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You are here: Home / Archives for Pet Travel

California Dog Travel Winter Tips

December 11, 2020
4 Comments

December is a magical time in California. A fun time to go on a road trip with your dog. You can go to the beach or the desert or the mountains. You can experience three different types of weather on the road.

It is important to remember that traveling with your dog requires additional care for the safety of everyone inside your vehicle.

Autotrader Holiday In Drive Dog Travel Winter Tips

This post is sponsored by Autotrader and Kelley Blue Book. We are helping to promote Holiday In Drive Winter Weather Travel Tips. All thoughts and opinions are my own, and Golden Woofs only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers.

Holiday Traditions With Your Dog

Do you have a holiday tradition with your dog? December is a fun-filled month where we travel to different cities/states to check out holiday decors and meet Santas and friends. Due to the California covid lockdown stay at home restrictions, we are modifying our holiday travels. We plan to explore locally, continue to give back, and support the neighborhood businesses.

unboxing Autotrader gift box

However, we will continue our tradition of wearing humorous ugly holiday tops – just like Koru Bear’s dog Dad is wearing. So much fun opening the Autotrader’s holiday gift box. These gifts provided holiday cheer, particularly the limited-edition ugly sweater light-up face masks.

KORU BEAR and dog Dad had a fun time unboxing the Autotrader gift box which includes the limited-edition ugly sweater wheel cover and light-up mask, a hat, pair of gloves, insulated mug, and holiday lights necklace.

3 Important Tips To Keep Your Dog Safe in Car Rides

It is crucial to take precautions when your dog goes for a car ride. Here are three car ride safety tips for keeping your dog safe.

Tips keep your dog safe car rides

For photo purposes only, KORU BEAR is sitting on the driver seat to show-off the Autotrader fun limited-edition ugly sweater wheel cover.

1. Your dog should sit in the back seat
It is not advisable to have your dog in the front passenger seat of your car. The back seat is the safest place for your dog to sit.

2. Properly secure your dog
An unrestrained dog can cause distraction and interfere with your driving. The safest way for your dog to ride in the car is by securing him/her in a crate or with a car safety harness and/or a dog seatbelt.

How do we secure KORU BEAR safely in the car? He is a big 90+lbs dog and comfortable wearing a crash-tested dog car harness.

3. Don’t allow your dog to put his/her head out the window of your car
It may be fun to watch your dog, but while your vehicle is moving, it is absolutely not safe to let your dog ride with his/her head out the window (even though your dog is restrained in the car). You are putting your dog’s eyesight, ears, and life in danger when you allow him/her to stick his/her head out of the window while you drive.

Autotrader Kelly Blue Book Winter Tips

For photo purposes only and when the car is on a stop, we unbuckle him and allow him to put his head out of the window.

We are hoping to travel to Big Bear. KORU BEAR has not experienced snow, and it will be fun to visit Big Bear for the day. Hopefully, when the covid stay-at-home restrictions are lifted from traveling outside our community, we can visit Big Bear. We (specifically KB’s main chauffeur, dog Dad) are prepared and keep these five winter driving tips in mind when traveling to the California mountains.

Dog Travel Car Rides Winter Tips

5 Tips for Winter Driving Condition in the California Mountains

1. Stay Home
Make sure to check the weather condition frequently. On Autotrader Holiday In Drive tips for safe winter driving, when the weather is dangerous to drive, stay home.

2. Carry Tire Chains
Winter can be a beautiful time of year in the California mountains. However, it can also bring a variety of unpleasant driving conditions to the roadways. Make sure you have chains for your car.

3. Keep Fuel Tank Full
At all times, make sure to have a full tank of gas.
When your tank is half empty, immediately fill it up.
During snow traffic and when you need to change routes due to a bad snowstorm, your vehicle is well-prepared.

4. Winter Driving Tips
a) Allow plenty of time to arrive at your final destination. Your travel time might take longer due to storm conditions or icy roads.
b) At all times, keep your seat belt buckled.
c) Drive cautiously, especially when black ice is nearly invisible.
d) Be observant; slow down and reduce your driving speed. Keep a constant watch for other vehicles. Leave more distance between your vehicle and the vehicle ahead.
e) Turn off your cruise control. You need to be able to control your car when driving in snow or wet road conditions.
f) Give snowplows room to work and be very cognizant of what they are doing on the road.

5. Carry Emergency Supplies
Winter weather can be unpredictable. Always be prepared by having an emergency kit in your car. If you find yourself stranded during a snowstorm, other items that may be of use are as follows: flashlight, blanket, extra clothing, towel, gloves, ice scraper, shovel, spare key, and sand/kitty litter.
If you are traveling with your dog, make sure you have a pet emergency first aid kit, extra food, and winter outdoor gear. We want to be prepared at all times; we keep KORU BEAR’s traveling bag in the truck.

For more additional tips from Autotrader experts, visit Autotrader Holiday In Drive Winter Weather Travel Tips and Advice. Also, enjoy bonus articles about The Best Cars for Holiday Road Trips. Additionally, due to covid shutdowns, online car buying is on a rise. Surprisingly, in a recent survey, many are comfortable shopping for a car online. Learn more by reading this article, Things To Know About Online Car Buying. When you’re ready to research your next vehicle, visit Autotrade.com and KBB.com.

Do you have plans to travel with your dog this winter? If you do, be careful, take extra precautions and keep in mind all these safety tips.

Happy Travels With Your Dog This Winter!





Filed Under: Pet Travel, Sponsored Post
4 Comments

Dog Travel Car Essentials for a Safe and Happy Trip

August 24, 2020
7 Comments

This post is sponsored by Autotrader; however, all thoughts and opinions are my own and Golden Woofs only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers.

Every time we hit the road with Koru Bear, whether we are going to run errands or just going to the park or on a long road trip, we want to make sure we have a good time and are always prepared and packed with these dog travel car essentials. Autotrader is our go-to resource for advice on making sure that our car is pup-approved!

Autotrader National Dog Day:Dog Travel Car Essentials

Dog Travel Car Essentials for a Safe and Happy Trip

1
Seat Protector
A dog car seat cover is a must-have car essential especially if you have a big dog that sheds a lot. It also helps to keep your car seats clean from dirt and muddy paws. We opt for a hammock style car seat cover.

autotrader dog travel

2
Safety Restraint
To ensure Koru Bear’s safety, we use a travel harness. It is important to keep him secure and to reduce the potential for driving distractions. Also, a safety restraint can help keep him safe if an accident occurs.

3
Travel Dog Mat + Towels (Blanket)
For extra comfort, we always bring a multi-purpose travel mat and towels, which are especially handy when KORU BEAR’s paws get wet and muddy.

Autotrader Dog Travel Car Essentials

To ensure that we always have KORU BEAR’s travel car essentials, we pack all of his dog care items in a travel bag. It’s easy to carry, especially if we use a different vehicle on our trip.

4
Dog First Aid Kit
We are always prepared as you never know when something unfortunate can happen. Having the basic supplies in KORU BEAR’s first aid kit has come in handy on our previous travels. We also include his veterinarian information in the kit.

5
Waste Bags
Be a responsible dog owner, bring poop bags and scoop that poop!

6
Treats / Food
Treating Koru Bear with his favorite treats during car rides helps him settle down. For longer trips, we always pack his food and make sure to stay on his regular diet to avoid an upset stomach or allergies.

7
Water / Portable Bowls
We make sure to keep a water bottle handy for Koru Bear. For long car rides, we offer water at least every couple of hours to prevent dehydration.

8
Dog Wipes / Paw Sanitizers
Pet-friendly wipes/spray are must-have on Koru Bear’s car rides and dog travel. It is important to keep him smelling good and fresh. Keeping his paws clean alleviates any licking or allergy reactions.

9
Extra Harness / Leash / Collar + ID Tag
It’s handy that Koru Bear’s harness is versatile; it’s an everyday harness and a car safety restraint. However, you never know when his harness, leash, or collar might break or get lost, so having an extra in the event of an emergency is essential.

10
Toys
Bringing one of Koru Bear’s favorite stuffed toys to cuddle during the car ride helps him settle down. A stuffie toy also provides him comfort especially if he is anxious about our final destination. We always pack a fetch toy to use on our stops where we engage in fetch play with Koru Bear to help him regain his energy.

pet travel car essentials

These dog travel car essentials are pup-approved by Koru Bear. How about our vehicles? For short travels, Koru Bear enjoys and is comfortable riding in a sedan. For long travels, Koru Bear enjoys the extra space of an SUV.

Autotrader dog approved cars at Dogtrader.com

Are you looking for a new vehicle to travel with your furry co-pilot? We invite you to celebrate National Dog Day by checking out Dogtrader.com as a resource for pup-approved cars for dog lovers.

If you are looking for a new furry best friend, you can also search for local adoptable pups in your area and help get homeless dogs out of the shelter at Dogtrader.com. This is the real mission of National Dog Day!

Dogtrader.com dog approved autotrader cars

When traveling with your dog to celebrate National Dog Day, be safe, have fun, and don’t forget these dog travel essentials.


Filed Under: Pet Travel, Sponsored Post, TIPS
7 Comments

Gotcha Day Trip to Dog Friendly Santa Barbara

June 11, 2020

To celebrate KORU BEAR’s 3rd Gotcha Day, we decided to take a drive to dog friendly Santa Barbara. We are excited to be on the road again. Our 2020 #MazdaCX-5 Signature AWD car ride was smooth and the two-hour drive seemed very short (so happy there was no traffic in Los Angeles).

Mazda Feel Alive

Mazda provided Golden Woofs a 2020 #MazdaCX-5 Signature AWD to test drive in exchange for sharing experience about the vehicle. Golden Woofs only shares information we feel is relevant and useful to our readers.

We had a list of dog-friendly Santa Barbara places and things to do but due to the COVID-19 pandemic not all establishments have opened. From my list, we accomplished six. It was actually good since we are only visiting for the day.

2020 Mazda CX-5 Signature AWD offers many safety features that complimented our 140-mile drive to Santa Barbara.

Riding Mazda CX5

The CX-5 has a beautiful luxury feeling interior design with Nappa leather-trimmed seats and layered wood trim. Plus, the awesome stereo provided musical enjoyment on our long car ride.

Gotcha Day Trip to Dog Friendly Santa Barbara

Dog Friendly Santa Barbara Chromatic Gate

1.
Chromatic Gate
Our first stop is the must-see multi-colored rainbow arch; Herbert Bayer’s Chromatic Gate. This 21-foot, 12.5 tons rainbow archway was built in 1991 as a memorial to both Herbert Bayer and his wife Joella, by Paul Mills, Art Director at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art.

Santa Barbara Herbert Bayer’s Chromatic Gate is located on the corner of East Cabrillo Blvd. and Calle Puerto Vallarta

2.
Mission Park and Rose Garden
A lovely park also known as “The Road Garden,” which is adjacent to Old Mission Santa Barbara. The garden contains over 1,500 rose plants and in bloom between April and November.

Rose Garden Old Mission Park

This park is a popular place to chill and have picnics on the grass while enjoying the fragrant roses and magnificent views of the Old Mission.

The dog friendly Mission Park and Rose Garden is located at 2201 Laguna Street

Mission Park and Rose Garden - Feel Alive Mazda CX5

KORU BEAR occupied the back seat (good for a large dog or two small/medium dogs). The headroom accommodated his height with enough room to sit or stand up.

3.
Downtown Santa Barbara
Many shops and restaurants were still closed; so we only drove by downtown Santa Barbara to admire the distinctive architecture. We were told that Santa Barbara’s downtown State Street is known as one of America’s most pedestrian-friendly downtowns.

Dog Friendly Santa Barbara Stearns Wharf

4.
Stearns Wharf
One of Santa Barbara’s most iconic landmarks is Stearns Wharf; named for builder John P. Stearns. Stearns Wharf is California’s oldest working wharf. KORU BEAR loved the salty breezes and the ocean view.

Stearns Wharf located at 217 Stearns Wharf, cross-section of the end of State Street and Cabrillo

5.
Montecito
A short drive from Santa Barbara (about 4 miles), we visited the town Montecito (Spanish for “little mount”). We strolled down the popular Coast Village Drive.

lucky's dog friendly Santa Barbara

We decided to dine at Lucky’s dog friendly patio. Our meal was delicious and KORU BEAR was able to relax, hydrate, and enjoy a special dog chew.

Lucky’s is located at 1279 Coast Village Rd, Montecito, CA

6.
Arroyo Burro Beach
Ended our Santa Barbara day trip at dog-friendly Arroyo Burro Beach; known to the locals as Hendry’s Beach. A must visit! Dogs are allowed to be off-leash on the beach just east of the creek.

dog friendly santa barbara Arroyo Burro Beach

KORU BEAR had a pawtastic time. Best Day Ever! Also, an awesome treat for pawrents, there’s a self-serve dog wash stations avoiding wet dog smell in your car.

Arroyo Burro Beach County Park is located at 2981 Cliff Drive; 5 miles west of Santa Barbara’s city center

Feel Alive 2020 Mazda CX-5 Signature AWD

The 2020 Mazda CX-5 Signature AWD had shown excellent performance on the highway and FUN to Drive!

Mazda’s CX-5 is named a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Also, a government five-star ratings from the National Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). These safety recognitions provide peace of mind.

To learn more about CX-5, call your local Mazda dealership. Many dealerships are now offering no-touch test-drives” and home delivery.

dog friendly Mazda cx-5

Lots of Golden Thanks to Mazda for providing us to test drive the 2020 Mazda CX-5 Signature AWD and brought us joy celebrating KORU BEAR’s Gotcha Day celebration at dog friendly Santa Barbara.


Filed Under: Car Review, Dog Friendly, Pet Travel

5 Dog-Friendly Destinations and Car Tech Features For Your Spring Break Road Trip

February 20, 2020

Spring is here, and time to celebrate the season by taking a family road trip. Your dog is part of your family so plan for dog-friendly destinations.

Autotrader Dog-Friendly Destinations

This post is sponsored by Autotrader; however, all thoughts and opinions are my own and Golden Woofs only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers.

We always plan our vacation to be dog-friendly. KORU BEAR is the best travel companion and makes our vacation more memorable. Lucky to live in Southern California. There are many dog-friendly places we can spend for the day, weekend or for weeks. We’ve gathered five of our favorite dog-friendly destinations for your spring break road trip with your dog.

Spring Break Dog-Friendly Destinations Autotrader

5 Dog-Friendly Destinations For Your Spring Break Road Trip

1.
Carmel by the Sea, CA
Carmel by the Sea (often simply called Carmel) is rated as the #1 dog-friendly town in America. The city of Carmel truly caters to pampering your dog for a pawsome vacation. Many restaurants provide doggie menus, and our favorite is the daily Yappy Hour at the famous Cypress Inn. Carmel offers many attractions; the white sand Carmel Beach is popular especially as dogs are welcome to play and swim off-leash. Do you love driving and scenic routes? You’ll enjoy the 17-Mile Drive; one of the most scenic drives in the world.

2.
Phoenix, AZ / Sedona, AZ
The Southwest is known for the dry climate and breathtaking mountain views. Many hotels offer dog-friendly accommodation (especially for big dogs like KORU BEAR). If you love hiking with your dog and are up for a challenge, include hiking in your itinerary. Hike the Camelback Mountain located in the middle of Phoenix Valley. On our recent trip to Phoenix, we spent a day in Sedona, AZ ( about 115 miles; 2-hour drive). We strolled the town and hiked the dog-friendly Cathedral Rock Trail; 1.2-mile hike and an icon attraction in Sedona.

3.
Palm Springs, CA
Palm Springs is well-known for an abundance of sunshine for more than 350 days a year. The weather is normally warm but early Spring is the best time to visit.
Many resort hotels accommodate big dogs and have a daily or weekly yappy hour. All restaurants with outdoor patios are dog-friendly. Attending the Thursday Villagefest on Palm Canyon Drive in Palm Springs is a favorite attraction and a great way to start the weekend fun with your dog. If you love plants specifically cacti and desert plants, visit the Moorten Botanical Garden and Cactarium; 1-acre family-owned botanical garden.

4.
Huntington Beach, CA
One of our favorite SoCal dog-friendly destinations is visiting Huntington Beach aka Surf City USA. Lots of dogs visit Huntington Beach daily. The Huntington Dog Beach is the main attraction for dog owners. Many places welcome dogs and hotels provide luxurious dog-friendly accommodations; one reason Huntington Beach is voted as one of California’s dog-friendliest.

5.
San Diego, CA
San Diego has a great climate throughout the year and considered as pet paradise; ranked as America’s most dog-friendly city. There are so many fun places and things to do in San Diego with your dog. The most popular is going to the beach; Coronado Dog Beach, Del Mar Dog Beach, Ocean Beach Dog Beach, and Fiesta Island. San Diego is considered to have the most dog-friendly beaches of any major U.S. city.

5 Car Tech Features For Your Dog-Friendly Spring Break Road Trip

Autotrader Car Tech Features Dog-Friendly Spring Break Destinations

On our road trips, it is important that our vehicle (owned or rented) be equipped with features that can make our dog-friendly travel safe and enjoyable. Autotrader recently recommended 5 Car Tech Features You’ll Want on Your Spring Break Road Trip. These car tech features include Apple CarPlay, smart charging ports, 360-degree camera, adaptive cruise control, and rear-seat entertainment. In this Autotrader article, you’ll find more detailed information on how these car tech features can make your Spring break road trip drive less stressful. Car technology is advancing, if you plan to rent or purchase a new vehicle, make sure to keep these car tech features in mind.

Are you excited to go on a road trip with your dog?
What dog-friendly destinations will you be visiting this Spring break?


Filed Under: Car Review, Dog Friendly, Pet Travel, Sponsored Post

Who Should You Travel With?

July 29, 2018

Who should you travel with?
With a friend, with your family – or just on your dog …
Who should you hit the road with?

who should you travel with

“… as with any journey, who you travel with
can be more important than your destination.”

KORU BEAR has been the best travel buddy. We will share soon our fun pet travels … to find where we are going next, make sure to follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.


Filed Under: Pet Travel, Quotes

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