Hi, I’m Allison! Read my introduction to learn more about me and my three mixed-breed dogs from Thailand, Jelly, Lorraina, and Manic.

Parents need to plan a great deal before taking their young children in a car on a trip, whether it is just a 30-minute trip to the store or a couple of hours to the next state. They need to make sure they have snacks, bottles or sippy cups, toys, electronic devices, diapers…it’s a lot!

Surely, putting my dogs in a car will be much easier, right? Eh.

While it is not the same as with children, preparing my dogs for a car ride definitely takes some planning.

Setting Up the Truck

The first thing we always need to do before getting the trio in the truck is get the dog hammock put it in. This hammock is fantastic as it has a sturdy platform, allowing Manic and Jelly to move about without slipping to the floor.

Lorraina, the smallest of the three, gets to sit up front. We have a doggy seat for her, soft and covered in fleece. However, she prefers to try to sit on my lap. Lorraina is an odd size: she is too big to be a small dog and too small to be a medium dog. Most doggy car seats are too small for her, but for safety, we found one she can comfortably sit in but not curl up.

All the dogs have harnesses and doggy “seat belts.”

We also have the widows marked with a small piece of tape so we know how much to roll them down. Manic was born to be a “stick-his-head-out-of-the-window” dog. Jelly will do it occasionally. I love that even in her senior years, she wants to try something new.

All the Supplies? Check!

Once the hammock, doggy seat, and seat belts have been secured, we make sure we have the rest of the supplies.

• Collapsible water dishes
• Extra water
• Poop bags
• Two spare leashes
• Towel
• First aid kit
• Treats

Whew! Even for a 10-minute drive to the park, we need to be prepared for anything. One time, Manic decided that tromping through mud would be the BEST idea before getting in the truck. Gross. Another time, one of our retractable leashes broke at the start of the walk, so we had to put the broken one on the slowest dog, my senior girl, Jelly. Basically, it is a good idea to be prepared for anything, even if you are planning a simple 45-minute walk.

Securing the Dogs Before We Hit the Road

Now comes the fun part: getting the dogs in the car. Oh boy.

First, we put Manic in the car as he is the most excited to hit the road. The truck is quite high off the ground but Manic manages to jump in the back seat on the hammock. Once he is clipped in, next comes Jelly. She needs to be lifted into the truck. Jelly usually stays on the left side and Manic on the right. However, Manic will often run from window to window, bumping into Jelly, who will let out a disgruntled yip about having her personal space invaded by a drooling maniac.

Last is Lorraina. She cannot be picked up because she hates it, so I try to hoist her as gently as I can to the front seat. Then, she needs to be hoisted into her dog seat. And THEN (yes, it keeps going), my husband and I lift Lorraina in her seat to secure it between us. Once she is harnessed, we can get on the road.

One More Thing…

WAIT! We forget the most important thing: the windows. How dare we forget the windows? Manic’s whining and pacing reminded us that he needed to safely allow the wind to blow through his fur, flap his lips, and let the drool fly. And despite her old age, Jelly liked to stick her head for a few moments just to see what the fuss was about. Once the windows are rolled down safely enough to let them stick their heads out, we are ready to get the party started.

Lorraina is denied an open window since she is seated between us. She does not seem interested, though. Instead, she pays attention to the road ahead with an unwavering stare, subconsciously telling us to be mindful of the speed limit and oncoming traffic.

Let the journey commence.