Two Week Trip

[Chip's Mom]

We have been invited to take a trip from TN to the Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, San Diego, Oregon and Yellowstone National Park with maybe a few stops in between. If we go, we will be gone for about 2 weeks - which is alot of miles and siteseeing crammed into 2 weeks. They don't mind if we take Chip so I am wondering - how hard do you think this would be on a young corgi to travel and sitesee for 2 weeks? We took him to Charleston & Florida and were gone almost a week and he did fine.The trip is planned for around Mid April to Mid May. My daughter has volunteered to take care of him but 2 weeks is a long time to leave him.

[jprechel]

I think if you want to take Chip with you then you should! You said he did fine when you traveled for a week. Plus think of all the great pictures you can take of Chip! Two weeks is a long time to be without a corgi. We were gone for only five days without Ace and I missed him like crazy. Just think, Chip will become a world traveler of sorts!

[corgimom]

Bonnie,

I think you should take Chip and just think...Chip could keep "a diary" to share with us when he gets back; I think he will have lots to tell us in "his own words" and he will be seeing everything from a much shorter view

[Michael Romanos]

My first reaction is that if you are travelling every day for 14 days and not spending two days anywhere in one place on more than two occasions, I would not want to take my Corgi along. Is the travel done by bus or private vehicle. Is the weather hot or just mild. Are there going to be Corgi exercise and stretching stops every hour or two.

The last big motor trip I did, we took our Corgi (not Taylor) and stayed at various motor camps apart for a hotel at the start of the holiiday but we did spend a couple of days at various towns and resorts along the way. I would not have liked to subject my Corgi to 14 days of constant travel.

[Chip's Mom]

Michael:

It will be by private vehicle and we will be stopping at various locations along the way. I have traveled many times with Dig all along the east coast (from Maine to Florida) and stops are made about every two hours and walking for exercise - Dig was always walked first and offered plenty of water before I did anything else and Chip gets the same treatment. My husband and I take turns watching him in Rest areas and gas stations. We are in a hotel by 6:00 - 8:00 at night and don't leave until 9:00 or so in the morning. No late hours for us - Las Vegas is mainly a stop to see the lights at night - they say that is beautiful so Chip would cruise the strip. I am a little concerned about the heat but I will have to investigate the temperatures. I am also concerned about leaving him for 2 weeks - there are pros and cons both ways. He wouldn't be left in a vehicle and we don't do museums, etc. that wouldn't allow Chip. My husband and I have carried Digger through museums, caverns, etc - rule of thumb is if he can't go - we don't go either. Dig even went on a lobster boat in Maine.

[Michael Romanos]

Bonnie - you have just talked yourself into it. How could YOU leave that lovely fellow behind. The heat is a big consideration because there are obvious places in the USA you can't take a dog - so when you park your car to go shopping etc there is the question: how long can I keep Chip in the car for until he gets very uncomfortable. Then there is the aspect of wanting to do adult human things like visiting gambling casinos etc (what else do you think I was gong to say)- what about leavng Chip for hours in strange places.

I have loved taking my Corgis on holidays and it has been part of the organising of them - there have been a few where it wasn't possible. So I'm all for it but conditions in the USA are sometimes different to those in NZ

[Chip's Mom]

Michael - You are probably right. The only thing is I am not a gambler so that is out of the question, I don't shop much unless it is roadside stands - I want authentic indian jewelry that you buy along side the road and Chip can look too. I would like to see a show in Las Vegas though. I wouldn't leave Chip for hours in a strange place - I would get to antsy BUT - I have never taken a dog on a 2 week trip before and I don't know if it would be good for him. Chip does love to ride though. My sister has had a stroke so there would have to be plenty of rest time. Has anyone ever taken their dog on a 2 week roadtrip?

[tandemgal]

deleted by T-Gal

[Chip's Mom]

That is an excellent idea - I hadn't thought of a baby gate. I never left Digger in a hotel room alone but I left Chip for about an hour in the afternoon and I put him up on the bed (it wasn't real high) and put the DND sign on the door and he was fine when I got back and still on the bed.We will be staying one night in Las Vegas and it may be 15 floors up (I am afraid of heights) but I can always take him out in the elevator at night if he has to go. We are taking a laptop. I know I would enjoy myself alot more if he is with me.

[Jespah]

I vote for taking Chip, Bonnie. Is he crate trained? He would be fine in a hotel room in his crate for a few hours. It's much harder to travel alone with a dog than when you have other people to help out. I think he would be fine and he would be the reason to stop frequently and see what's going on. I'd love to see "Where in the West is Chip today?".

[Chip's Mom]

Yes Chip is crate trained and his obedience lessons are going well. I am teaching him the wait command now and that would also be quite helpful.

[corgimom]

T-Gal,

You had some great suggestions and Yes, it would be fun to see "Where in the West is Chip today". We would sort of feel like we were on vacatin with him.

[Fluffypants]

WOW! That sounds like a GREAT trip! I want to go too!!!!! Definitely bring Chip - it will be great. It's obviously not your first trip with a dog, so I think you will be more than prepared. Enjoy!

[Chip's Mom]

Thanks for everyone's encouraging words - I think I will take Chip. I wouldn't enjoy it without him anyway.

[Checkers]

Well, there is also a slim possibility that we could be stationed at the Air Force Base (hubby is active duty AF) in Las Vegas by that time next year. If that's the case then you would certainly have a willing Chip-sitter while you caught a show. There are a few casino's that you won't want to miss seeing, even if you don't gamble! I don't gamble either, but we went there two years ago and spent about 4 days just walking around trying to see stuff... and we still didn't get to see all we wanted. For sure you don't want to miss the inside of Caesar's palace, or the water and lights show outside at the Belagio. We really liked the lion exhibit at MGM Grand also...

Sorry, got a little off topic there. Anyhow... I would definitely bring Chip. If he is used to a crate then that would be great in hotel rooms when you had to leave him for a short time. That's what I would have to do with Checkers I think.. but I know how much Checkers loves his crate too! I bet you'll have a terrific trip... and if we're still stationed here in Utah and you come through we'd be happy to meet you!

-Cheryl