jean]

I second the air bag disconnect. I hope you have a very very safe trip but if it was to go off your B could get hurt more by the air bag then the accident. Be safe.

Rita Jean

[crystalncody]

I didn't even think about the airbag! I will try to pack everything in with his crate as close to the front as possible while still in the back. I have enough luggage and boxes that his crate should be secure, but I'll see about some bungee cords just in case. I'll just try to do a lot of switching around to see how to get him in the car as safe as possible. Hopefully he will not have to ride in the front.

[lvoss]

Can you situate the crate so it opens toward the rear passenger door and then pack around it? My husband always packs our vehicles by figuring out how where the crates need to be for the dogs and then packing everything else around those. Don't ask me how he manages to get everything in but he does.

[crystalncody]

I drive a sport SUV, so it's only a 2 door. I think I am just going to put his crate where I think it needs to be, probably just behind the passenger seat, then pack around him.

[renaultf1]

I drive a sport SUV, so it's only a 2 door. I think I am just going to put his crate where I think it needs to be, probably just behind the passenger seat, then pack around him.

That sounds like a good plan especially if ventilation is an issue. One thing I do in my car (if carrying a full load and only 1 crate because the venting/ac isn't super strong) is put the crate so it is center to both seats, as close to the front as possible...that way some of the vents blow right into the crate. As well, I have access to the crate door so that I can get the dog out thru the front if need be. Then I just pack stuff on all sides of the crate. I use bungee cords to secure crates in my car. In the summer I use wire crates in the car and in the winter I use the plastic vari-kennels.

[dmcarty]

If air circulation is a concern - you can buy some crate fans at PetCo or PetsMart that run on batteries that help quite a lot.

Good luck in your move - I'm sure that because you are asking questions and getting opinions - you will figure out something that works for you both.

[crystalncody]

I'm worried about the heat/ventilation because lately it has been so hot here that Cody is miserable if he is in the car for more than 45 minutes, and this is going to be a 5 hour drive. Last year around this time, when I made the trip just to visit, the a/c really didn't help much. I think it's just the humidity in NC, it's horrible. I just want it to be as safe and as comfortable as possible for him.

renaultf1, situating his crate behind and between the seats sounds like the best bet. Thank you for the suggestion.

dmcarty, thanks, and I will definitely look into the fans.

[serenjane]

When Seren Jane was a puppy we tried a few short trips, an hour or two, however she whined, drueled and jumped around the entire way. Crateing her was out of the question, she hurts herself. Perhaps I will try some anxienty drops and try her again.

Sorry folks, I 've been out of the country for a while. Seren Jane has been with my husband while I've been gone, and he doesn't do computer stuff. I missed all the latest on the "Basenji Forum"; I've got some catching up to do. She slept on my pillow every night I was away. She was so excited when I returned the other night she even wagged her tail a bit.

[Basenjimamma]

We are making a roadtrip in the beginning of August and we are traveling with two kids, three dogs, and three adults, in a Vilvo XC90. Needless tyo say it will be cramped but with all the cargo on top of the roof in a Thule box, kids in the third row seat, my mother and hubby in the front, I was actually thinking about going in the back seat with the dogs. My question is, what harnesses do y'all use. I have crates for all dogs but not the space so harness is the only way to go. We are going to be gone for a week so I don't want to leave our four legged kiddos at home. I looked at several different brands/options and can not make up my mind, do you have an input..
Much appreciated,

[dmcarty]

I don't have any insight to offer on that cause you all know - I'm a stickler on crates - but don't forget to find me at the Reliant Shows in Houston so you can see my Podengo babies - no room for any basenjis on the trip and heck their all so old anyway shoot my youngest B is 6 1/2.

[Basenjimamma]

I know I read you post and I understand, but if I had to do one less evil thing , then I rather harness, as supposed to not bring them with us. It is vacation time...for all of us.
When are you coming to Reliant? I can't wait to see you and those little, longlegged (I imagine ?)Podengos..Be ready for the heat, we are in the low 100's daily, so it is miserable..gotta love it, althought I don't ;)

[lvoss]

Where are you going for vacation? If you are going to be staying at hotels/motels you will need to have room for crates so they have place to be when you go out to eat.

[lvoss]

I use crates but I know people with large dogs and smaller cars that use a seatbelt harness similar to this one, http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2755199

It is important that you check the fit of any harness you are thinking of using. One problem with basenjis and harnesses is that they are usually between sizes.

[Basenjimamma]

Actually we have rented a house in Rockport, TX with 2 acre fenced in yard, a 250' private fishing pier so it is on the water, which will be interesting to see. I am bringing Otis' room, i.e his crate but fold it down during travel. The other dogs don't get crated.
The harness you posted is the one I have looked at, and yes I realize the sizing is an issue. I guess I need to bring him in and try different sizes and style out. Thanks for your input.

[lvoss]

Before you turn the dogs loose be very careful to inspect the house and yard to make sure it is truly secure and that there is nothing they can get into that may harm them.

[Basenjimamma]

I will, I already have that in my head. I don't want them to get hurt nor do I want the property to get damaged..Thanks for the suggestion, though.