Bearnard here. I want to tell you the story of our vacation. Someone thought it might be a good idea to take us on vacation with the family this year. Mom had been training us for months to ride nicely in the car with seat belts in the back seat (the blue straps). The first leg of the trip was from Annapolis, Maryland to Raleigh, North Carolina. That was about 5 hours. We did great. It was not Mom’s fault that Hurricane Debby was traveling with us. It rained 80% of the way. But we finally took a break in the drizzle and smelled some new stuff in a picnic area. Then we got to Aunt B in Raleigh and met her and her cat, Gracie (who did not like us much). It was our first time in a hotel and Jolie was terrified of the elevator. Mom had to carry her in and out.
We also hated all the noise in the hotel and I especially went crazy when people were making noise in the hall late at night. Mom did not get much sleep because she had to leave the TV on all night to try and keep me calm. We really liked being on the back of the couch in the hotel room and we took turns looking out the window at the parking lot.
The next day we got back in the car for another 3-hour drive to Sunset Beach in North Carolina. Mom had a nice apartment for all of us to stay in and we took lots of walks around the property. However, Jolie started to get really sick after a day or 2. Mom emailed the vet who said to put her on the usual rice and chicken tummy diet and try some CBD chews. She thought it was stress. She had already planned for me to take more of my stress medicine (which I live on anyway) but she thought Jolie would be ok. Then V figured out it was the WATER. Mom drinks bottled water all the time, so why not us! Once we switched to bottled water, in 48 hours she was much better. Mom never brought us to the ocean beach because we were having so much trouble just on land.
After a week we were back in the car but this time for a 9-hour drive: it was horrible. About 5 hours in, I could not deal with being in the back seat any longer and needed to be upfront with Mom. Finally, Mom gave in and let me be in the front (against her better judgment). She always has the passenger front airbag turned off because she worries about us being in the front if there is a car accident. The airbags would kill us instantly she thinks.
Did you know humans cannot pee at the rest stops along the highway with their animals. They actually have guards sitting there to make sure that people don’t bring their animals in with them even in the 100-degree weather. So Mom has special signs for the car. She carries 2 car keys with her and locks us in with the air conditioning and radio on. She puts signs on the windows because she drives a hybrid and people can’t hear the engine and figure we are in trouble. (DO NOT LEAVE YOUR DOG IN A HOT CAR – EVER!!!!)
Mom also downloaded an app for her iPhone called ‘iEXIT.’ This tells her where stores are off exits on major roads. This way she was prepared to stop at a PET STORE or HARDWARE STORE because they allow animals to be inside (so we could go to the potty with her). It is terrible that she can’t just go under a tree like we do.
Truthfully, we love being with the family, but can you leave us with a pet sitter next year. It was exhausting!
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤ 
DogDaz Zoo 
chihuahuagirl3
August 28, 2024 at 13:09
This is so cute!!!! I had to switch to bottled water a few months ago too, because several of my cats started throwing up every morning. They usually drink water when they first get up. Then I feed them breakfast. I thought maybe they were just drinking too much water too fast. It took me a while to realize they weren’t the problem. It was the tap water. I’ve always filled their water bowls with tap water, but the city must have done something to it recently that was making them ill. I always drink bottled water because the chlorine in our tap water is so strong in it makes my stomach hurt. Once I switched to tap water for the kitties no more upset tummies. Yay!!! 😻
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DogDaz
August 28, 2024 at 13:10
I never really thought about it for the animals. But it makes a lot of sense. So glad you figured it out too.
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chihuahuagirl3
August 28, 2024 at 13:22
It does, doesn’t it?! I still can’t believe that I didn’t make this connection sooner. I mean, if I can’t drink the water, why in the world would I give it to my precious furbabies? lol!!! But I’m glad I finally came to my senses. No more being awakened at 4:00am by the sound of a cat throwing up. I don’t know about your pups, but my cats never throw up once and done. It’s always 4 places scattered around several rooms, which means I have to get up and get to them ASAP, so I won’t have to hunt for these wet spots. lol!!!
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DogDaz
August 28, 2024 at 14:44
There is the universal understanding of that cat sound. Best to get up ^..^
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chihuahuagirl3
August 29, 2024 at 07:38
lol!!!!! Ain’t that the truth? 😹😹😹
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derrycats
August 28, 2024 at 13:19
So sorry the pups found traveling stressful! I’m very fortunate that my pup, Gracie, is a fantastic traveler and isn’t bothered by anything. But our pup Ace would be a whole other story- more like yours! He stays home with the pet sitter and he likes it that way.
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DogDaz
August 28, 2024 at 13:20
I have had only a few good travelers. It is nice when they can.
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Genevieve Petrillo
August 28, 2024 at 13:22
Your mom is brilliant taking that car sign along. Whenever Mom and I used to take road trips, I was always allowed inside the rest stop bathroom. How rude to be treated like animals! Ugh. Hotels are the best. I’m happy you had such an exciting vacation. And yes – you should certainly be drinking bottled water. #notjustforhumans
Love and licks,
Cupcake
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DogDaz
August 28, 2024 at 13:23
You are so lucky. Route 95 is mean to animals.
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easyweimaraner
August 29, 2024 at 03:06
guess what? the phenny did the same in pawris with the elevator… and after our dad carried him to the 6th floor, he started to sniff around because he forgot to pee… so play it again sam ;o)))
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DogDaz
August 29, 2024 at 06:14
Oh no! Those are scary things.
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