Dogs Who Travel

By Susan Farewell

Years ago, I shared an apartment in NYC with a model who divided her time between Manhattan and Ibiza, Spain. She traveled between the two frequently and always with Felicia, her beloved black pug. It was not easy, as Felicia did not like flying, but absolutely nothing could stop my roommate from taking her .

For those of us with pets, parting with them every time we go someplace really pulls at the heart strings. I know people who don’t travel because of their dogs and I know people who Skype with their dog-sitters so they can “visit” while on the road.

Then there are those who do whatever they have to so they can travel with their dogs. Some plan their stays around pet-friendly hotels, others choose trips that are specifically designed to include dogs. The dog on our home page and above, Sage, is enjoying a Paddle and Paws Rafting trip with Rogue Wilderness Adventures. For three days, a small group of dog owners and their dogs, raft and walk Oregon’s Rogue River Canyon, camping at night. Not a bad life.

Sage is reaping the benefits of being well connected. Her owners (Josh and Stephanie Kelleher) are river guides for the company. Still, the ultimate adventure dog, she does not let grass grow under her paws. She has traveled extensively, especially in the Pacific Northwest.

Here, we introduce you to nine other US-based dogs who are frequent travelers. They'll go anywhere and don't even need a map. Some of these dogs are in and out of airports. Others prefer to travel by car. Some are puppies, others are getting up there in years. Some easily fit in carry-on bags, others not so. The common denominator? Their owners take them with them as often as they can. Why? Well, one owner, Jane Turner, summed it up beautifully, "It makes us all happy."

Bear

Pictured here in Siesta Key, 9 months old

Owners: Sarah Evans and Eric Thelen

Breed: Maltipoo
Hometown: New York, NY
Has traveled to/in: New York, New Jersey, California, Connecticut, Florida and Virginia
Favorite destination: Siesta Key, Florida

Bodie

Name is short for "Over Under's Bodacious Too"

Owner: Janet Fullwood
Breed: Brittany
Hometown: Sacramento, Calif.

Has traveled to/in: He was born in Minneapolis and as a field-trial competitor has traveled in California, Arizona, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Nevada and Montana.

Favorite destination: A ranch in northeastern Montana.

Note: Bodie's owner is the editor of DogTrekker, a soon-to-be-launched website

devoted to things to do and places to go with dogs in Northern California.

Bailey

Owners: Greg Kruczynski and Emily Yourd

Breed: Australian Shepherd

Hometown: Hamilton, NY

Has traveled to/in: New York State, Vermont, Massachusetts, Washington, DC, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and places in between.

Favorite destination: The Colgate University Boathouse (around the crew team) and anywhere else the truck is going.

Note:  Bailey is four years old and has only spent one weekend away from her owners during that time. She has never been kenneled as they prefer only to travel to dog-friendly places.

LouLou Gentil-Shio

In French, LouLou is a nickname for Louis. Pictured here at Newark Liberty International Airport.

Owners: Yves Gentil and Paul Shio

Breed: Havanese
Hometown: New York, NY
Has traveled to/in: Fire Island in the Summer (every weekend) and Miami in the winter (once a month)

Favorite destination: Miami, especially walking on Lincoln Road and highly recommends dogbar in South Beach.

Cody or Codyman

Owner: Carol Bower

Breed: Catahoula Leopard hound

Hometown: Bala Cynwyd, PA

Has traveled to/in: Throughout the northeast.

Favorite destination: Craftsbury, Vermont

Cooper

Owner: David Loesch

Breed: Yellow Lab

Hometown: South Salem, New York

Has traveled to/in: New England

Favorite destination: Beaches of Cape Cod, Massachusetts

Georgia

Owners: Janine and Anthony Cifelli

Breed: Labrador Retriever

Hometown: Toms River, New Jersey

Has traveled to/in: Vermont and upstate NY (Just getting started, though. She's a tad over 4 months old).

Favorite destination: The beach in Mantoloking Shores, New Jersey

Mikey

Pictured here at the Four Seasons Westlake Village, California

Owner: Stacy Small

Breed: Maltipoo

Hometown: Brentwood, California

Has traveled to/in: California, Florida, Arizona

Favorite destination: Palm Desert, California

Dozer

Pictured here, being "smuggled" into a wine tour in the Finger Lakes region of New York State.

Owner: The Turner Family

Breed: Shih-tzu (Dozer recently went blind but continues to work as a therapy dog and travels domestically)

Hometown: Ridgefield, Connecticut

Has traveled to: Florida, Illinois, Ohio, New York State