I wanted to point out all the reasons that I love to travel with my two dogs, Caddy and Cairo. I don't wish to be biased so please add cat or bird in the appropriate bits (lol)

1. They make me laugh every day

2.I feel safe and secure at night on my own in the van

3.When I am travelling to a destination they make me stop more and smell the roses as I try to seek out lovely spots for them to have a run

4.I always have someone to listen to my ramblings. They really pay attention and try to understand what I am saying. their heads tilt from side to side, as they try to work it out. Very cute !!!

5.Dogs have a lot of patience

6.Dogs don't complain about my map reading skills, in fact they love it when we get lost. A new place to sniff! 

7.They keep me warm on cold nights. I often feel like I am the filling in a dog sandwich.

8.Strangers will talk to you when you have dogs

9. They make great conversation starters.

10.They make you exercise. There can be no procrastination when your pet needs to pee.

11. I will always feel needed and loved unconditionally when I have dogs.

12.Dogs reduce stress.

13.They help give me a routine when everything around me is foreign.

14.They eat the leftovers.

15.They will never back stab me, even if I do make stupid decisions and am a complete nutter at times.

16.Dogs have a natural sense of empathy and can sense my emotions. A loving head placed on my knee wins me over every time

17. Dogs live in the moment and remind me to do the same.

18. Dogs are a loyal friend for life no matter what is going down.

19. They give me someone to love unconditionally.

20. They stop me being lonely.  

So to all those people who think there are a lot of reasons not to travel with a dog. You are really missing out on the important stuff of life!!!!!! Can you add some of your own ? Love Lynne

Hi Betty, when I want to go to a national park I usually stay in caravan parks nearby and look around for someone else that has a dog. I ask them to do a swap of minding each others pet for the day . Most times they are really happy to do it as they are usually wondering what to do with their dog. Usually I find that I am only capable of a half day of wandering around before I need a Nanna nap anyway, so the girls aren't left very long at all. I use kennels sometimes, or if there are none available, the other thing I do is put both the girls into the groomer for half a day. They usually don't mind having them for a few extra hours and they always seem to need a haircut. Often vets will have facilities to mind dogs for a few hours. I sometimes combine that with a vet check or their vaccinations.(I only do this as a last resort as the girls hate the vet) Some caravan parks I have stayed at will mind your dog for a few hours at reception, I found this is in Alice and Uluru. In most towns there is usually someone that minds dogs in their homes for around 15 dollars a day. Most pet groomers will have the phone number of these dog minders. I don't really go to many National Parks and some of them like Kings Canyon now allow dogs into the caravan park within the National park. Don't let it stop you of having the joy of a doggy companion. There is always a way around it. Anyway happy travels, Lynne

Lynne,

Your 20 Reasons are so very true and summarise exactly why we love our dogs.

Di

Those are the 20 reasons why I miss my Denis.  He will be replaced but still too soon.

I love your 20 reasons and now will apply them to my argument to be able to take my cat callled  LITTLE PUSS he talks all day to me at home no way can i leave him behind. He has be desexed and now 4 yrs old  and part of the family.

Thanks linzeelou.

This is very encouraging to we newbies who hope to be able to take our pooch touring.

Cheers, Colin

That was great linzeelou & how true too. We have two small dogs, a Cairn terrier & a Bischon. They are the best of mates & they travel in our motor home so well. The Cairn loves to see out the windows so he sits on the back lounge with his harness attached to the seat belt & the Bischon either sits on Pam's lap, or behind her legs, also with her harness connected to the seat belt. We live in Adelaide & travel to QLD every year to see family there, one year we went up as far as Airly Beach. I would have loved to go on up to Cairns, but there are no places there that will take dogs so Cairns got a miss. Now our kids have got kids, the dogs are our new family & you treat them with the same love & affection that the kids got, & they return it in their own way with equal abundance & without reservations. Lets face it, if they cannot go, we do not go.

Baggie.

Lynne that's a lovely Post, and I can relate to all you have said.  My forever friend went over the rainbow bridge  a little over a year ago, he was just the best loving loyal dog and he would be at the door ready to jump in the car in a heartbeat.  As I would be driving he would press his head into the left side of my face and I would have the right side of my face pressed into the window lol, the more I told him to get back or lay down he thought it was play time.  Its taken me all this time to come to terms with losing him, but I'm so lucky to have had him for 15 years...... Kisha

Yes we traveld with our dogs to Darwin last year,and we found a lot of parks would not accomodate us.We are going back that way this year without our dogs this time. And will stay in dog friendly parks only.