What does a dog need to backpack around Europe?

We haven't blogged in a few weeks.  That's because we've been very busy with trip planning!  In today's post, Dazzle the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel will share what she is packing for a three month journey around the United Kingdom and Portugal.  She can't type, so I'll blog as she dictates. 

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Hello, my name is Dazzle and I love to travel with my mommy!  Sometimes it's in our motorhome, sometimes in our car, and sometimes by plane.  She wants me to be safe, so I travel in my Sturdibag Pro 2.0 in bright red, to match her Miata convertible.  It squishes under the seat in front of her when we are flying, and a seatbelt can be securely fastened through its loops when driving.  I have a size large even though I only need a medium...I am a petite lady.  But it will be my bed and my home on our journey, and she wanted me to have extra room to stretch out.  I like it so much that I frequently hang out in it at home, and I love to take naps in it.

Squished under a seat on a JetBlue flight

Hanging out in my Sturdi at home

You might wonder why mommy isn't bringing my stroller.  I love being wheeled around in it, at the perfect height for admiration and pats from strangers, and it has a cupholder for mommy's adult beverages.  After much research, she learned that Europe has lots of cobblestone streets, steep narrow stairways, and crowded public transportation, which would make the stroller a hassle.  Mommy is glad that I only weigh 12 pounds for the times she will have to carry me in my Sturdi.

Here is a list of the other things I plan to bring.  I hope there's still a little room left for mommy's stuff in her Rick Steves' Rolling Backpack!  She asked me to mention that it was recommended by her real good friends over at Geeks On Tour. You should check out their YouTube show and their blog. They gave her tons of great advice on what tech to pack for our trip, but she said the tech packing list is for another blog.  This post is all about ME! ME! ME!

Let's talk about walking.  I have a JoyRide harness (previously known as Pug Life) and a hands-free leash from DayDog Designs with a poop bag holder hanging from the D-ring.  Speaking of DayDogs, mommy always puts a snood over my long luscious ears when I eat, and the very best ones come from Snoods by DayDogs.  Pro tip: the hoods on doggy raincoats are useless...get a waterproof snood from DayDogs for those rainy days!

Mommy doesn't want my beautiful white paws to get dirty, so she never walks me on blacktop or streets unless I am wearing my Walkee Paws.  People giggle when they see me, but my white feet stay white, they don't get burned on pavement or soaked on wet grass, and I don't get burrs between my precious little toes.  Mommy said you get 15% off if you use the code DEBBY25347 on their website. Here's a little video of me wearing them on a fundraising walk for the American Cancer Society.

I have Walkee Paws in many colors and my feet are always clean. Mommy just noticed she put my front right paw in wrong. Oops!

 
I LOVE to eat...of course I do, I'm a spaniel!  We can't carry much food with us, although mommy will pack a few days of dehydrated food for when we can't get to a store.  I might have to eat canned dog food purchased just one or two cans at a time, so we are bringing a tiny can opener, and a lightweight titanium spork.  I'll be eating and drinking from my collapsible bowls.  

Mommy read that I have to have a muzzle on public transportation.  She also read that it isn't enforced, so she bought a Baskerville Ultra Dog Muzzle, recommended by Absolutely Pawsitive Canine (voted Louisiana's Best Dog Trainer in Louisiana 2022 by Sniffspot), "just in case" I'm made to wear it.  It makes me look like this movie star.

I think I look like this movie star.

My snout is too short for this size, but Mommy kept it anyway because it is made extremely well and the straps fit my skull.  The hair on my ears got messed up putting it on so I hope I never really have to wear it.

We will be bringing just a few grooming tools to keep me pretty...a comb, a brush, and my nail clipper.  She is also packing a small amount of shampoo for me, as well as a spray bottle of kin+kind to keep the bitey critters off.  

I get to pick out one toy to bring with me out of my huge collection!  Decisions, decisions.  

We learned that May 6, our last night on the Queen Mary 2, will be the coronation of King Charles III.  Mommy said I am the REAL King Charles.  Cavalier King Charles, that is.  

Debby here, hoping you enjoyed Dazzle's first post. I'm sure she'll be writing a few more during our upcoming journey.  Next up:  what we are packing for tech!  Be sure to scroll down to subscribe to get notifications of future blogs.