I love to travel. (period) But I also love my dog.
There's almost nothing that fills me up more than getting out and experiencing the world. Well - it would have to be a walk on the beach with Nemo at sunset.
And that can of course be a challenge, having to combine the two scenarios in a life where I am currently alone as a dog mother.
Ideally, I would like to take my darling with me on trips – because it is the absolute best thing to be able to combine the two things I love most. But with a reactive dog who is also too heavy to fit into an airplane cabin – it is unfortunately neither possible nor on his terms to be able to come along on long trips every time.
It also means that Nemo often sees me packing a suitcase and waving goodbye at the airport, and yes, we both hate that part.
He knows that when I start packing, it's best for him to be either in the car or in the suitcase... (the latter not so practical), and my guilty conscience about having to leave the big bag grows accordingly. Because that's exactly the moment I hate.
Right there, I wish he was a tiny Chihuahua that I could just take into the cabin of the plane and lug around, but again – would that be for my sake or his?
Luckily, I have a team of the world's very best dog sitters!
As everyone knows and loves Nemo as much (ok almost) as I do.
I also know that when he's alone with them, they have a great time.
And he's guaranteed to be extra pampered. Because they have the time, and when it's not everyday to have to pull various dog toys or go for long walks in the forest, the creativity and desire may be just a little greater.
So there's rarely a shortage of ideas or photos for me when I'm away. Always nice to be able to follow along at home.
So even though the flight home is often just something that has to be done, there is rarely anything better than being able to open the car door and hug my beloved furry friend again, who is actually quite unaffected and just seems like I've been away on a run.
But can dogs miss? Yes, I actually think they can. But I also believe that dogs can have more people in their lives, and that I, as a dog owner, am not always the only one who can give my dog a good everyday life.
Nemo grew up with me traveling a lot, both for work and abroad – and so he has naturally been used to me being away and coming back again. In that way, it has become a natural part of his worldview from a very young age. He knows all the people who look after him – and they love him and know all his little quirks well.
Is it optimal to have a dog when you love to travel? Maybe not. But I still imagine that a dog's life can be in many ways, and that you have to find the form that works for your life too.
Is it optimal to drag your dog everywhere, and is it really the dog's needs or your own?
Of course, everything is a trade-off.
Basically, dogs are different, just like our lives are, and what they grow up with .
So I think we should do ourselves a favor, let go of the bad conscience, and be calm that if we do the very best we can as dog owners, and have a happy and comfortable dog in everyday life – then there probably aren't any do's and don'ts or a fixed template for what one can, should or should do as a good dog owner. Bad conscience or not.
About the blogger
The author behind this week's DogCoach blog is Linn Radsted.
Linn is an independent consultant and serial entrepreneur of 8 years and has a Jack Russell terrier, Nemo, who is almost 6 years old, who is currently primarily a companion dog.
In addition to other projects, she is the founder and owner of DogCoach.
Can dogs miss?
I love to travel. (period) But I also love my dog.
There's almost nothing that fills me up more than getting out and experiencing the world. Well - it would have to be a walk on the beach with Nemo at sunset.
And that can of course be a challenge, having to combine the two scenarios in a life where I am currently alone as a dog mother.
Ideally, I would like to take my darling with me on trips – because it is the absolute best thing to be able to combine the two things I love most. But with a reactive dog who is also too heavy to fit into an airplane cabin – it is unfortunately neither possible nor on his terms to be able to come along on long trips every time.
It also means that Nemo often sees me packing a suitcase and waving goodbye at the airport, and yes, we both hate that part.
He knows that when I start packing, it's best for him to be either in the car or in the suitcase... (the latter not so practical), and my guilty conscience about having to leave the big bag grows accordingly. Because that's exactly the moment I hate.
Right there, I wish he was a tiny Chihuahua that I could just take into the cabin of the plane and lug around, but again – would that be for my sake or his?
Luckily, I have a team of the world's very best dog sitters!
As everyone knows and loves Nemo as much (ok almost) as I do.
I also know that when he's alone with them, they have a great time.
And he's guaranteed to be extra pampered. Because they have the time, and when it's not everyday to have to pull various dog toys or go for long walks in the forest, the creativity and desire may be just a little greater.
So there's rarely a shortage of ideas or photos for me when I'm away. Always nice to be able to follow along at home.
So even though the flight home is often just something that has to be done, there is rarely anything better than being able to open the car door and hug my beloved furry friend again, who is actually quite unaffected and just seems like I've been away on a run.
But can dogs miss? Yes, I actually think they can. But I also believe that dogs can have more people in their lives, and that I, as a dog owner, am not always the only one who can give my dog a good everyday life.
Nemo grew up with me traveling a lot, both for work and abroad – and so he has naturally been used to me being away and coming back again. In that way, it has become a natural part of his worldview from a very young age. He knows all the people who look after him – and they love him and know all his little quirks well.
Is it optimal to have a dog when you love to travel? Maybe not. But I still imagine that a dog's life can be in many ways, and that you have to find the form that works for your life too.
Is it optimal to drag your dog everywhere, and is it really the dog's needs or your own?
Of course, everything is a trade-off.
Basically, dogs are different, just like our lives are, and what they grow up with .
So I think we should do ourselves a favor, let go of the bad conscience, and be calm that if we do the very best we can as dog owners, and have a happy and comfortable dog in everyday life – then there probably aren't any do's and don'ts or a fixed template for what one can, should or should do as a good dog owner. Bad conscience or not.
About the blogger
The author behind this week's DogCoach blog is Linn Radsted.
Linn is an independent consultant and serial entrepreneur of 8 years and has a Jack Russell terrier, Nemo, who is almost 6 years old, who is currently primarily a companion dog.
In addition to other projects, she is the founder and owner of DogCoach.