I had always dreamed of taking a long road trip — windows down, music up, camera ready.
But I never imagined I’d do it with a dog snoring in the passenger seat and drooling on my GPS.
Meet Luna, my 4-year-old rescue husky. Fiercely independent, slightly dramatic, and until recently, terrified of car rides.
The first few short drives with Luna were chaos. She howled at every stoplight, paced the backseat, and gave me the saddest eyes I’ve ever seen.
But after weeks of training, treats, and a lot of patience (plus a [dog car seat harness] and her favorite [calming chew toy]), she finally started to relax.
So one Friday, I decided to just go for it.
We packed up the car with essentials: snacks (for both of us), water bottles, extra poop bags, and her cozy [travel dog bed].
Destination: The mountains.
Drive time: 5 hours.
Energy level: Nervous but excited.
At first, Luna was alert and wide-eyed. Every new smell out the window had her attention. But about an hour in, she curled up, sighed, and rested her head on the console.
And just like that… we were road trip buddies.
We hiked trails, played in streams, shared a burger under the stars, and slept like logs in a tiny dog-friendly cabin. I can’t explain it, but that weekend changed everything. She came back more confident — and I came back happier than I’d been in months.
Now, every time I jingle my car keys, she races to the door, tail wagging, ready for the next adventure.
It turns out, the best road trip companion doesn’t need to talk — just wag, snore, and stay by your side.