How to Rock a Roadtrip Like the Amazing Super Collies in Canada

July 21, 2017 By Susan Nation Leave a Comment

10,000km with The Super Collies in Canada

Sara Carson from the road:

We’ve had such an amazing time road tripping across central Canada, going over 10,000km in a few short weeks. It’s such a scenic country to drive through and the Super Collies had a blast taking in all the sights with me.

You can follow the Super Collies on Facebook facebook.com/thesupercollies and Instagram @thesupercollies

Of course, so it’s important to pack smart and be safe. Check out my list of traveling tips for going on the road with your dog(s).

From Manitoba to BC, The Super Collies saw a lot of Canadian Beauty

From lakes and mountains… Did you know that Canadian National Parks are free for 2017 Canada 150 Celebration.

To local wildlife…

And making new friends… Little Loki was a big hit with the kids.

We even stopped to pose with some of the provincial border signs.

In Alberta, the Super Collies Performed in the Calgary Stampede

How cool that they have a dog show at the Calgary Stampede. Hero, Marvel and Loki wowed crowds of thousands each day with Loki doing great agility and disc work and Hero achieving some incredible dock jumps. Hero really is a Super Collie. They had so much fun.

There was hardly time to sleep…

But Hero and I found time to watch our Audition for America’s Got Talent

In case you missed it, our audition for America’s Got Talent was an emotional one and we almost didn’t make it through to the next round. You can read about it here, but needless to say, Hero and I were pretty excited to watch it back. We also made it through the next round of auditions on Tuesday, July 18th.

Rain or Shine, we made it!

And you can watch the whole video of our Canadian Road Trip here:

Have you ever gone on a road trip with your dog? Tell us about it in the comments!

Sara and The Super Collies Hit the Road Again

June 1, 2017 By Sydney Shapansky Leave a Comment

Road Trip with Hero and The Super Collies

Sara Carson and The Super Collies hit the road again travelling more than 15,000 km across the US.

They started their latest big Road Trip Adventure in Los Angeles, where they auditioned for America’s Got Talent. See what happened in their amazing audition here.

Guest Travel Post from Sara:

Going to a big studio, auditioning for America’s Got Talent, staring up at the Hollywood sign and walking down the Hollywood Walk of Fame. It doesn’t get much better than this for a shy girl from northern Ontario and her dogs.

After an time in LA, we headed by car right across the country. Our destination in Pennsylvania took us a total of two days to drive to as we had to get there in time for a show with Stunt Dogs. We didn’t have much time for sightseeing on that leg of the trip, driving in three hour blocks, stopping for potty and exercise breaks, snacks and gas.

We stick to our set driving routine when on a time limit. The dogs are very relaxed and snooze in the back between stops.

See our tips for Safe Travel with Dogs Here.

Next, sightseeing in New York was awesome. This is one of our favorite places in the USA!

Times Square is so full of things to see, you could never possibly get bored.

Sara and the Super Collies on the Jersey Shore

Plus spending a few days on the shore of Jersey was wonderful. Look at the view.

Sara and the Super Collies at the beach in New Jersey

After we finished three big shows in three theatres in three cities, we headed on to Reynoldsburg Ohio, and a night at the dog-friendly Red Roof Inn.

What a relief to arrive at 10pm with my room ready and a friendly greeting (thanks to Susan and Talent Hounds/The Backseat Barkers). We all got comfy and went to bed fast.

The next day we drove on several hours to downtown Chicago to run around and catch up with our friend Sweet Sunrise. The dogs got to run around and play and pose for an epic lakeside photo.

The Super Collies and Sweet Sundance by the lake in Chicago

Then that night, we stayed again at a very nice dog-friendly Red Roof Inn in Joliet. In fact we liked the Red Roof Inn so much, we are now affiliates together with Talent Hounds and Backseat Barkers and if you book through this link, we may even get a small commission. We only recommend products and places we use and think you might like too.

Sara and Marvel on the shore of lake Michigan just outside Chicago

Then we drove on to Colorado via Lincoln, Nebraska and a stop over with friends.

The long drive to Colorado was filled with storms, lightning and lots and lots of rain. I made sure the dogs were secure and safe. We had tornado sirens in Nebraska and had to pull to the side of the road many times. Thankfully the Super Collies don’t get too bothered by storms. They really are super!

For the month of May, we drove over 15,000 km. Thankfully we have a super reliable Toyota Rav4 that fits the 3 crates and dogs comfortably.

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Join us for further travels in June and July through Canada and the US.

Follow the Super Collies on Instagram

Have you got any tips for road tripping with dogs and dog friendly places to visit in the US?

How to Keep Your Dogs Safe When Travelling

May 30, 2017 By Susan Nation Leave a Comment

How to be safe and smart when traveling with dogs — Sara and The Suer Collies

Tips for Travelling with the Super Collies

Before we get into our adventures, I think it’s important to review what is needed to make a road trip successful and safe for both you and your dog/s! My dogs travel with more luggage than I do!

Let’s Go Over The Basics

First things first, you’re going to want to either get your pup a car restraint to keep them secure in the case of a sudden stop or accident. You can use a harness that attaches to a seatbelt or a crate or carrier. Dogs can be badly injured or even killed if they become a projectile in a collision, so you want to make sure your pet is as safe and secure as you are.

The Center for Pet Safety has done studies on several of the most popular carriers and crates for travel so you can check out your preferred carrier and see for yourself how they hold up in a crash test scenario here.

The Kurgo and Sleepy Pod equipment both seem to test well.

Never Leave Your Dog in the Car in the Hot Sun

Never leave your dog in the car alone on a hot day, even for 10 minutes with the window open, as a car can heat up so fast and this can be deadly.

Once you arrive somewhere hot, watch for hot pavement and overheating. You may want to check out some of these dog heat safety tips from Talent Hounds for useful info like how to spot the signs of overheating.

Always Pick up after your dog and keep pet-friendly spaces safe for everyone!

Leaving poop is gross and can be dangerous.

Microchip Your Dog

If you’re going to be taking your dog far away from home you should think about getting them microchipped and making sure the contact information is up to date.

Keep your Dog Safe from Bugs and Diseases

Be sure to check that all your dog’s vaccinations are up to date. Investigate what bugs or diseases like heart worms, ticks, fleas, mosquitos or flu might be a threat where you are travelling and look into ways to protect yourself and your dog.

My Travel Essentials Include:

Food – You may not be able to find your dog’s favorite brand on the road easily so make sure you have a decent supply with you. Switching foods around can cause your dog digestive issues. Use a waterproof container.
Water – You want to make sure you and your dog stay hydrated and keep a supply of clean water handy.
Non-spill bowl(s)
Treats.
Supplements and any medications.
Toys, discs and trick gear.
A Pet First Aid Kit (I carry several)
Clean Up Bags.
Blankets.
Cleaning Supplies- Because accidents do happen!
A camera and a phone to document your adventures
Bed(s)
Leash(es)- Do some research about where you’re going beforehand as some places require 6 ft leashes.
Collars and up to date tags.
Sunscreen (for you and your dog).
Calming spray and/or toys- This can be a big help if you have an anxious dog, here’s a post about products that can be helpful for soothing reactive dogs found at the Global Pet Expo this year.
Vet records and emergency vet and contact numbers – In case of emergency if you’re far away from home you want to be prepared to get your pet any treatment they may need. Pet MD has lists of Vets by location. There’s also the ASPCA poison control hotline which you can call 24/7 if your pet ingests something you fear might be toxic: (888) 426-4435
Towel in case your dog gets wet

and I am sure I missed something…

Now, if sleeping in your car isn’t something you want to do, don’t worry!!

Thankfully the Red Roof Inns are not only affordable and nice, but pets stay FREE! We have enjoyed them a few times in the past month.

They have over 345 locations spread out across the USA.