August 14, 2014

I Planned a Trip with My Reactive Dog Before I Knew She Was Reactive

Ruby checking out the accommodations

Last fall's trip to the Mountain Goat Lodge  is something I've wanted to post about, happening as it did in my pre-blog days, and today seemed the perfect time since it coincides with Throwback Thursday. 

I planned this trip just a few weeks after adopting Ruby, before her reactivity really became apparent. It was an extension of a work trip, a dinner meeting in a small Colorado town, and I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to bond and spend some uninterrupted time with my new rescue dog. 


We took many walks in these foothills

By the time the trip rolled around, we'd decided to discontinue doggie daycare, been politely asked to withdraw from our group obedience class, and I was in full-on panic mode about what I'd gotten myself into with this challenging, high-energy dog. I was nervous about the trip and considered canceling, but thought a change of scenery might do us both some good. 

I packed her crate, dishes, all sorts of treats, food for several days, toys, antler chews, and the dog training book I was reading at the time, Control Unleashed. I didn't know what to expect, but I knew our destination was a family-run, dog-friendly bed and breakfast, and was determined to pull off this mini-vacation. 

Wrestling with Sookie

It was about a 3 1/2 hour drive and Ruby did some barking out the window at cyclists and motorcyclists. We arrived with just enough time to get settled before I had to go into town for my dinner meeting. Our room was homey and comfortable with a view of the Sawatch mountain range. The proprietors also had a goat farm, and we could hear them bleating from their pasture below. 

Ruby immediately buddied up to the owner's miniature Australian shepherd, Sookie. They had so much fun chasing each other around the fenced dog run and Sookie would come scratch on our door when she wanted to play. They were the same size and perfectly matched.

Goofy grin

I left Ruby in her crate while I was at the meeting, and I could hear her barking and whining as I went downstairs. I was gone for several hours and worried that she would not settle down. I didn't get any complaints when I returned, but as a dog-friendly establishment I think they had a high tolerance for that sort of thing. 

Some other guests had arrived, including a couple with a German Shepherd in the neighboring room. The dogs could see each other from our balconies and tended to set each other off. Ruby had trouble settling down that night, and I considered cutting our trip short, but the next morning was so beautiful that I decided to stay on. All things considered, Ruby was doing quite well and seemed to be having some fun. 

Incredible sunsets

I got some breakfast downstairs and visited with some of the other guests, then spent the day reading, taking Ruby for walks on the property and letting her play with Sookie and meeting the resident goats. Ruby was afraid of the goats, which is probably why I didn't get any pictures of them. 

We made a quick trip into town for some fast food that evening and took a stunning sunset walk. A man with three terriers arrived after dark and Ruby was very upset by them. I remember being discouraged during parts of the trip, thinking how such activities would be limited for us, but in hindsight knowing just how reactive she is, I think she did remarkably well.

Tuckered out at last

After another delicious home-cooked breakfast of goat-cheese omelet and fried potatoes, we left the next morning and Ruby said goodbye to her blue-eyed friend Sookie. As I packed up our things, one family was downstairs visiting about Game of Thrones while their teenage son played the piano. Another couple had arrived with a Great Dane and the atmosphere was one of camaraderie and leisure. I was reluctant to leave and wished we could stay a whole week, knowing that Ruby and I were both just starting to relax.

While traveling with a reactive dog is probably not something I will choose to do very often, with careful management and realistic expectations as well as dog-friendly businesses, I am happy to know that it can be done.

15 comments:

  1. I'm happy to hear it can be done too! That looks like such a lovely place, and I'm glad you and Ruby ended up enjoying it, even though you had some issues. Thank you for joining the hop again!
    Jan, Wag 'n Woof Pets

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    1. I was just visiting the Lodge's Facebook page, and now they have several little retro trailers in the surrounding woods, which would be even more perfect as there wouldn't be neighbor-dogs to contend with. We might have to take another trip...

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    2. That sounds ideal! I had gone and looked at their website and it looked so nice. I just went back and looked at the trailers...nice too! I wish we were within driving distance of CO!

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  2. It sounds like Ruby did pretty good on that trip considering it was her first and there was so much to bark at. I would bark at half of that stuff too. BOL!
    Hugs,
    Pepper

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  3. I'm glad Ruby had fun, and so did you. It's hard for us sometimes, having to balance what we think will be fun for the dogs, and what they actually find fun.

    The words that just broke my heart were about your being politely asked to leave group class. That happened to us too. The good new is, our dogs' feelings probably weren't hurt as much as ours.

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    1. So true, I think Ruby was happy to get out of that stressful situation, one that I think contributed to her barrier frustration. My new trainer, whose "group" class (two dogs) I'm attending with Boca, suggested private freestyle lessons that she does with her own reactive dog. I'm intrigued...

      Ruby still does get to travel quite a bit on the weekends I visit my horse, and aside from the car ride, she has a great time and gets to play with many of her dog friends.

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    2. I'm also happy you didn't cancel the trip! And that Ruby still gets to go fun places.

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  4. What a fantastic place. It looks so peaceful and relaxing
    Lily & Edward

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    1. It really was - I hope we can go back again sometime.

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  5. Considering how new you were in your relationship, it seems like you did great. Sookie's presence probably did a lot to help Ruby burn off some energy and might have also been a good model of calm in a new situation.

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    1. Sookie was a great help - I wanted to smuggle her home with us!

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  6. Boomer loves other dogs so I'm not sure if I'd call him reactive but he gets terribly upset when he's leash and can't greet another dog, he starts screaming like he's being murdered!

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    1. Ruby loves other dogs too and has never had an issue in a home or yard situation when everyone is loose but behind windows, in a car, behind a fence or on a leash are all another story...

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  7. Considering you planned this trip before you knew about Ruby's reactivity, I think you both did extremely well on this trip! It probably helped that it was such a dog-friendly establishment with a dog run, so the dogs could meet off-leash (which is Oz's issue - off-leash he is fine). The fact that Ruby bonded so well with Sookie and had positive interactions with her was great too! Oh...and let me just say the views in those photos are gorgeous. Who would not be able to relax in that setting?
    Thanks for joining the hop and sharing this story with us!

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  8. You are so fortunate that Ruby enjoys playing with other dogs. Sookie coming to the door to see if Ruby can play is adorable! It looks like they had a great time together. All in all, it seems like you both had a good trip. Btw, Rubicon was on the short list of names for my Min Pin, Aspen. Had it been selected, I planned on calling her Ruby:)

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