Travelling with elderly dogs Forums

patnles

I was wondering if any of you good people travel with elderly dogs and do you manage to see much of any of the places you visit?
We have had our MH for 3 years and due to health reasons we have not been able to use it much. This year we were hoping to get out a bit more but our labrador is now 14 and 1/2 and suffers with arthritis so although she is on medication she isn't really up to walking any distance. We even have to try and pitch as close to the dog walk as possible. A 1/2 mile walk takes 30 mins :(She does enjoy her walks but she gets slower by the day.
The idea of towing a car scares the hell out of me and I think I would rather drive the car than tow it. Does anyone else do this?
Dog is happy just to sleep all day and we would always put her first but we're finding MH'ing not as much fun as we had anticipated. We need to find lots of sites with a beach, (I have a need to be near the sea) a pub and a supermarket, all within doggy walking distance (1/4mile). Any suggestions? Smile

Lesley

Zebedee · Moderator

Our old Lucy wasn't as big as a Lab. She was a Welsh Terrier, and she also loved her walks.

I got an old McClaren Buggy and pulled off the seat and other bits I didn't want. I then made a box to fit where the seat had been and installed an old spare basket in it, with plenty of padding for the ancient bones.

She absolutely loved it because she could still go for a walk and get all the sniffs, but after a couple of hundred yards she would stop and ask to get in the buggy for a while. When she felt better she would ask to get out again for another little stagger.

It makes me feel very sad to remember and write this, but it did mean she could still have her walks for the last couple of months of her life, and she didn't have to be carried home. She was heavy enough after 100 yards, and you couldn't even think of carrying a Lab.

I'm very glad I did it, because it gave her so much pleasure at the end of her life.

Regards

**LadyJ** · National Rally Co-ord

Hi patnles,

Can't say we found it difficult traveling with elderly dogs but then ours were small dogs and we could carry them, mind you did make your arms ache so I used to put them in the shopping trolley and push them around Laughing

and if we went out on the bikes they would sit in the basket.
Not much use for a Lab though, but you can get doggie trolleys that come in all sizes also doggie carriers that you can fit onto a bike and tow them behind you, they all collapse for transporting in the motorhome.

As to towing a car if on an A frame you don't know its there, we were worried about it but after the first time out with it we stopped worrying and forgot about it Laughing

One thing I wouldn't do is go without the dogs, the kids yes, the dogs no Laughing

As to beach sites

patnles

Thanks Dave,
I too felt sad reading your post. I get quite upset when I watch Elsa struggling up the stairs to bed at night (she sleeps at the side of our bed). She stops to have a rest on each of the landings on the way up but I couldn't carry her. I have to come up behind her as her back legs give way occasionally.
She was such an active dog, coming from a family of working gun dogs and she regularly walked six miles a day with me and then jogged for 3 miles a day with Pat when he came home from school. I feel so sad for her now but she has had wonderful fun packed life Very Happy

I don't have so much of a problem with her at home as I can put her in the car and park by the canal and walk as far as she wants, but when we're away in the MH we're finding it more of a problem.
I love your idea of a doggy buggy but not sure how or if that would work for a lab. Getting her into it would be interesting Laughing

I'll have to give that some thought.

litcher

My labrador is nearly 13 and has arthritis, is almost totally deaf and has a partially paralysed larynxz. He's quite happy but isn't up to stairs any more. He's one of the big labradors, with a huge head and although he's very trim he weighs over 6 stone. I'm afraid he wouldn't be able to get in and out of the motorhome, I can't lift him and he hates the ramp - that's only for vet's visits when I have no option.

We used to take him camping in the tent and folding camper, but nowadays he goes to my sister's for his holidays. He gets spoilt rotten and loves going there. He sleeps most of the day now and can't walk any distance - the vet said he should be allowed to potter and enjoy what's left of his retirement. Sad

My cairn's nearly 9, so she's ok. At least when she gets old she'll still be able to come with us as I can lift her. Smile

Viv

patnles

Thanks Jaquie,
The bike thing is out I'm afraid. Pat has one in the MH but I am a danger to myself and other road users Embarassed

Now if we could get a trailer that Elsa and I could sit in and attach that to Pat's bike....that would be good Laughing

I could still give directions and advice from there Laughing

A doggy trolley[/B]may[B] be ok, but Elsa weighs about 5 stones and then there's the weight of the trolley.
I like the idea of having the car with us. You say it's easy to tow. What if you have to reverse? It's bad enough reversing 7meters of MH down a country lane or in a car park surrounded by cars Shocked

The thought just scares the hell out of me.
I Like the look of that site in Portsmouth. We already have a handful of sites that we know are Elsa friendly but we need more.

Viv...Elsa is also totally deaf and her eyesight is going too, although she can still see a little. She was able to get in and out of the MH through the cab doors, but needed a little help and guidance. She hasn't been in it since last August so I'm hoping she can still manage it.
She frets every time OH has to go into hospital or if I go away for a w/e so leaving her with someone isn't an option either.
We just need to find lots of sites that would be old dog freindly Smile

dcmo

Our elderly Golden struggled to walk far in his last months but hated being left behind.

This worked for us... he walked a bit, rode a bit, walked a bit etc.

Its a bike trailer for children and folds flat for transport in the 'van.

dcmo

lindyloot

Hi we have a 17year old Yorkie, she sleeps most of the day. When we went away at Christmas in the MH I brought a special carrier for her a bit like a baby carrier you wear like a ruc sac on your front ( from outward Hound) She is also going deaf, blind ( has careracts) and is incontinent as the medication for this upsets her she wears newborn baby nappies ( they have been a godsend )if we have to leave her in the MH while we go out or when we are a sleep at night I know there will be no little accidents. Apart from that she has a strong heart and eats well and likes her cuddles.
Lin

patnles