A blog post by Josiah, the traveling Yorkie puppy
Guess what? I got to go on a really big road trip. I traveled all the way to Chattanooga. I had so much fun. I am very excited to show you my pictures. Ready? Here we go!
Miss Janet got me up super early, and we rode in the car for a really long time. I’ve never ridden that long. I was such a good boy. The rhythm of the car made me sleepy, so I stayed settled.
Finally Miss Janet woke me and said we had arrived in the big city of Chattanooga. I’ve been living on a farm for eight months, so I was surprised at being in such a big city.
The sidewalks, the noise, the people, the smells! Everything was spinning around me. Miss Janet thought it would be a good idea to find a patch of grass. We found a park with really pretty flowers. When my paws touched the grass, I felt a little more settled.
We walked through the park and into a neighborhood. It was amazing to see people living so close together with so many people out walking. We don’t really see that kind of thing on the farm.
We walked up to a building that had lots of yummy smells. I heard a familiar voice. I couldn’t believe it. One of my aunts was there! She’s my doodle friend Beauregard’s mom, and she lives on a farm close to ours. What was she doing in Chattanooga?
I was so excited to see her familiar face. I felt all wiggly. She picked me up and brought me out to the patio. Wow! More of my aunts were there. I was so happy to see them. Even though we weren’t at home, it kind of felt like home. I felt more settled.
After Miss Janet got her favorite coffee, we all decided to walk through the neighborhood. Wherever there were cars, Miss Janet carried me. She said because I’m still a puppy, I walk all over the place and change directions a lot. She’s not wrong. And she didn’t want me running into the street.
We got to a big park with no cars, so Miss Janet set me down and let me lead the way. I love meeting people and dogs. I ran up to people to greet them, and they stopped to pat me. Miss Janet told them I’m a farm dog, and it was my first time in the big city. They all seemed impressed by my adventurous personality. Miss Janet let me sniff a few dogs my size. One was a cute little city girl.
Then we had to walk on a busy sidewalk with lots of cars going by. Miss Janet put me in her shoulder carrier so I could stay snuggled safely inside. I was still a little nervous with all the loud car sounds. One of my aunts started telling me I was safe. I felt calmer then.
We walked a really long time and got to another neighborhood. We stopped at another coffee shop. The humans sure do like coffee.
Then Miss Janet got me a surprise. She called it a pup cup. I don’t know what was in it, but it was the coolest, dreamiest-tasting thing I’ve ever had. It was so good! I got it all over my face.
Miss Janet wouldn’t let me finish the whole thing. She said it would be too much for my puppy tummy. She gave me some water instead. Definitely not the same thrill, but I was thirsty, so I drank it.
After a lot more time riding in the shoulder carrier, we got to a park where I could walk. I even crossed a big bridge! I felt like such a grownup, traveling, big city dog.
The humans stopped to eat at an outdoor restaurant. You might wonder where my meal was, but I’m not really an afternoon eater. I prefer to eat in the morning and in the evening. My aunt held me and gave me a few pieces of orange. Yummy! Then I got really sleepy and took a nap.
After more riding in the shoulder carrier, running and sniffing around parks, with more smells than I’ve ever imagined, and meeting more dogs and people, the humans said it was time for dinner.
Miss Janet actually let me walk down a real sidewalk next to a street. She said I was settled enough that I could try it. I focused really hard on walking straight ahead like a grownup dog.
The sidewalk still felt weird on my paws. It’s not the same as farm grass and dirt. It feels kind of rough. But I showed that I can walk calmly in the big city.
We got to another outdoor restaurant. My aunt let me sit in her lap and read the menu with her. I couldn’t really eat anything from the menu, but it was fun to pretend. Miss Janet got me some water and gave me a few of my salmon treats from home.
I started feeling really sleepy, more sleepy than I’ve ever felt before. All the noises, the smells, the people, it all swirled in a fog, and my eyes started closing on their own.
You might wonder why I was so tired when I was sitting in my shoulder carrier most of the day. We Yorkies have such a sensitive nose. We smell tens of thousands of times more than you do. That nose activity is exhausting and calming at the same time.
Within a few minutes, I was sound asleep, dreaming about all I’d seen, processing all I had heard and smelled.
I sort of remember getting a kiss from all my aunts and getting back into the car for the long drive home. But it was all kind of fuzzy.
When I woke up, it was morning on the farm. I might have thought it was all a dream, but I could feel the roughness of the city sidewalks on my paws and smell a thousand scents still lingering on my hair.
It was real! I had done my first road trip like a big dog. And I did really well.
I thought I would have lots of relaxing time on the farm to recover from all my big city adventures.
But I barely had time to nap for a day. Then we were back in the car and on the road again. Yes, I’m serious.
Miss Janet said I am becoming a very good travel companion. Apparently, this is how travel pros live.
I hope you enjoyed looking at my road trip photos. Thanks for stopping by! Hope whatever journeys you take this week are amazing.
Paws and wiggles,
Josiah
The Inquisitive Yorkie 