CL Dog Blog trip to Sanna and Mull part 1
My previous post on my CL Dog photography FB page was about going away on holiday and what to think about when we are leaving our dogs with friends, family or in kennels.
What about if we take our dogs with us on holiday? Do you take your dog?
I often take Kaira and recently had a great weekend trip to the Isle of Mull via Sanna bay on the Ardnamurchan peninsula. We will get onto that in a minute but first some things to think about when going on a road trip with your beloved dog.
When I am planning a trip with Kaira I need to take into account her diet (raw meat or tuna) and eating routines as well as everything else listed below. Being a red setter she is classed as a deep chested dog and with that comes some additional requirements. Our routine since being a pup is to wait 30 minutes after any walk or exercise before eating her meal from a raised feeder and then 2 hours of calm/ quiet time after eating to help prevent Bloat (Gastric Dilatation and Volvulus) which is essentially a build up of gasses in their stomach. Bloat can cause their stomach to twist/ flip on itself which in turn cuts off the blood supply to the dogs digestive organs and can be fatal if not noticed and treated with emergency surgery asap. Our routine hopefully prevents any such issues occurring but it can be extremely restrictive when planning holidays and days out etc.
Driving with pets is covered under Rule 57 of the Highway Code that states: “When in a vehicle make sure dogs or other animals are suitably restrained so they cannot distract you while you are driving or injure you, or themselves if you stop quickly.”
There are four main options for keeping your dog safe when travelling by car:
Pet carriers. These work well for smaller dogs. They are portable and lightweight so they are easier to manoeuvre than a metal crate. Place them in the boot of the car, if it is not a saloon car, otherwise on the backseat.
Dog crates. These work particularly well if you have already crate trained your dog. It keeps them safe while giving them a sense of security when travelling. If you chose a crate, make sure it is big enough for your dog to stand and turn around.
Pet-safety harness. There are many options on the market suitable for all sizes of dog. Effectively, these are dog seat belts! Most are harnesses fitted to your dog and then clipped into existing seatbelts, allowing your dog to sit on the back or front seat of your car. If they sit in the front seat, make sure you de-activate the airbags on the passenger side.
Dog guards. These metal grills fit in between the boot of your car and the back passenger seats. They give your dog the freedom of the boot space but keep them safely contained within that area.
When you head off on a road trip, keep your dog happy and comfortable:
Stop regularly to give them a leg stretch and a chance to relieve themselves. Offer them fresh water each time you have a break as it can get hot in your car.
Dogs may appreciate air conditioning to help keep them cool. But don't point it directly at their face as it can be very uncomfortable for your dog. If you open your window, make sure your dog cannot jump out or stick its head out in case you hit any foliage on your journey. It could seriously injure them.
If they are nervous travellers, give them their favourite comfort toy or blanket to help them settle.
Never leave your dog in the car when it is sunny or on a warm day. Even in winter months or on cloudy days, the heat from the sun can be deceptive. Dogs can get heatstroke very quickly, which can be fatal. If in doubt, take your dog out of the car. Don't risk it.
Make sure you have plenty of water for the dog to drink.
We set off nice and early to avoid the heat of the day as the forecast was for a rather warm and sunny weekend. Our first stop was about 2 hours into the journey stopping off at Glencoe village for a break, not only for Kaira to stretch her legs and have a toilet break but for some delightful coffee and cake at Crafts and Things coffee shop. It is dog friendly too which is a bonus. They also have a great range of framed and mounted artwork for sale as well as the obvious crafts and things in the craft shop.. It has become a bit of a tradition to stop here on the way North as the food is good and reasonably priced and it is dog friendly.
Kaira outside Crafts and Things and the magnificent views to the Pap of Glencoe
Our next stop from here was a mere 7 miles or so along the road and a short ferry trip across Loch Linnhe on the Corran ferry from Nether Lochaber to Ardgour. The ferry costs £10 for a car with passengers and takes a timely 5 minutes to complete the short trip across the Loch. On arriving in Ardgour and disembarking the ferry everything appears to slow down and become much more laid back. We decided to stop off at Ariundle Oak wood National Nature Reserve at Strontian to let Kaira have a stretch of her legs and to break the slow 46 mile journey to Sanna. By this point it was becoming very warm but the shade of the canopy helped keep the beating sun off although it did create harsh shadows so very few photographs were taken. With the warm weather and the prevalence of ticks in long grass and woodlands a quick brush down once back at the car was required to help prevent any little unwanted guests. A very common theme after most walks at this time of year.
One thing to note here were the lack of bins across the whole peninsula for the poo bags and rubbish so be prepared to carry and transport your rubbish until you find an appropriate bin.
We stopped off again after a short drive and had a picnic on the banks of Loch Sunart before continuing on along the single track roads to Sanna bay. Sanna is remote but worth the trip for the stunning views to the small Isles of Eigg, Muck, Rum and Canna and the beautiful white shell sand and turquoise waters. Kaira had a ball here rolling about in the sand (video to follow later in the week) and splashing in the sea (albeit only up to her chest). She loves the beach every bit as much as climbing mountains if not more so just like me. It is also advisable to bring plenty of water for your dog to drink as you may not find it easy to come across fresh clean water.
After leaving Sanna bay later in the day we headed for the ferry at Kilchoan to take a 40 minute trip to Tobermory on the Isle of Mull. This ferry service is run by Calmac and does not require booking. Simply turn up and board the ferry providing there are spaces, If not you have a bit of a wait until the next one as it runs back and forth throughout the day. It is best to check the service is running before taking the long trip out there if you are just going unplanned.
Part 2 of our Mull trip is coming soon……..
