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| Daisy Mae, harnessed and ready to go! |
We headed west this morning, after feeding Ginny, for a family visit in Iowa. It has been about 3 months since our last visit, so we were a bit overdue. Unlike previous visits, we brought Daisy Mae, our lovely cockapoo with us. My in-laws invited us to bring her this time around. Chris and I decided this would be a good practice run for a visit we will be making to Florida.
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| Ginny, all excited by having Daisy with her on the drive! ;) |
Daisy Mae loves going for a ride! Convincing her to come with us was not an issue. I put her in her harness and attached her to the seat belt so that she wouldn't get hurt if there were an accident, and so that she wouldn't wander around aimlessly while we were driving. I'm sure that Ginny was thrilled to have Daisy in the backseat with her as well.
Within 45 minutes, if that, Ginny performed a Houdini act by escaping from her harness. Chris was fit to be tied. Now, having raised 8-year-old Daisy since she was a pup, I knew she had this ability to escape a harness (which is why she wears a collar and NOT a harness). I realized that it was likely that I needed to adjust the harness a bit, but was not concerned or upset. Chris, on the other hand, was NOT thrilled.
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| Chris prior to Daisy's 2nd Houdini act! See how happy he was! |
After getting Daisy reharnessed and locked into her seat, we continued on our drive. We were doing really good until we stopped at a rest area so that I could nurse Ginny, and Chris could walk Daisy. As soon as the car came to a stop, Daisy again Houdinied her way out of that harness, eager to get out of the car. Chris looked as though he might have a heart attack. I reassured him and told him I would adjust the harness again.
Nearly 2 hours further down the road, we stopped at a gas station to fill up the car. Daisy was going ballistic. Doing her best to get out of that harness, but not succeeding. Ginny and I left so I could change Ginny's diaper while Chris filled the tank. When I got back to the car, I saw that Daisy was calmly laying in the back seat. I remarked that she must have given up. Chris told me that Daisy had not given up and had actually gotten out of the harness again. Looking at Chris, I could tell his patience was wearing thin. I, on the other hand, was not concerned. When the car was moving, Daisy was calm and good. There only seemed to be an issue when we stopped, at this point.
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| Daisy expressing how much she loved the back seat |
We went only 30 more minutes down the road and pulled into a rest area. Ginny wasn't happy. I decided I would nurse her again to see if it helped. I also suggested to Chris that we could move Daisy up in the front, I would take over driving, and he could sit in the back with Ginny until we reached our destination. He was up for that. Once Chris was settled in the back, he said, in no uncertain terms, "Daisy is not coming with us to Florida." I guess he had enough. So, now I need to book a kennel reservation for Daisy.
Funny enough, the rest of the drive to Ames, Iowa went without incident. Daisy laid calmly in the passenger seat next to me and slept the whole time. When we arrived at our destination, she did not try to get out of the harness, but stayed put, eagerly waiting for me to unharness her. Now I am wondering if the issue was that she didn't like being in the back seat or if this was a secret ploy of hers to be kenneled when we go to Florida. After all, she loves the kennel and all those who work there. If only dogs could talk.
