Dog Tripping Through Mammoth Lakes

Before we adopted dogs, I wasn’t a huge fan of road trips.  The very idea would conjure up images of cramped seats, monotonous scenery and not-often-enough potty breaks.  This all changed when we became a dog-centric household with the addition of Rocky and Lucky, aka the “Odd Couple”.

Rocky gets his name from the scrappy, irrepressible confidence he displayed on the day we first laid eyes on him at the animal shelter – he strutted back up the kennel walkway like a champ, oblivious that he was being returned after a failed adoption.  Lucky also got her name based on events of that day – we went to the shelter looking to adopt one dog but came back with two after being unable to resist her eager to please demeanor and soulful eyes.  In the blink of an eye, we went from a no dog household to one bursting with two.  Fast forward almost a year later, and we saw the addition of yet another pup from the same shelter, Lily, a sweet Westie found abandoned in a foreclosed home.  Lily would be the best birthday gift my brother ever received (his words).

An Excuse for a Road Trip

Once we became a dog-focused family, road trips became a natural extension to our travel because they meant we could tote our furry companions along in our explorations.  In late August my brother’s visit to Las Vegas happened to coincide with my husband’s need to fulfill a one night mattress run at a Westin property in order to secure a 25% off Points Redemption Voucher from Starwood.  It was the perfect opportunity, I told my brother, who is not the world’s biggest fan of road trips, to take our dogs on their first ever road trip together.

Dog Tripping in the Back Seat

As luck with have it, it turns out Lucky, Rocky and Lily make fabulous travel companions!  In fact, they were so excited to be included in the travel roster that they exhibited their best behavior while on the road.  That means compliant potty stops, no bickering and a willingness to forge down any path after their fearless pack leader (that would be my husband).

Through their eager eyes, our visit to Mammoth Lakes was couched in an entirely different light than it otherwise would have been.  Every trail was an adventure, every scent something to pause and savor.  Although they followed us obediently, they also taught us a few lessons along the way.

One particular highlight occurred when our path intersected with a 5 foot wide stream which necessitated a mini river crossing over a trail of large pebbles.  Lucky easily scrambled over the rocks with nary a sidelong glance, followed by Rocky.  When Lily, the youngest of the pack, reached the water’s edge, however, she started whimpering.  Our words of encouragement and gentle coaxing – “Good girl!”  ”Come on, Lily! Look how easy it is!” – fell on deaf ears.  Lily continued to whimper and refused to move any closer.  It was at that moment that Rocky, unbeknownst to us, circled back to the water and lept across the stream to where Lily was rooted.  As we watched in silence, he gently nudged her with his muzzle as if to say, “Watch me.  I’ll show you how.” and then found a easier path to cross the stream a few feet away.  Once across, he turned back to Lily and barked once to exhort her to follow his lead.  He demonstrated this two more times before Lily finally worked up the courage to scramble across the trail he indicated.  The minute she reached the other side, Lily’s fear evaporated and she nipped Rocky playfully before running full speed ahead to initiate a game of chase.

Furry Teachers

As we witnessed this unspoken exchange, we were touched by the simplicity of their relationship and affection, not only for one another, but also towards all of us in the pack.  In just a few gestures  – lingering for just a second on the edge of a gorgeous lake vista, skipping with joyful abandon, mouths agape along a shaded forest trail, enjoying each other’s company without the burden of expectation or complication –  they demonstrated the power of being present, not only for ourselves, but also for those around us.

But don’t take my word for it.  I leave you with a few more pictures to offer you a glimpse of the magic we experienced that day and encourage you to grab every opportunity to take your best furry friends on a road trip to see the world together .  It will open your eyes and your heart.  I promise.