Turns Out Bowie Is Really Good At Traveling The World
BOWIE on a flight to his destination
Bowie the traveling dog is busy getting his passport stamps. He has traveled the world with his mum and helping us all understand and give us some traveling tips. I sat with Bowie early this summer for a deep dive into his travels in the US, Italy , Scotland and more. Here is what he told me.
SIR VALENTINO: Bowie can you tell us about your family and where you are from?
BOWIE: I’m originally from Vancouver, Canada, my mum is English but moved there 6 years ago & she got me as a puppy. Vancouver was the best place grow up as a pup, my first experiences were playing on the beautiful beaches & hiking in the local mountains, it doesn’t get much better for us dogs!
SIR VALENTINO: How did you begin your career in travel? What does the job of a traveling dog entail?
BOWIE: My travel career started with lots of local trips around my hometown when I was young, from paddle boarding on the Sunshine Coast to snow shoeing in Whistler, I got to explore it all. Turns out I’m really good at travelling with my mum, so she decided I was ready for a promotion! She spent all her spare time looking for places we could travel to and came up with her big plan to take me to Europe! My main role on our trip is to sniff out all the best dog friendly spots so I can share them online with all my friends.
BOWIE IN SCOTLAND
SIR VALENTINO: What is your breed and how does it help you navigate the destinations your go to?
BOWIE: Mum says I’m a mixed breed,, I think that makes me stand out when out & about in new places, people love to come up and say hi.
SIR VALENTINO: What is the most memorable place, in the world, you have traveled to? Which place is the most dog friendly?
BOWIE: I think the most memorable place so far would have to be the Outer Hebrides off mainland Scotland, you have to take a dog friendly ferry out there which makes them so remote not many dogs can say they’ve run across the beaches of such a beautiful place! The most dog friendly country though is definitely Italy. I felt like a local celebrity! The Italians LOVE dogs & we can go almost anywhere humans can. My mum took me everywhere to see it all, I especially loved the wineries of Tuscany & beaches on the Amalfi Coast.
SIR VALENTINO: What places in the US have you traveled to and what was your favorite place? What makes it special?
BOWIE: So far I’ve been to 18 states in the US! I did a huge road trip to catch my flight to Europe that entailed driving all the way from Vancouver to New York last Fall and I loved so many places. My favorite was definitely Breckenridge Colorado, we stayed at The Lodge which is one of the highest elevation hotels in the world! They’re super dog friendly & I got to explore so many trails in the mountains and local patios in town for a bite to eat. Mum said it was extra special because the hotel had outdoor hot tubs so I could keep her company when she wanted to go relax, that’s pretty unique for a hotel!
SIR VALENTINO: What is the most difficult part of traveling with humans? How do you have to prepare for your trips?
BOWIE: The most difficult part is finding ways to fly, I’m not as small as other dogs so regular airlines don’t allow me to fly with my mum in the cabin which is really unfair. I was too scared to travel in the hold of the plane, so my mum found me a special VIP option to fly from New York to London! I took a special dog friendly flight with K9 Jets, where dogs like me can travel in luxury on a private plane full of fellow dog travelers! I was so good on my flight, mum helped me prepare by getting me some pills to relax and I was so happy sat on her lap just watching the clouds going by below.
SIR VALENTINO: What travel tips can you give other dogs who are looking to travel?
BOWIE: I have so many I could go on forever, I love sharing tips to help other pups to travel like me! My top tip is always visit your vet before going anywhere, staying healthy is the key to having fun on my travels so I like to ask my vet if there’s any vaccines or paperwork I need for my trip before going. Staying in hotels can also be a bit strange for us dogs at first, so enjoying some short local trips first is a great way to get used to hotel life before going somewhere further away!
BOWIE IN ITALY
SIR VALENTINO: Have you found any cool pet brands along your travels? Where and what do they make?
BOWIE: Mum says crash tested products to keep me safe in the car are super important so that I don’t get hurt on our travels. Brands that I have and love are Ruffland kennels when I drive in the US & a Kurgo car safe harness for when I’m travelling around Europe. They make me feel much safer and now I’m happy to ride in the car! I also LOVE my Diggs Enventur inflatable travel crate, it’s so convenient because my mum can carry it around everywhere we go and set it up so easily so I always have a safe, comfy bed to hangout in no matter where we are.
SIR VALENTINO: Where do you usually stay during these travels? Is there special high end pet hotels?
BOWIE: I usually stay in a mix of dog friendly Airbnbs & hotels! My favorite are places with lots of outdoor areas for me to go walkies, no weight restrictions (so I can eat as many treats as I like) and restaurants that I’m allowed to hangout with my mum too. The more luxury the better!
SIR VALENTINO: What should we be looking for when looking at dinning? Or do bring your own prepped meals?
BOWIE: Mum tries to bring my food with me everywhere we go and keep it the same so I don’t get an upset tummy. My favorite is Orijen kibble, it’s super tasty and best of all it’s available in every country we’ve travelled to so far so I get to have the same yummy dinner no matter where we are in the world! It can be challenging taking doggy food across countries due to restrictions so it’s important to find some yummy food ahead of time.
SIR VALENTINO: Was there specific training or certification you had to go through as part of your travel career?
BOWIE: I don’t have to have any special certification to travel as a pet, but my mum did lots of training with me beforehand so I’d be all ready for our adventure. I learned how to sleep and relax in my travel crate, walk nicely on leash so I can explore each new place by my mums side and how to behave when in public places like cafes and restaurants. I’ve been learning all these things since I was a puppy to be the best travel dog possible!
SIR VALENTINO: How do you define your personal style? Are there any special accessories that identify your traveling style? Do you have a special luggage to carry it all?
BOWIE: I don’t like to wear too many accessories, I’d say my hair is my best look! When it’s winter though I do have a special fleece by Equafleece that’s waterproof so I don’t mess up my hair, mum says it’s a godsend for keeping hotels clean and tidy when we go on muddy walks.
SIR VALENTINO: I know personally that being a doodle has lots of hair needs? How do you manage your hair in all the various climates and different elements you encounter around the world?
BOWIE: I pride myself on keeping my hair looking good! I can’t keep up my regular grooming appointments when travelling but luckily my mum knows how to make sure I’m always at my best. Now that the weather is heating up I like to rock a short haircut which means I can swim and play without being uncomfortable, my mum cuts my hair herself, she wasn’t great at first but she’s getting better!
SIR VALENTINO: Where is your next trip? What adventures do you expect to participate in? and why there?
BOWIE: I’m off to Spain next! But you can’t keep a travel dog still for too long, I plan on continuing to visit as many European countries as possible. I’m particularly excited to see Portugal, Greece and Croatia because they have beautiful beaches which is my favorite thing ever, I love digging holes and dipping my paws in the water.
SIR VALENTINO: Is there something special you want to share with our readers?
BOWIE: I just want other dogs to know it’s so much fun travelling and not as hard as you’d think! There’s such a great dog travel community worldwide that all love to help each other out with tips and recommendations, it’s a great space to be apart of, so if you’ve dreamed of travelling but don’t know how you can follow along with us and we’ll help.
Find him also on Instagram @doodlepassport
