Dogs vs. Small Children on a Trip
Dogs vs. Small Children on a Trip: A side-by-side comparison
When deciding whether or not to take your dog on a trip with you, one good way to look at this issue is to compare the experience of having your dog along, versus a small child.
Yapping vs. Napping. On a long car trip, a child will continually pester you by asking: “Are we there yet?” or other variations, such as: “When do we get there?” or the ever popular, “You said we’d be there an hour ago, dad.”
A dog, on the other hand, is more than happy to lie down and snooze for the entire journey, because that’s pretty much what he does at home. Unless your dog’s snoring particularly bothers you, we’d have to score one point for the dog.
Score: Dog 1, Children 0
Avoid Sudden Stops. On a long car trip, a child tends to tell you, “I have to go potty,” at the most inopportune times, such as when you are crossing the hot, empty desert through Nevada, going up a winding mountain road in Colorado, or when you are stuck in traffic on the freeway heading to the beach. Should you not deal with this problem immediately, any number of unpleasant things could happen in the back seat. And none of them are likely to increase the value of your SUV.
Most dogs on the other hand, are used to being at home alone for long periods of time without any opportunity to go outside and do their “business.” They train themselves to maintain strict control over their bodily functions and not have accidents. The dog wins this round, too. No contest.
Score: Dog 2, Children 0
The Unfriendly Skies. The airlines are not a dog-friendly industry. Only small dogs are allowed in the cabin with the human passengers, and only if they are put in a container that resembles carry-on luggage. The container is stowed under the seat during flight. Larger dogs, even extremely well behaved ones, are treated like common cargo and put back with the luggage, again in a container. For some reason, small children, no matter how unruly or untrained, are allowed to sit in the cabin—right there with the adults, if you can imagine that! This system is patently unfair, but if you are planning a trip that involves air travel, it’s probably best to leave your dog at home.
Score: Dog 2, Children 1
Mealtime Mayhem. Mealtime on vacation is fraught with possibilities for disaster. The unfamiliar food that is encountered in restaurants away from home can cause children to throw tantrums or even throw the food itself. The change in routine, waiting to be served, can also make a child upset. It’s sad to watch the embarrassed faces of parents whose kids go out of control in a crowded restaurant. The kid knows he has the upper hand, and wields this power with impunity.
Dogs aren’t allowed inside restaurants. There are restaurants that have patio or sidewalk dining where dogs are allowed, however. Give the dog a bowl of water, perhaps a chew toy, tell him he’s a good boy every so often, and he will sit contentedly while you enjoy your meal no matter how long the meal takes or how poor the service is. He’s happy to be on an outing with you, and he enjoys the attention when people stop by and tell you how well behaved—and cute–your dog is.
Score: Dog 3, Children 1
The results are clear: For a relaxing, enjoyable vacation, Invite Your Dog Along!
Filed under: Dog Travel
