Taking Christmas vacation w/ our cairns!

[toomanypaws]

I just rented a log cabin in Maggie Valley , North Carolina for the week of Dec. 19th - 26th. It will be my husband, daughter and our 3 cairns, Kiara, Abbey & Hannah! Can you tell I'm excited? I'd love to be taking the lab & aussie, but the cabins I looked at have size limits, plus we couldn't comfortably fit 5 dogs in the van OR an 800 sq ft. cabin. I have family planning on staying w/ them and then we'll have another holiday party when we return. I can't bear the thought of those 2 missing out on opening their presents. My daughter wanted a Little House on the Prairie log cain w/ loft and my husband wanted more than just a fireplace for heat. I was able to please both.

I'm already shopping on-line for sweaters and saw the most adorable pj's for them They'll all have a harness & leash for walks and I'm also taking a portable pen for outside. This should be quite an adventure which I hope is as much fun as I'm planning on it being.

Thanks for letting me share.

[kayharley]

I am so jealous!! That is something I've wanted to do forever. Find a secluded cabin, hear nothing but nature, relax and enjoy our beautiful environment. And to be able to take the dogs....better yet.

Make sure you take some pics to share with us.

[abe's dad]

I hope you enjoy your trip . We are planning a similar getaway for Labor day just across the mountain in Gatlinburg TN . THat area is absolutely breathtaking in the fall and it is nice in the winter too if there is snow. We have rented a Cabin for us 4 and Abe this will be his first big trip with us. We are very excited . There are several nice Ski resorts in that area if you like that sort of thing and they if you get bored they go all out in Pigeon Forge (around Dollywood) with Christmas decorations.

[wags]

I have to laugh. We live in an area like you vacation in. And when we have to leave home, we go into the city.

Everytime we made a trip like that, Wes grew up a little.

Our first trip was to a motel. That was when he had to learn to potty in strange areas. After trying to coax him to "go" outside in the 90 degree heat for what seemed hours, he decided to "go" on the hallway rug, near the elevator.

As I was getting supplies to clean it, I encountered a jogger racing through the hallway barefoot, going in the direction from where we had just come.

[Scully'sMom]

Toomanypaws, that sounds SO great. I'm laughing that your pups get to have a better vacation than I've had since my honeymoon nearly 5 years ago.

How did you find your cabin - is it in the state where you live?

I'd kill for some peace and quiet - oh wait - I got that last week when I wound up in the hospital. Morphine and a hospital bed; yep that was relaxing. NOT!

[toomanypaws]

Scully's mom,

I live in Florida so a cabin in the woods is always a treat for me. I found it on-line looking for vacations rentals in N.C. that were pet friendly.

Hope you're feeling better.

[CathyAnn]

We could meet you there with our two .....hehe!

Cathy

[Scully'sMom]

CathyAnn, I don't think Toomanypaws is buying that one....

[CathyAnn]

I say, the more, the merrier...... !! LOL!!!

Maybe we could ALL go......now wouldn't THAT be a riot!

Cathy

[Milopup]

When our pup was 2 1/2 months old, we did a long distance driving trip (3 day drive). He was such a great little boy, he stayed in his sleeping wire crate in the minivan during the drives, and was such a grown up at the rest stops. He got used to eating and drinking with his bowls in new places, and was a trooper when it came to his potty breaks.

BTW - can you share the website where you found the pjs and cute coats/sweaters for the cairns? I have been trying to find warm clothing for my lil' boy, but what I have found at Petsmart and Petco isn't quite right.

[toomanypaws]

Milopup,

Here's the link, scroll down to specialty items for the pj's. I also think those bathrobes are cute.

dogedesigns

CathyAnn, the more is merrier Maybe I better see about a larger log cabin WITH a big fenced in yard!

BTW, last month my dh had a seminar in Clearwater Beach (7 hrs away) and wanted dd and I to go too. I also have family in that area to see. Anyways, Hannah was too young to go to the doggie hotel so she came along. We had a condo and she was the best little pup. I must say, I stayed in shape being we were 3 floors up and she needed to go out alot! I could have taken the elevator, but that seemed to scare Hannah. After a whole week w/ Hannah in the condo, I asked dh if he sure he wanted to do this w/ 3 cairns and he still thinks it will be fun, so do I.

[toomanypaws]

Milopup,

Look under "accessories" for more PJ patterns. I think I like the "pink snow" pattern.

pj's

[Linda]

toomanypaws,

Your adventure brought tears to my eyes. Sounds like a perfect family affair for Christmas! Have fun & give the 3 little ones a hugs from me.

[toomanypaws]

Linda, I love your smiley face w/ the Santa hat, very clever! Yes, it does sound like a perfect family Christmas and I'm sure I'm going to have to remind myself that sometime during the week in the cabin w/ the cairns. Right now I'm planning all of these cute cairn photos of the 3 of them posing outside w/ snow on their muzzles. Or the 3 of them in front of the fireplace in their jammies. Everytime I think about the trip, I get excited. I'm hoping to someday have a winter cabin in N.C.

[Linda]

Another cute picture would be with all three covered in snow...ya know how they get those snow clumps on their fur? So, cute. But, then again, you probably have some adorable snow bunny suits planned for them. Have fun! I TOO would love a cabin in NC. So peaceful. Oh BTW, to get the santa smiley, when you reply you can look over on the left of the screen (Clickable Smilies) and scroll down to the end of that list and see (Show All). Click there. There's a whole host of other great smilies!

[Milopup]

For those who live in colder weather areas (where there is a real winter), do you usually have your cairns in sweaters and coats in the winter? What about booties for the rain and snow?

Moving to London mean cold, wet weather, and I am wondering how much clothes to buy for the pup.

[toomanypaws]

Milopup,

I was born and raised in Michigan and always had dogs, but none of them ever wore a sweater. My grandma had a toy poodle that did wear a sweater when it was cold but never would budge in those boots. I know North Carolina doesn't get extremely cold, but being my 3 sissy-la-las are Florida girls I'm getting them each a sweater.

Linda,

My cairns have never been in the snow so I don't know about snow clumps in the fur. I've just searched the web and have seen so many winter pictures of cairns having a blast in the snow. Thanks for the info on smilies. The santa hat is the cutest!