Vent: My dog's breakdown on a road trip to the coast

Last fall, I took my dog, Scout, on a drive to the coast for a few days. I assumed he would handle it well since he's calm at home. Once we hit the busy highway, he began shaking and drooling non-stop. We had to pull over three times in two hours just to soothe him. At the motel, he refused to come inside and hid under the car. It turned into a whole ordeal that ruined the first day. I now know that gradual exposure to car rides is crucial. I start with quick trips to the store and slowly increase the time. Trust me, a little prep saves a lot of hassle on the road.

3 comments

Log in to join the discussion

Log In

3 Comments

maxm357mo ago

Never assume home calm means travel ready.

8

emeryn587mo ago

Oh man, my dog acts like the car is a torture device too. I once tried a "fun" ride and she drooled enough to fill a cup. Guess we're both learning the hard way, huh?

7

the_harper7mo ago

Exactly! It's wild how often we project what we think is fun onto other creatures. We see a car ride or a new toy and assume they'll get the same buzz we do. But their whole world is built on different senses and fears. You see it with pets, little kids, even plants in the wrong spot. Really makes you step back. Everyone's just wired with their own private version of what's scary or safe.

3