[artwife]

Traveling with my 2 "babies" for the first time....2 labradors. Any hints as to traveling with large dogs?

[AmandaWIRN]

I travel with my dog- she's not a large dog, though- half dachshund & half jack russell. She doesn't do well in the car, so my vet gave me some Acepromazine (it's like doggie Versed...) that we give her before long driving days- helps her to sleep better in the back seat without freaking out. In new cities, I try to find out where there are dog parks to take her to- in Naples, FL she even got to go to the dog beach- she loved it! Also, I always make sure I take her vet records with me, locate the closest emergency animal hospital wherever we are, and keep a supply of her Heartgard & K9 Advantix... Here's Layla at the dog beach....

[artwife]

Thanks...my main concern is housing. I realize that dince I have bigger dogs it is going to be a bit difficult, but do you have any thing you could share as far as housing goes? I didn't realize that their were specific beaches for dogs. How funny.

[AmandaWIRN]

My company hasn't had a problem with housing for me- and I know a lot of other travelers who have bigger dogs that also don't have a problem with housing- just let your housing coordinator know what kind of dogs you have, and they can worry about the rest. You might have to pay a pet deposit at some places, but you can sometimes get it back when you move.

[OutWest]

We travel with a 75 pound pitbull mix, not easy because of the stereotypes about pitbulls and many places have breed restrictions, but we manage. Everybody loves labs (who couldn't?) but you do have two and that will make it more challenging.

The most important thing I can recommend - you have to be flexible. Flexible in what assignment you take and flexible about your housing.

Get references for your dogs from your vet, your neighbors and every place you rent if possible. I have mine photocopied onto a single page with a cute pic of our dog; it helps.

Be sure to bring copies of your dogs' vaccination records and licenses along and get your dogs micro-chipped if they aren't already.

I've found that rural areas are far more accepting of dogs, but housing does tend to be more scarce.

Good luck!

[artwife]

Thanks for the advice...I also checked into doggie daycare. We'll see...keeping my fingers crossed

[cooki3]

check with the hotels or rental properties in advance to know if they allow pets with guests... my puppy gets boarded most of the time because there's not a lot of places i can take her with me; but everytime i could, i do take her... she's fun to be with.. i hope they get to go with you on this trip... enjoy!

[OutWest]

Come to Billings Montana and stay at the Eagle Cliff ranch (Eagle Cliff Lodging - A Great Lodging Choice Near Billings, MT) My dog is having an absolute ball here...1000 acres so I can just open the door and let him out, and a resident happy Lab for him to play with. And it seems like Billings always need nurses!

[Blue IIs]

To OutWest
Which hospital and what area do you work in? I am from Rosebud, MT and I worked at St. Vincent this summer. I travel with an Australian Shepherd. She loves to travel and I have only had one agency tell me I should keep her home. I was already on my way to North Carolina with her and they found a decent place for us to live. The apartment even had a small doggy park. I don't mind paying the pet deposit because she is worth every penny.

[OutWest]

Blue II's

Funny, we are trying to get to North Carolina next summer! My husband is actually the nurse. I'm his "manager" and thinking about starting my own company to cut out the middleman. He works at St V's ER and loves it there. His recruiter knows that no dog accomodations means no wife, which means no nurse :-)