Packing for a Day Trip

Tomorrow is supposed to be beautiful and sunny, with a high in the mid 50s, but Sunday isn’t looking so hot — the forecast is calling for possible rain and/or snow.  As a result, a weekend trip is out of the question — though it would have been anyway, since my cat is sick.

Instead, I’m thinking of taking advantage of the nice weather tomorrow.  A day trip sounds like fun, as we haven’t been able to take many of these this winter — too snowy and cold most of the season.

On day trips, I like to take the dogs and go for a hike.  That’s probably what we’ll do tomorrow — the trails in the lower elevations are finally starting to dry out, and I’ve been itching for a nice weekend day when I have a chance to get out and enjoy it.

When you go on a day trip, it’s important to remember that you are not just packing for yourself — you are also packing for your dog.  You know that you will get hungry and thirsty as the day goes on, but don’t forget that your dog will too — and your dog shouldn’t be drinking out of streams or pools of standing water any more than you should.

I’m hesitant to feed my dog too much before, during, and after a lot of physical or mental excitement, so I do tend to keep feedings to a minimum.  I usually give a small meal in the morning before we leave the house, leaving enough time for my dogs to digest it before all the activity.  It’s usually okay for them to digest in the car while we drive — but some dogs get too excited about the car and get sick, so keep this in mind.

I also always bring water for the dogs.  I like to use either something like this travel water bottle, or one of those portable dog bowls that you can fold up and carry in your pocket.  The nice thing about the dog bowl is that you just have to carry one water bottle — just pour a little water from your bottle into your dog’s dish, and let him drink.

If you’re going on a long hike, it’s good to carry a few first aid supplies with you, too.  I like to have a pair of tweezers, in case one of my dogs gets something stuck in the pads of their foot that I can’t get out with my bare fingers.  I also like to carry some type of wound cleaner and a small bandage roll, just in case one of us gets hurt.

Finally, don’t forget food for yourself — if you are planning on being pretty active, chances are you will need to eat periodically to keep your energy up.

If you are planning on visiting businesses during your day trip, be sure to do your research ahead of time, just as you would when looking for dog friendly hotels.  Some places let you have your dog lie under your table on the patio while you eat, while others won’t let anything through the door that walks on four legs.  Be sure you know what restaurants, parks, and other places will be accepting of your dog during your day trip.

Well, that’s about all I can think of right now.  I guess I had better get to bed soon, as I want to get an early start tomorrow!

Tags: dog friendly hotels, portable dog bowls, travel water bottle