Teresa J Rhyne is the #1 New York Times Bestselling author of THE DOG LIVED (and So Will I) and THE DOGS WERE RESCUED (and So Was I). She’s also a breast cancer survivor, a vegan and an active supporter of the BEAGLE FREEDOM PROJECT – on a mission to rescue Beagles used in animal experimentation and give them a chance at life in a loving forever home. Plus she’s really funny and sassy and knows her wine!

MEET TERESA’S DOGS: First there was Seamus – star of Teresa’s bestselling debut memoir. He has now passed on his legacy of literary dogness to Teresa’s current pair of yowlers Percival and Daphne (pictured above with her human love Chris.)

Now let’s talk road-tripping…

When traveling in the car with you, are Daphne & Percival a) sat in your lap, paws on the steering wheel b) head out the window taking it all in c) laid-back and snoozing or d) secure in carrier e) other behavior! 

Both Beagles ride in the backseat with harnesses hooked to the seat belts. There is also a blanket on the back seat and in Percival’s case, his bed. He hates the car, but the bed seems to give him a bit more security and comfort. Daphne loves the car and most frequently lays on the backseat with her face in the air conditioning vent.

If you could click your fingers and wake up anywhere in the world with your dogs, what destination would you most like to experience together and why?

Probably the south of France. All of France is so dog friendly, but I think my gang would enjoy the countryside, the food, and the ability to join us just about everywhere we went. And the human part of my family would greatly enjoy the wine.

What is your fondest memory of taking a trip with your dogs?

The first time we took Daphne to Paso Robles with us was for a Wine 4 Paws fundraiser for Woods Humane Society. We’d only just adopted Daphne a few weeks before and to see how happy she was to be in the beautiful open countryside, and joining us everywhere we went, was just really touching. I particularly remember taking her to Avila Beach on our way home. Her ears were flying in the wind, her tongue was hanging out, and her eyes were wide with joy. She was the picture of happiness and exhilaration. We knew we’d done well to bring her into our family.

Do you have an all-time favorite dog-friendly accommodation? Perhaps one that went above and beyond in terms of making your furry friend welcome?

I have a tie for this answer. But I have two beagles, so that works, right? First I’d say the Hummingbird Inn in Ojai, CA http://hummingbirdinnojai.com We stayed there with both dogs when I was on book tour. They not only have gorgeous rooms, with big fluffy white comforters, but private fenced patios with a tree! No jumping up and letting the dogs out in the middle of the night; no leashes needed; we just left the patio door open and they could come and go as they pleased. Best night of sleep we had on the tour.

And tied for First: The Shorebreak Hotel in Huntington Beach, CA. www.shorebreakhotel.com This is just the coolest hotel. They welcome the dogs with treats and even offer you a dog bed to take to your room. The restaurant has a very dog-friendly patio (Just about everyone on the patio has a dog with them) and a dog “yappy hour” menu. Plus, they’re very close to the Huntington Beach dog beach—which is just pure joy.

Have you ever had any doggie disasters while traveling with your pet? 

Our biggest issue is that Percival gets car sick. We’ve learned to spray him with lavender and calming oils, give him his bed and his toy, and also, most importantly, we give him ginger cookies to soothe his tummy. He’s gotten much, much better, but there’s still the occasional sick spell. Oh, and spending two weeks in the fall on the road on book tour with one omnivore human, one vegan human, and two beagles certainly had its challenges when it came to meal time. We had to search for places with patios for the dogs, and vegan options for me. On the chillier days in northern California, that was difficult. There was a lot of take out.

Any tried & tested tips for happy travels with your dog?

If it’s going to be a long trip, we map out where the dog parks are so we can make regular stops. This is particularly important for Percival and his carsickness issues, but Daphne appreciates being able to run about (and sniff new things—very important to a beagle!). The triple-ginger cookie snaps from Trader Joe’s are also a tried and true staple.

Website: www.teresarhyne.com

You can also follow Teresa’s Beagle life on Instagram.

Facebook Page: Teresa J Rhyne Author

Twitter: twitter.com/teresarhyne

Fun video of Teresa chatting about Seamus.

 Website: Beagle Freedom Project