Why I love and hate Rex Specs
Rex Specs dog goggles and Ear Pro hearing protection are the best protection for my German Shepherd when she rides on the back of my motorcycle—but it's a love-hate relationship!
Let's start with why I love Rex Specs.
We all have a different definition of the "adventure of a lifetime," but for me, it's traveling around the world with my 75-pound German Shepherd, Moxie, on the back of my motorcycle—and that's exactly what I'm doing right now!
We began this adventure together from our home in Guatemala, where we have lived for the past six years, and as I write this, we are just a few hundred kilometers away from reaching the Arctic Ocean near the small village of Tuktoyaktuk in Canada's Northwest Territories.
Over the past five months, Moxie and I have ridden through deserts, mountain ranges, and the breathtaking wilderness of the North. Moxie rides comfortably in her K9 Moto Cockpit motorcycle dog crate .
I put on her safety harness and strap her securely into the carrier so that the hyperactive German Shepherd, Moxie, can't jump out if we see a squirrel, a moose, or a bear on the side of the road. This combination of harness, straps, and carrier also protects her from the occasional slip-up that sometimes occurs in deep gravel or muddy mud.
Aside from the carrier and the safety harness, her Rex Specs dog goggles are the most important piece of gear, and one Moxie never rides without. I know the goggles are indispensable because the one time I let Moxie ride without them for about 15 minutes, her eyes dried out. She developed an eye infection, which we call "a case of the horrible yellow eyes," and we had to make an impromptu vet visit in northern Guatemala!
The Ear Pros are admittedly not Moxie's favorite piece of equipment, but they are essential ear protection when we're speeding down the highway. For example, after crossing from Mexico to the US, we drove 1,000 miles in less than 24 hours. It's called the Iron Butt Challenge, but we called it the "Iron Tail." The Ear Pros kept the wind, bugs, and noise out of her ears for 19.5 hours. It was grueling for me, but not for Moxie. She lay down comfortably the entire ride, even resting her chin on my shoulder and dozing off. When we reached our motel in Jamestown, California, at almost 2 a.m., Moxie jumped down from her cockpit and barked that she wanted to play!
That's why I love Rex Specs—and why I recommend their goggles and hearing protection to anyone else riding with their dog.
Here's why I hate Rex Specs .
Whenever Moxie and I pull into a gas station, stop at a produce stand, or just stop anywhere where people are around, eyes widen, mouths curl into smiles, and phones pop out of pockets to take pictures. The sight of a big dog on a motorcycle turns even the biggest old grump into a giggling child. And it's a wonderful gift to brighten people's days and show them something they haven't seen before.
But here's the thing. We stop, I unbuckle Moxie, and she gets off. The onlookers approach, and what's always the first thing they say?
Do they admire the design and engineering of the vehicle my husband and I invented? No! Do they recognize the skills of the driver—yours truly—who makes riding a motorcycle with a large dog look effortless and effortless? Nope!
"Oh my God, she's wearing goggles! That's amazing," is the joyful refrain that echoes to us at every stop.
For the first few days, it was unclear which path I would take. Would I give in to the demon sitting on my shoulder? Give in to the simmering resentment? Would I loathe Rex Specs for stealing the show?
I can't say I wasn't tempted. But eventually, I realized: if you can't beat them, you should join them! So, I traded in Moxie's inconspicuous black glasses for a pair of bright pink Yazberry Rex Specs !
So, thank you, Rex Specs, for keeping my dog's eyes and ears safe while we travel the world—and yes, thank you also for challenging me to be a better person!
Please follow Moxie and me on our journey around the world! It's a fundraiser in partnership with the United Nations Foundation's Girl Up program to support girls' programs around the world. Visit our website to follow our live tracker, watch our weekly video series, and donate to Girl Up!
