Sadie's First Road Trip

Texas Road Trip

I’ll never forget my first bona fide road trip with my dog, Sadie. My family invited me to bring her along for Christmas, so I decided to drive home. I was excited to take my car out on the open road for more than a few hours and the drive from Fort Lauderdale, FL to Austin, TX is 19 hours.

I’m one of those people who really enjoys driving and embraces every opportunity for a road trip. I find it relaxing, fun and always an adventure. I find a solo road trip to be very invigorating, rocking out to music or catching up on the latest audible book. I also enjoy a road troop with a rowdy group of friends. And this time, it was just me and the dog. My dear mother was worried about me driving this far alone, to which I explained, “I’m not alone, I have the Sadie.” At only 7 lbs Sadie wasn’t really a personal protection dog, but she could definitely bark and make noise. I was not concerned.

I wasn’t sure how Sadie would be on a trip this long. She loved riding in the car. I thought maybe she loved adventure as much as I did. Perhaps. Or perhaps she just liked being with me.

On the Road

Naturally, I over packed. In addition to my three suitcases - I’m a very gifted over packer - she had her own bag full of toys, food, medicine, two leashes, a play pen, blankets, dog coats and more treats than she could possibly eat in two weeks.  I buckled her into her car seat and we were ready to begin the Christmas Road Trip of 2013!

Sadie was so excited to not be left behind. So excited that she threw up all over her blanket in the first five minutes. Note to self, do not feed the dog right before a car ride. After a quick pit stop to clean up – thank goodness for that second blanker – we were back on the open road.

Sadie took her co-pilot duties seriously, at least for the first 15 minutes. Then she fell asleep. In fact, she slept for most of the trip. But it was comforting just to look over and see the little dog sleeping and sometimes awake with a big smile. Most importantly, she kept be alert, as I had to stop every few hours to let her walk, have a drink and perhaps a little kibble.

Nola Fur Friend, Bayou

Frenemy #1 - Sadie I

I also made plans to stop and visit a friend in New Orleans, one night on the way to Texas and several days on the way back to Florida. My friend, Alyssa, knew and loved my dog. She looked forward to our visit. It was my first time to see her place and meet her new rescue dog, Bayou.  Sadie and Bayou made fast friends, taking a walk together as soon as we arrived through the winter streets of New Orleans.  My Sadie also got to see her old cat frenemy, Sadie I. Side note: my Sadie is actually Sadie II. Since my friend and I met after getting our Sadie’s, we differentiate them with Sadie I and Sadie II. Sadie II had a great time with her fury friends, especially during our extended stay on the way back. She enjoyed time in City Park, a giant park that allows dogs, with wonderful Christmas decorations.

Christmas 2013 - Not Amused, Still Adorable

 Once we made to my parent’s home, Sadie was quickly spoiled with endless treats and affection. My family enjoyed her and she has an open invitation to come back and visit. For me, it was great to have her along for the ride – it allowed me to have a flexible schedule. I could stay longer - which I did - without having to worry about the dog. I was glad she got to hang out with my family. My father took significant pleasure in spoiling her rotten. And while I truly enjoyed this taking this picture Sadie by the tree, I’m pretty sure it was Sadie’s least favorite part of the trip.

It was great to have Sadie along for the trip. She has since taken many more road trips, and is often specifically requested by other people to come along on vacation. She’s that charming.

Moral of the story? If you want to travel with the dog and the dog wants to travel with you – why not? You’d be surprised at how rewarding it is to bring a grateful, excited pup along for the ride. Not to mention sweet, shared memories with your furry friend!