Chris Lindamood, who shares his adventures with golden retriever Nala online, discusses his pet-approved travel and wellness tips.
What inspired you to start documenting your adventures with Nala?
I’ve always had a passion for photography and videography. When I moved to Utah, I knew right away that I wanted to get a dog to explore this beautiful state with me. Naturally, I took photos of all of our adventures, and as video content became more popular on social media, I started creating videos as well. Once I started creating and posting videos, I felt like I was able to more accurately share the relationship that Nala and I have together, and people could get a better sense of our personalities. Originally, I started sharing my adventures with Nala to bring joy to others and share my passion for photography, but after creating videos and taking photos of our life since she was a puppy, I am becoming more appreciative of the fact that I have such a detailed account of our life together that I’ll be able to look back on.
What have been some of your favorite adventures or trips with Nala?
We have a new adventure or multiple adventures every single week. Some of my favorite moments are just being able to experience her goofy personality at home, the little moments in between bigger moments. However, some of my favorite adventures with her would probably be taking her to the Oregon coast so she could run and play on the beach for the first time, or when we took a huge inflatable tent (basically a house) and camped out during a snowstorm.
What’s Nala’s routine before going on a long journey?
Nala always knows that when the big bags come out and I start packing, we are going on an adventure. She can literally sense the anticipation as I get ready for a trip. Her usual routine involves investigating every bag to make sure that I have all of my essentials and being as close as possible to me throughout the duration of the packing to make sure she is not left behind.
What are some key things you keep in your travel bag to make sure Nala stays comfortable and healthy?
Nala doesn’t need a lot for traveling, but we do have some essentials. I always keep a first aid kit with me anywhere we go. There are specific ones that are made for dog injuries, with instructions for how to treat common dog injuries. I have several that I keep in my camping trailer, in my hiking bag, etc. As Nala gets older, another piece of gear I want to start bringing on our hikes is a rescue sling, just in case there’s ever a scenario where she can’t walk and I need to carry her.
Of course, I always bring a leash and a collar for her. I also make sure to have plenty of water and a good way to give her water. Some water bottles have built-in bowls, or there are small, portable bowls that I bring as well.
I also make sure to bring her food, of course, but I do bring extra food just in case anything ever happens. Typically, I’ll bring about 30% more food than I would need for the trip. For example, if the trip is planned for 10 days, I’ll bring an extra 3 days’ worth of food.
How do you maintain Nala’s health and wellness while you’re adventuring so much?
The most important advice I can share (and I have seen the difference in Nala myself) is to feed your dog the highest quality food you can afford, and make sure they get plenty of physical activity. We go for two walks around the neighborhood every single day, just as her normal routine, and I do something more intense with her at least once a week, and often 2-3 times per week.
With how active Nala is, I started her on a hip and joint supplement pretty early in her life, around 3 years old. I actually created our own hip and joint supplement more recently, called Nala Nutrition, which I have now been giving her for over a year.
Nala actually used to be about 20 pounds overweight when she was about 3-4 years old. I didn’t realize I was feeding her too much as she transitioned out of her puppy stage and didn’t require as much food anymore, even though we were still so active. Keeping her at an optimal healthy weight now is one of the most important things I do for her to keep her quality of life high for as long as possible.
What’s your advice for pet parents who want to explore the world with their pets responsibly?
Consider getting pet insurance, especially if you have a more active lifestyle with your dog. Even if you aren’t as active, pet insurance is still a good idea. Having a dog is a huge responsibility and certainly can be expensive at times. When you have pet insurance, it’s much easier to say yes to treatment or emergency care if anything ever happens.
Do your research beforehand so you know what your dog can and can’t do. Some places are more dog-friendly than others. Have a plan before you go. I always make sure that when I travel when Nala, she is able to do everything with me so that the time that she has to spend alone is limited.
Take your dog with you if you can. Traveling with your dog and giving them new experiences is such a beautiful thing to be able to do. Their lives are short; bring them with you if you can.
