Home Again, Home Again

The trip is done. We pulled it out in 14 hours yesterday. Winston was good on the final stage; it's funny how naturally he's adjusted to going for rides. He learned to stick his nose out the window, to climb up front for air conditioning, and to hop in and out of the car. Today he has completely slid back into his regular routines--he saw a couple of friends in the park on our morning walk, and is sleeping by the fridge as usual.
If you're planning to go on a long trip with your dog, there are a few things I would recommend, based on this trip.
1. Know your dog. This goes without saying, but if you're going to ask an animal to ride for 12+hours in a confined space, really pay attention to his behavior. He'll tell you when he's thirsty, needs to stop, etc. Be aware if the backseat climate is different than the front as well, and be patient if he gets antsy. Also bring toys/treats. If you don't have a Kong, get one! Best toy ever.
2. Keep up your expectations. It was easy for us to relax more while we were away, since both our homes have yards and other animals. However, I think that the lack of routines was what led to our scare in TN (see previous post). After that we got a lot more strict again with our role as "pack leader", and saw a visible change. We should have been taking him on leashed walks more than we did as well. That habit is invaluable for mental discipline.
3. Be patient. Remember that your dog is in a foreign environment, so he can be anything from curious to scared. Just continue to offer gentle corrections, same as you would at your own home. If he rolls in poop, just wash him off. It's normal. ;)
Thanks again to our families for their hospitality and willingness to keep Winston as well!

Boat Day

Yesterday we spent the day on the Lake. Tim's Ford Marina in Winchester, TN allows you to rent a pontoon boat and bring a dog aboard for only an additional $25. Winston had a big day! He has been sailing before, thanks to our local dog walkers, Brooklyn Bark, so he was excited to be at the Marina.
All in all it was a good day. Winston swam twice, both times in his life jacket. The first time though, he fell in! Poor boy.
We're realizing that it's time for Winston to get back to his home and his routine. Between the scare the night before and his general demeanor, I'd say that this pup is about ready to be done with adventuring. Departure for NYC is Tuesday, so at this point it's almost time to say goodbye.

Terror on a Summer Night

Last night was the Worst Moment of the Trip. Prayerfully it will not be topped. Winston went outside with my father, no big deal, and...decided to run into the street. Mind you, my parents live on a very busy street, and in fact we have had two dogs and three cats killed by being hit by cars just in front of the house. So my terror was well founded and very deep. Dad reported that he ran across the street and then back into the road, where an oncoming car stopped in time and honked.
Readers, I have been singing my pup's praises for most of this blog, but I will tell you: he is VERY willful, and he does not listen well to people other than husband and me. It's a common trait of Corgis to be strong personalities and bold, and if you've thought of getting one you should know that they're not meek lap-dogs. This was a nearly deadly situation, and I cannot put words to how thankful I am that my pup is unhurt.
Since this incident, I think it goes without saying that he must be on leash outside at all times. We'll proceed with much more caution from now on. Today is a boat day though, so on to happier times!

TX to TN

Winston spent ten days playing almost nonstop with my FIL's two dogs. The 100+ degree heat didn't deter them from chasing and face-chewing all day long. So when we loaded up at 9 am Wednesday morning, Winston realized what was going on. The first half hour of the drive had him whining in the backseat.
I would say overall this was the most "difficult" leg of the trip for Winston, but in saying that it really wasn't bad. He whined more and wanted to come and sit on my lap more than usual--that was because he wanted the air conditioner on his face. Even with the air going all day, the sun was brutally hot coming down on us. We stopped to eat around 3 in Texarkana, and just sitting outside at the rest stop was an ordeal! Winston chomped on carrots and ice cubes whilst we dined.
Arrival in Nashville was at 11:30pm. Over the past day and a half Winston has resumed play with the cat and accompanied me on some errands and to the park. He's such an easy going boy!

Progress in TX, aka The Hottest Place Ever

Hyperbole? Nah. So there's been very little road-tripping in Winston's life over the last couple days. The only other time he's been in the car is to go to my mother-in-law's house, where he met Gidget, her dog. Poor Gidget is a rescue and has been through a lot in her life, so she was mostly just terrified of the meeting. Winston for his part ignored her mostly, chased her like a cat for a second, and made himself at home with her toys and chew sticks. Spoiled.

The thing I will note about this is the need for water. Even for a 30 minute drive, we really should've packed a bottle in this heat. Not travelling via car normally, we didn't really pack his bag like we do when going around Brooklyn. Not a good idea! Luckily MIL had fresh water on hand and waiting for him--shoutout to her for that! Thanks Cindy!

Arrival in TX

Winston has been in heaven since we parked! The in-laws have two dogs and a fenced in yard. He immediately inserted himself into the pack, and has been running and playing with them, despite the heat even, every moment he can. He especially likes the year-and-a-half old girl, Tina. Immediate best friends!

Second Stage--TN to TX

Sunday morning we departed Nashville at 6am. Winston didn't want to go in the car--he made Husband chase him around the perimeter of the house! But we got him and loaded him up. He didn't complain once we were rolling.

This drive is two things: 1) a lot less pretty, and 2) a LOT more hot. The exterior thermometer on the car read 106 starting around 10am. Because of this, our stops had to be shorter and less playful for Winston. Fortunately, two days of sniffing around the house in TN had worn him out, because he slept a larger part of the day. He didn't eat breakfast again, but he didn't say no to snacks from our lunch! We also noticed on this drive that he desired a lot more water. We had packed a lot of bottles of it, so that was okay. He took water from his sport-cap bottle at every stop, plus drank from his travel bowl in the car.

The other habit that he was much more interested in this time was being "with" us, meaning sitting in my lap up front. This was achieved rather comically by me laying back the passenger seat, and him climbing onto it and down to my lap. Also, this was the trip when he hung his head out the window for the first time--too cute!

Arrival in TX was 8pm. Another easy trip.

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