In March of 2021, we rescued a Greek Harehound. Never heard of a Greek Harehound? Yeah, me neither. I thought the doggie following us around Nafplio in Greece many years ago was just a mutt, but apparently, he too, as we recently learned, was a Greek Harehound.

We named her Ellie and she has such a fun personality. Coming out of the pandemic, we didn’t fly right away, but were still looking to travel. Having had dogs previously, we didn’t travel with them as they hated cars. Ellie, however, while I’m not sure she loves riding in a car, does do it very well. So we decided to take her on a few trips. Boy does she love sniffing and exploring new places.

Her first long distance road trip was to Colorado – Telluride, Vail and Durango. Colorado is truly her favorite place as she perks up hearing the word “Colorado.” She liked hiking those mountains with some snow. We also took her to Del Mar, California, to experience a beach. She hated that. California was not her jam. And, the beach is definitely not somewhere she wants to go again. Ever again.

She’s also had the opportunity to visit Zion National Park and Park City. She seemed to enjoy Zion, the one dog friendly trail we were able to do. She liked exploring outside of Zion getting to see some buffalo and cows and going on nice hikes. Did she like it as much as Colorado? I think she preferred that since the temperatures were cooler and it had more greenery.  On another trip, we visited Park City. I can’t say that she liked that, but she did really enjoy seeing marmots at a big park between Provo and Park City.

But what’s it like to travel with your dog? I’ve learned a lot traveling with. Ellie is very easy going when it comes to travel so I feel lucky in that respect, but that said, it still requires a more flexible mindset because there are certainly experiences you might not be able to have with a pup in tow.

Things to consider:

Is your destination dog-friendly? Sure, places may have pet-friendly accommodations, but are there things you can do with your four-legged friend? Our focus on travel has been more on outdoor activities and this works well for travel with our pup. If we were looking to go to theme parks or spend lots of time indoors, I don’t know if it would be the right idea to take Ellie. Look for dog-friendly hiking trails and restaurants with outdoor dog-friendly dining when you are doing your research. I’ve found that Bring Fido usually has some activities and restaurants listed for various destinations.

Dog-friendly accomodations

Many hotels and accommodations claim to be dog-friendly. Some very much are, some I think it’s more just trying to cater to those who might want to stay there vs. rather than being truly dog-friendly.

When looking for accommodations, check the website to see if the hotel has a weight limit. Lots of places only allow dogs 20 lbs or less. 

Check the pet fee. Is it nightly or per stay?  This makes a difference. I’ve seen some hotels that were reasonably priced if my husband and I wanted to stay, but the pet fee per night was almost as much as the price for my husband and I. A few places it was more. We recently opted out of staying at a particular hotel because the pet fee was more than one night’s lodging. We opted to do a pet-friendly Airbnb instead.

Many places offer dog beds or bowls to borrow.  This is a nice touch, but honestly, just bring your own so you don’t have to worry about your pup not liking them.  Collapseble dog bowls are easy to carry and great for both food and water.  I also bring several blankets to make into a bed for Ellie. She likes laying on her blankets curled up in a little ball on the floor.   

Also because you’ll have to take your pup out potentially in the middle of the night, decide if you want to be close to an exit or on the ground floor.  Some dogs don’t like elevators.  Ellie loves them, but it is a consideration if you have a long walk to get outside to a grassy area. And don’t forget your doggie bags. Some doggie areas at hotels seem to constantly be out of bags.

Activites

Want to go hiking or to the beach?  Make sure the areas you plan to go allow dogs. I’ve found that national parks, at least out West, are not dog-friendly at all.  Some only have one trail.  For instance, Zion only allows dogs on the Pa’rus Trail.  This had beautiful scenery and we did it twice, but if you want the full National Park experience, it might be best to leave Fido at home. 

Dining

Look for restaurants that have patios friendly to dogs. Many hotels won’t let you leave your pet alone in the hotel room. I wouldn’t leave Ellie anyway, not because I am afraid she would be disruptive or destructive, but rather, I would be afraid someone would come into the room and accidently let her out. Also, if your hotel does serve breakfast, find out if your pup can come to breakfast with you or if you will need to take turns going to breakfast. We’ve experienced both in our travels. And bring a few treats for your pup while you are dining.

All in all, I’ve found our travels with Ellie to be rewarding. It’s like seeing how she reacts to seeing new sites and experiencing new things. Sure, not every trip is dog-friendly, but with some advance planning, you too can have a rewarding experience with your pup.