These two topics often go hand in hand. To show your dog you need to be where the dog show is taking place. Some lucky owners will be located near where the action is, while others will have to travel to participate. Those seriously campaigning their dog will want to travel to those important events around the country. In my case I was planning to be on holiday in the vicinity of a prestigious terrier event:
Great Western (held in Long Beach California).
To start with, traveling with your canine companion requires some forethought. What method of travel will you choose? Car or
Plane or? In our case it was by camper. If, as we did, you choose to drive, you need a detailed travel plan that allows for rest stops, water breaks and general stretch your legs type breaks --well away from the speeding traffic. If you are passing through an area you are unfamiliar with be alert for hazards. On this trip we watched for poison oak and multitude of burrs and clingy things. A while back on a similar theme, I read a posting form a dog owner who inadvertently led her dog into a nest of fire ants during a roadside rest stop! Finally, you will need to plan for safety in your vehicle, highway driving may require crating, as seat belts are a bit restrictive for repositioning on these longer drives.
Next where will you stay? Both enroute and during the show? Many hotels do not take dogs ( Hotel Search - Do they accept pets?) and those that do near the show site fill up quickly. Best to plan well ahead to reserve your spot. Cool Pet Stuff for Dogs provides a collection of travel gear (Maggie and Rosie covet a couple of these items!) and a number of books on the best places stay when travelling with your dog. The premium (show entry form) usually also lists hotels near the show as well as details of how to camp at the site.
Camping provided us with the best of both worlds: a chance for leisurely travel and a flexible place to stay once we arrived. Drawbacks, not experienced by those choosing to stay in a hotel, included where to bath the dogs to get them ready for their event? Most cities now have U-Wash grooming which could be your answer. In our case, this time, we conveniently knew someone near the show to visit for a doggie bath and grooming session the day before the event.
