a Northwoods Vacation with Senior Dogs

Disclaimer: I am an extreme enthusiast of the off-season. My ideal vacation involves zero small talk, no scheduled activities, and absolutely no new "vacation friends"—unless we count the coffee barista and the park ranger, a strictly transactional relationship. Vacation time is sacred, non-work me-time. More importantly, it is dog time. We live on their schedule, follow their nose, and generally do dog things. They really have life figured out, if you just roll with it. So, if you are looking for advice on how to live it up this July in Vacation Town, USA I've got one solid tip: Don't. Just wait for October.

A year ago, Jess and I both made career transitions, bringing about new stresses, routines, and opportunities. All in all, great choices, however, we have not been very successful at scheduling downtime. We snuck away for a long weekend in spring, but otherwise our "free time" has been occupied with home projects, tending to chickens and writing a book.

It's vacation time!!

I scheduled my parents to house-sit our chickens and cat for a week in November and began looking for dog-friendly rentals in Northern Wisconsin or the UP.

Choosing the Right Destination for Senior Dogs

Hilo and Thea, at 11 and 9 years respectively, are doing great, though they are taking longer and more frequent naps. Ojai, a wild boy to the end, is beginning to show some real signs of aging. At 13 or 14 years old, he tires and becomes sore more quickly, but he loves to be a part of the group and is more than willing to engage in short bursts of fooling around, especially in nature.

To accommodate my troop, the perfect vacation rental includes:

• Accessibility: With older dogs, especially Ojai, I want to limit the stairs that he needs to climb to do the essentials - get outside to the bathroom and climb into bed. I also look for an outdoor space that will be comfortable for them to take care of their needs and, ideally, relax and enjoy their time.

  
  

• Quiet: We look for solitude on vacation. Honestly, our home is so peaceful that sometimes vacation feels like way too much social pressure, so I search for spots that use key phrases like: secluded, isolated, peaceful, and acreage.

• Allows 3 Dogs: For this particular trip, I wanted to take the whole gang. It's a real challenge to find vacation rentals that permit 3 dogs. I've had pretty good success starting with mid-range places that allow 2 dogs and negotiate from there!

The first place to respond was a vacation rental in St. Germain, Wisconsin - a little chalet with lake views on 6 acres. In addition to the nightly rate, they also charged $150 per dog, which seemed obnoxious, but here we are.

We booked it.

Packing Essentials for Senior Dogs

I would describe my dogs' needs as simple and specific, which makes packing a breeze....so long as you don't forget the critical items, namely a puppy that Hilo has slept with for 11 years.

• Medications: All the dogs are taking drugs these days. I bring their daily meds, organized in a pillbox, plus a few extras of the good stuff, should anyone get stressed or injured.

  
  

• Comfort items: I bring my own bedding for all of us to sleep on, plus a few of the dogs' favorite blankets to ensure they can be as comfortable as possible. I also like to bring their usual food and water bowls. They are easy to pack and help us keep their routine intact.

• Food and treats: I pack what they need for the duration of the trip plus 2 extra days worth. We are always loaded up on treats and chews. The dogs aren't into indoor enrichment like they used to be, so we leave the Kongs, snuffle mats etc at home these days.

  
  

• First aid kit: My kit is always in the Jeep. You just never know when you'll need it (ok, ok I'm the one who usually needs it)

  
  

• Leash and harness: I bring regular and long leashes on vacation. Knowing that we'd have private land, I figured the long lines would serve us well, but I like our standard leashes so we're compliant with the leash rules of public parks.

  
  

• Poop bags

Comfort During Travel

Our dogs are excellent travelers, but we make an extra effort to ensure they are happy campers:

• Temperature control: We generally travel in spring and fall with the dogs, which gives us the option to leave them in the car for short periods to do things like grab groceries or a quick coffee.

  
  

• Secure seating: The pups have kennels in one vehicle and seat belts in another. We do our best to set them up for comfort and safety.

  
  

• Gentle help: Once a dog with mad hops, Ojai needs (and wants) a lift in and out of the car. We spent a good deal of time making sure that he knows there's no jumping in or out without mom's hand on his harness handle for an assist.

  
  

• Explore Along the Way: Look for Sniffspots, rest areas, or other spaces where the dogs can get out, go to the bathroom, explore, sniff, and get a drink of water at regular intervals. This trip worked out perfectly to stop at our own land for a mid-travel romp!

  
  

• Monitor behavior: Watch for signs of discomfort, such as panting, whining, or restlessness, and are willing to adjust our plans if needed.

  
  

Activities Suitable for Senior Dogs on Vacation

Every senior dog is different. Thea still wants daily action, but she's really easy going about how we achieve it - some days we run, some days we hike, some days we do outdoor enrichment like scent games or parkour. Hilo is always game for some version of that, just not as long or far. Ojai's participation really depends on the day - some days he's all in, others he's totally content to watch.

Our vacation rental came with an unexpected surprise - a super long driveway and lovely, private trail through the woods - absolutely perfect for potty breaks and sniffy walks.

• Car Safari: When a hike just isn't on the to-do list, try a Car Safari. This is a windows-down, air-conditioning-optional, sniffing-centric adventure. Seek out new neighborhoods, slow-moving wildlife, or high-action spots like a busy park perimeter. It's the perfect way to get new sensory input and stay engaged with the world, all from the comfort of the backseat.

• Sniffy Walks: Our dogs really enjoy a Sniffari, a long line, dog-directed meander where the focus is entirely about the nose. There is no pace or the destination, just maximizing sensory input and letting your dog decide the route. It’s a low-stress way to fulfill their deepest desire to explore.

• Interactive play: We bring some fun games to add a little trail magic like a bunny-skin or treat-filled toy to play scent games and searching activities. It’s a fantastic to add a little bonus enrichment on the trail without having to travel far.

  
  

• Relaxing outdoors: Connection can be build in stillness, too. With a warm coffee in my hands, the dogs at my side and views of Little Lake Germain, chilling out and observing nature provides ongoing serenity for all of us. We were treated to a little bonus entertainment with bouts of action from Bald Eagles and Trumpeter Swans.

• Field Trips: We try to take a "when in Rome" approach and hit up parks in the area. We made an impromptu decision to travel to the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park in Michigan. It was the dogs first trip to the UP. The park's 90 miles of trails are dog-friendly for leashed pups, the shoreline of Lake Superior is a super fun playground, there are picnic spots galore, and epic views all around.

  

Managing Health and Emergencies on the Road

Do yourself a favor and spend 2 minutes googling the nearest emergency vets. It will be unlikely you need it, but it's good to have that info when you aren't mid-panic.

Make Memories

Yep, I get a little sad watching them age (a lot sad some days) But, dwelling on it is worthless - I mean, look at these faces. We're gonna keep the magic flowing at whatever pace they choose.