Got a big dilemma.... we're supposed to be going down to Devon to see the Mother-in-Law in a few weeks.  However as we live in Scotland it takes 9 hours of driving, and if we took the dog it would take even longer, what with regular stops and a walk or two.  Is this just too cruel to him?  He's happy in the car, will curl up and go to sleep if he's not watching the world and he'll have a wonderful holiday down there on the beaches etc but just feel rather guilty about the trip...  Don't want to put him into kennels though as he'd go mad (do special Collie kennels exist with lots of entertainment ?!) and don't think my parents could cope with his exuberance for a whole week.  Alternative is me not going down to Devon! 

if you take your time and make sure he's entertained and can sleep, gets toileted etc i can't see that it's a problem. plan ahead with food etc obviously.

If you stop often enough and he's happy to settle in the car, I don't see why it would be a problem.

When my Remy (dobermann) was 5 months old, I went all the way up to Cannoch (bout 10 minutes up from Loch Ness) - from Kent!   Took us the best part of two days with a stopover at a dog friendly hotel, with about 8-9 hours driving both days.

It was the same on the way back of course, with a stopover elsewhere - so not only did he get to see and enjoy Scotland but also Cumbria for an evening and Morecambe for an afternoon as well.

we have just returned from a 7 hour car journey with my three dogs once they realise they are not going to the park ...LOL they settle down and sleep a few stops along the way for you and dog will be fine.
I make them comfy plenty of padding !

No problem. We have to visit family in Scotland and it's 8 hours from us. The first time we took our dog he was 18 weeks old and we were so worried. However, it was fine. We only stopped twice - he slept all the way !. When we go now he seems to know that with the car piled high and his hammock on the back seat he's in for a fun holiday and is really quite happy !.

Cheers for the reassurance, feeling happy now that we can go!

At the end of June we are driving to the World Show in Sweden -that car journey will take us 3 days each way -and yes we are taking a dog.

Truth is after the initial 30 mins of my girl thinking she is going to my mum's or another family member she will settle down and sleep.  I judge stopping times on when my girl starts to stir as I know she is ready for a toilet break.  Our dogs are happy just to be with us, they don't really care if that is in a car, a house, tent or hotel.  Unless your dog is car sick they don't mind at all.

Ditto when we travel a long way the boys are on the back seat with their seat belts, we ususlly have to wake them up to go walkies!! they love to just be with us, and they are nosy

Just to add you are in for a wonderful treat when you get down here to Devon. Make sure you visit the beaches and the moors(if your dog is ok with sheep,ponies etc) With regular stops for walks and wees it sounds like your dog will be fine

Can't imagine why not if he's happy in the car and has a few stops to wee and stretch legs. We regularly take our 3 spaniels from London to the Lake District, not as far but no problem.

We take out girl to Newquay Cornwall with us and thats about the same time, she usually sleeps the whole way there!! lol
As long as they have toilet breaks and toys incase they stay awake they will be cool

I've also driven my two across Europe over 3 days and they were absolutely fine, they loved all the extra walkies (we stopped every 3 hours for a quick piddle break for us all ), especially the extra long ones in the mornings.  The only thing we had a problem with was, that they did not like being left in hotel rooms on their own when we went out for dinner.  We resolved this by leaving them in the car (large boot area and winter time) and then they were absolutely fine. 

We drove from Slovenia to UK with my dog and he was absolutely fine.... that means we crossed most of Europe and he didn't seem to mind at all. We did stop quite a few times, but most of the time he was sujt sleeping.
When I picked him up from the breeder (he was 3,5months old) I drove from Slovakia (where the breeder lives) to Slovenia which meant crossing the whole Austria. It was summer, loads of traffic and it took me about 8 hours. He was absolutely fine.

We just did an all day drive purely for sight seeing with our six month old puppy and he was fine.  Lots of stops and out to walk around though.  My two cents are go for it, take lots of water to drink and be prepared for tummy upset, which the car motion induces sometimes.

We constantly travel with our dogs and they just settle.

Have you considered travelling throught the night?  Your dog will no doubt be used to 7 or so hours undisturbed?

my yorkshire terriers are nearly 5 I took them over to spain alicante at 10wks  in the car from the Lake district via Plymouth to Santander then drove to Alicante. the main problem was finding dog friendly hotels in Spain which is better these days.  the dogs had the whole back seat quilts pillows etc.  Loved the car journey the boat a bit grim for all. but we all soon forgot as we were all together and managed to live between here and Spain for 5 years. Some dogs I know have travel problems in cars but I believe it helps to train from the start.

we are going from essex to the highlands this year with the diog, our car is not fast and we will stop every 3hours or so for a wee etc, and a walk halfway he loves the car and i have no worries about it at all. i will need to stop more than him! if yours are like mine as it sounds i wouldnt worry x