Why Alice is the Easiest Dog to Travel With
In the midst of our whirlwind European tour, I realized (even more than I had before) how lucky I am to have a dog that is so ridiculously easy to travel with. I created this blog because I want to inspire other people to travel with their dogs, and share helpful information about dog travel in the cities I’ve visited with Alice. But the truth is, some dogs will not have positive experiences in certain locations, or traveling at all. My brother’s dog is highly anxious 97% of the time - she would not be happy doing the types of trips that I do with Alice. Some dogs don’t have the energy to do a multi-city trip like the 36-day Europe trip I did this summer, or they need more consistency to be comfortable. It’s really important to think about your dog’s personality and needs when considering the type of travel that is right for them. Don’t force them to travel if they will be stressed or uncomfortable the whole time, but pushing them a bit outside their comfort zone can be good for them too.
These are the special pieces of Alice’s personality that make her the ideal traveling pup!
Alice rarely experiences anxiety. She had some separation anxiety when she was younger, if I left her alone in a new place for example. But she doesn’t show signs of that at all anymore. She is always very excited when I return, but she doesn’t show a lot of concern (and doesn’t make any noise anymore) when I leave.
Alice is not bothered by noise, crowds, or things she hasn’t seen before. Basically, if she is with me, she is content.
Alice is small enough that I can easily pick her up if I need to. In a super crowded place like Venice, or on a packed metro car, I can carry her for a while so that she isn’t stepped on.
Alice can still do a lot of walking. Even though she is thirteen years old, she is still very happy walking for miles and being out for most of the day. She takes a lot more naps when we’re out than she used to, but she is still ready to go as soon as I stand up.
Alice doesn’t experience any sort of motion sickness. Cars, planes, trains, boats - none of it makes her sick or uncomfortable.
Alice is small enough to fly with me, and she likes her carrier. She did not like the carrier at first… but now she climbs in no problem, and maybe even prefers it to being on my lap on longer train rides.
Alice doesn’t mind if random people (including children) pet her without asking. Obviously everyone *should* ask before touching a dog, but it just doesn’t happen. Many children in Europe surprised Alice (and me) with a pet, and she never reacts negatively to this.
Alice is usually indifferent toward other dogs. But when I sense her getting nervous about another dog (and there are many off-leash dogs in Europe), I can pick her up or move her away quite quickly and easily.
Alice handles sun and heat relatively well. Even though she has black fur, as long as I can get her into shade often enough she doesn’t over-heat.
Alice communicates what her needs are. We’ve had each other for thirteen years, which means I can predict how she will react in most situations, and she knows how to tell me when she needs water, or a break from walking, or to be taken to the hotel to rest on her own.