Those are good tips, paper towels definately come in handy. Poop bags are something I HAVE to think of when I go, I never know when she'll go.
I love travelling with the dogs, and if you have well behaved dogs, it is a good chance to show them off Wear proper ID if they're runners, have leashes at easy reach, water and bowls handy and a toy to play with during pee breaks.

At the end of April, I took my dog with me to Mexico (10 hr trip, 1 way). She was absolutely great. Gave us no problems whatsoever. She slept most of the time and when we stopped to put gas, we'd take her for a potty break and let her run around on her long line. I tossed her doggie pillow in the back of the SUV, folded the rear seats forward and tethered her to the back. It was so much less stressful on both her AND us.

It's much more fun to take the dogs, as long as it's ok to have them at your destination.

Hi Carolyn,
Just my 2 cents....I've done both: boarding at a great place and traveling with her. She is much lessed stressed if she is with me. We use the travel as a training opportunity, stop and train, new experiences. We have a crate in the car and she just snoozes on her blankie during the trips. Depending on the safety of the area and weather, sometimes we leave her in the car/crate at night if we can't have her sleep with us. She's totally happy with this arrangement. AND we avoid all the vacines.
Have a great trip either way.
Lynn

I've done both, traveled with the dog and boarded him, depending on what we thought would work best. When we were staying in a hotel and just didn't see the possibility of doing things with him where we'd all have a good time, we boarded him. When we stayed in a dog friendly condo at the ocean, we brought him with us.

Personally, I'd try something a little shorter than 7.5 hours one way for my first trip.

Thanks again for all of the info everyone- I am definitely planning on taking their crates- my brother's house is new- and he is the first owner; I need to have somewhere safe (for them and the house) to put them if we go out to dinner or something. They're almost always free inside my home, but of course they're used to their house and yard.

I agree that a shorter trip first would be best- unfortunately I just don't travel that much... but I will definitely try!! I need to pick up an suv seat/screen to contain them in the back sometime before then. They are so curious, and I don't need one deciding he wants to sit in front.

I should pick up a long line, too. They have 6' leads and traffic leashes- and I'm going to take all their collars with. Do you guys think its safe to leave their pinch collars on while in the car?

Thought I might have accidentally posted twice. Sorry guys, I wonder if that extra can be removed

Carolyn, my dog's 1st trip was the 10 hr trip. I'm sure your dogs will be fine. As long as they are with you.

DEFINITELY get long lines for them, and no, I wouldn't leave their prongs on in the car. Just their normal collars.

Go with your Gut!

With that said, I just recently opted to kennel my pup for (2) weeks, while I took my child to Hockey Camp out in Minnesota. I had originally planned on taking the pup with us and kenneling out there locally, so that I could spend time with him each day.

But I decided that he didn't really need to get crammed into my car with both of us, a stinky hockey bag, et cetera on a long trip stuck in the car for (2) to (3) days each way. I think the long car rides would have been stressful, as well as the daily drop off and pick up at a local kennel. I also wasn't sure how much he could be where my son was at, so he would have been kenneled more than not. But if he is welcome at your brother's house, then I'd go for it.

I felt guilty as hell, when I dropped him off ... but it was a much more established routine for him where he was at, versus the randomness of traveling, et cetera.

I think it also depends on how well your dog travels. We were already traveling from 10 to 12 hours each day, and adding a pup to the equation would have added to the travel time for us to allow for feeding and toileting.