We took our greyhound, Jack, with us on this West Virginia road trip, which means we had to make room in the car for a 75-pound dog, along with his food, treats, bed, bowls and plenty of bottled water.
Did I mention we were all packed into a Subaru Forester?
This was Jack’s — official name Hugh Jackman, though the “Hugh” is silent — first U.S. road trip since he arrived here from Australia in February. A retired racing dog, he was adopted via Greyhound Pets of America-Wisconsin. For the first few weeks, we wondered if he could understand our accents. Now we realize he only listens when he feels like it … much like the rest of my family.
A few tips for traveling with furry friends:
Book it: For our four nights in Fayetteville, outside New River Gorge National Park, we rented a two-bedroom house near the Downtown area. This way, Jack had a fenced-in yard for romping and a safe, spacious place to stay inside for a few hours when we left to check out one of the town’s many eateries.
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All together now: We either had to do almost everything as a threesome — which works great for walking on trails or driving the scenic Fayette Station Road but not so great for other activities — or take turns popping inside indoor spaces.
Fill ‘er up: Every time we stopped to take a walk, snap a photo or enjoy the view, we gave Jack some water. Dogs can’t tell you when they’re thirsty, but it doesn’t take long, especially as the weather is warming up, for a dog to get dangerously dehydrated.
Traveling in style: Every time Jack got antsy, I reminded him that while he was traveling in Business Class — lounging on his dog bed — I was riding up in Coach, on a front seat, cramped by bags, snacks and everyone’s jackets.
And remember these general travel safety tips:
Never leave your dog unattended in direct sunlight. Heatstroke can occur and lead to brain damage or death. (Signs of heatstroke are panting, drooling, rapid pulse and fever. Immediately immerse the dog in cool water and seek emergency veterinary assistance.)
Never leave your dog unattended in a hot, parked car. When it’s only 80 degrees outside, the inside of a car can heat up to more than 120 degrees in just minutes. Leaving the windows partially rolled down will not help. Your dog is susceptible to heat stroke and possible death in these conditions.
Keep your dog on a leash to prevent accidents and injuries.
Try to avoid strenuous exercise with your dog on hot days and refrain from physical activity when the sun’s heat is most intense.
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