We sat down with Annie Blasberg, pet parent, graphic design student, and outdoor adventurer to learn about her experience traveling around the country in her built up van with her dachshund Churro and her advice on van life with a pup.
So how did you first decide to go on this van life adventure with Churro?
I knew I always wanted to travel after school but after graduating from Dartmouth in the middle of a pandemic, I knew that it was going to look very different than I’d originally planned. Because I had taken architecture and design classes in school and I have this interest in travel, converting the van to take on a road trip seemed to be the natural solution. It was a three month endeavor with a very steep learning curve considering I had never done anything like it before. After watching many youtube videos, intensive research, and many trips to the local mechanic and car dealership, I finally finished building the van in October and set off on the road with Churro.
Was Churro on the trip with you the whole time?
She started with me when I first set off from Rhode Island in October and was along with me on every hike and all my other adventures through the end of February when I dropped her off with my parents in Utah. Because she was so young when we first set out, it was nice to know she was down for anything and I wasn’t pushing her out of her comfort zone. It’s actually funny because even now whenever she sees the van she gets excited and in a way I think she considers it her home.
What were some of the van life challenges you faced?
Because I had built up the van myself, I had a better understanding of how everything worked which was really helpful in troubleshooting while on the road. In terms of van life with Churro, the two things that required planning were grocery shopping, and planning out hikes. I didn’t want to leave Churro in the van for too long so I made sure to do my shopping efficiently while the van had plenty of air ventilation. Because some parks don’t allow dogs, it was important for me to see which ones were dog friendly in advance to make sure she could come with me.
That’s really helpful advice. What were your favorite activities while adventuring?
Definitely hiking! Churro is a dachshund so she isn’t necessarily the best hiker but she would usually walk the first mile with me, which was great to get her exercise, and then she’d sit in my backpack while I hiked the rest. When you’re hiking with a dog in a backpack, people can’t help but stop and say hello so I found it great for making friends.
What was the best part about having Churro with you?
There were so many amazing parts. The sense of familiarity that she gave as well as the routine was really helpful. If we were on a long drive it was a great reminder to get out on a walk with her or no matter where we were, we still had that same daily routine. There’s also just something wonderful about having her present. It’s easier to make friends, as I mentioned earlier, she’s great company, and it gave me peace of mind at night since she would bark if she ever heard sounds.
What would you say are helpful things to think about when planning a van trip with your pup?
Because Churro likes to jump around, I found it really helpful to have a carseat for her that connected to her harness. She grew to love that spot and it also gave me peace of mind knowing she wouldn’t be jumping while we were driving. I also made sure to have plenty of tennis balls and bones to play fetch. Other important things to have for hiking are collapsible water and food bowls, and while in dry areas like AZ and UT, paw jam for her paws was critical.
Thank you for speaking with us, Annie! And good luck on your next adventures with Churro.
Planning a trip with your pup? We’d love to hear the details! Send us a note at whatthepup@spotandtango.com.
