Packing To Go Away With Two Whippets

Every time we go away with Mylo and Moss, I tell myself we'll pack light.

And every time, we end up filling the car with half the house: blankets, towels, spare bedding, and an impressive collection of toys. You'd think I was moving abroad, not going to Cornwall for a week.

Our recent trip at the end of September was no different. The days were bright, the air just cool enough to feel crisp, and the beaches almost empty (which, if you've ever been to Cornwall in August, you'll know is an absolute gift). The boys had a wonderful time exploring new sights and smells, doing their signature bursts of zoomies, and claiming every soft surface they could find.

After a week of seaside walks and lazy evenings, we were once again reminded of the little things that make a holiday with whippets not only easier, but calmer, cleaner and infinitely cosier.

Sheets, Duvets and Throws

Most luxury dog-friendly cottages come with that familiar rule: "Dogs allowed, but not on the furniture."

It always makes me smile. Whippets read that as a polite suggestion rather than a firm boundary. More of a guideline, really.

To keep everyone happy (the cottage owner, us, and most importantly the dogs), we pack plenty of throws and always pick up a cheap fitted sheet and duvet on the way. Once they're spread across the beds and sofas, the whole space feels instantly ours: soft, welcoming and worry-free. No fretting about them sneaking into bed (because let's be honest, they always will), no pawprints or sand or mystery substances left behind on the furniture. Just the satisfaction of knowing the cottage will look exactly the same when we leave as it did when we arrived.

It's a small effort that makes a big difference. The dogs can settle in straight away, and we can actually relax without constantly saying "off the bed" (which has never once worked in the entire history of whippet ownership).

Jumpers for the Breeze

Cornwall in late September still holds a little warmth, but the sea breeze can catch you out.

Whippets, with their fine coats and thin skin, are built for elegance, not endurance. The moment the wind picks up, they make their disapproval abundantly clear: a small shiver, a mournful look, and a quiet standstill until someone (me) fetches their jumper. It's like travelling with tiny, judgemental supermodels.

Once wrapped up, though? Transformed. They trot along the beach with that unmistakable whippet confidence, tails high and ears flicking in the wind. Warm dogs make for happy walks and far fewer dramatic pauses where they simply refuse to move until their demands are met.

Beds and Familiar Comforts

The one thing we never leave behind is their bed. It's bulky, awkward to pack, and takes up the whole boot or back seat. Worth every inch of space.

The moment we set it down in a new place, they find it. It smells like home, it feels like home, and it gives them somewhere to retreat when the excitement of exploring gets a bit much. After long walks and full days, they curl into it, eyes closing almost immediately.

The sight of two sleepy dogs, perfectly content and snuggled up in their own bed, is honestly the moment the day finally feels done. Everything else can wait.

Poo Bags and Wipes

Holidays seem to make whippets wonderfully, shall we say, productive.

Maybe it's the excitement, maybe it's the sheer number of walks, or maybe it's just the universe keeping us humble. Whatever the reason, we always get through twice as many poo bags as expected. We keep them everywhere: in coat pockets, the car door, every bag we own, probably a few we've forgotten about.

And then there are the wipes. Truly the unsung heroes of dog travel.

Beco wipes, gentle and biodegradable, have rescued more situations than I can count. Muddy paws, sandy legs, that mysterious patch of something they decided to roll in. And as anyone with boy whippets knows, there's the inevitable moment when the aim goes wrong or they lose balance and pee up their own leg (why? why do they do this?). A quick wipe and peace is restored. They make the difference between chaos and calm, and honestly, that's everything when you're on holiday.

The Towels (and Then a Few More)

You can never have too many towels when travelling with whippets.

They're not exactly water dogs, but curiosity always wins in the end. A few cautious steps into the shallows here, a brave paddle there, followed by an immediate sprint back to dry land like they've just survived something terrible. Add in early morning garden zoomies on damp grass and the occasional muddy adventure, and suddenly every towel you brought is in use.

We bring big fluffy ones for proper drying off, smaller ones just for paws, and a couple that live in the car boot. Having them stacked by the door gives the holiday a small sense of order, a quiet reassurance that no matter what chaos unfolds outside, inside will stay dry and clean.

Toys, Glorious Toys

We always say we'll just bring a few. We never do.

Each toy seems to have its own specific purpose that only the dogs understand: the squeaky one for mornings, the luxuriously soft ones for evenings, and the well-worn favourite that goes everywhere and is, frankly, disgusting but apparently irreplaceable (Mylo's soft dolphin, for instance). The cottage always ends up scattered with them by day two.

But I secretly love it. The toys make the space feel alive, familiar and happy. Watching Mylo and Moss play or quietly chew beside us in the evening is part of what makes the trip feel like a real break: the same comfort and routine, just in a new setting with better views.

Food, Treats and Full Bellies

No whippet trip is complete without an abundance of food and treats. The sea air seems to make them hungrier than ever, and there's no faster way to ruin a peaceful evening than running out of dinner halfway through the week and having to drive around strange villages at 7pm looking for a pet shop that's still open.

We always bring more than we think we'll need, along with a good supply of treats for walks, bribes, and bath time negotiations. Keeping their routine the same makes everything easier: breakfast in the sunshine, dinner after the last walk of the day. Simple, predictable, and exactly what they need to stay happy, settled and grounded.

The Real Essentials

Every towel, sheet and throw we pack has a purpose. They keep things clean and calm, yes, but they also make a space feel like ours. They mean we can let Mylo and Moss do what they do best: explore, nap, and take over every available corner, without worrying about the aftermath.

Travelling with whippets isn't about making things perfect. It's about making them comfortable. And when you finally sit down at the end of the day, the dogs clean, dry and fast asleep in their bed, you realise that all those extra bits you packed were completely worth it.

Because the truth is, when you travel with whippets, you're not just bringing your dogs with you. You're bringing home too.