Dear RVers (with Dogs),My family and I are renting a Class C RV next week and we're bringing our 9 month old dog with us (our first dog - still learning on that front too). Part of us choosing an RV trip for our summer vacation was in fact to bring the dog, and most of our destinations will happy welcome her hiking, swimming, etc.My question is this.. If we find ourselves at a destination that is not dog friendly, or we have to go on a tour for a few hours some time, would we be able to leave the dog in her crate in the RV? Will the larger cubic capacity of the RV be ok to leave her in in terms of heat? Or should I think of an RV just like a car where we can't leave her for more than a few minutes? Would I be allowed to run the generator while we're NOT there to run the A/C to keep a good temperature inside? I'm sure from a dog perspective, we could open windows and such, but don't want to leave open windows from a security perspective... right?Please help. We're anxious to enjoy the trip, but undoubtedly there will be times that we will have to part ways with our pup, and just trying to figure out what the pro RVers do with their pets.Obviously this will be less of a concern when we're at a campground, hooked up to electricity, but I'm wondering when we take the 3 hour detour to do something on the side of the road.Any thoughts are MUCH appreciated. Thank you all in advance.Best,Jay

It may be a once in a lifetime event, but I have had the transformer serving our power pedestal blow up and the pets inside with the a/c running got quite hot. There are other failures that could shut down the a/c. So, bottom line, if you can't check on them every 30 minutes, it's best to have open windows if the weather is moderate. Otherwise a pet roomy cage in a shady spot, locked and chained to something is a better alternative.

We routinely leave our three dogs in the camper for up to about 4 hours. Open all the roof vents, crack open the cab windows, leave lots of drinking water and take off.Our camper has a small bathroom window that you can't reach from outside without a ladder. I leave that open as well.Been doing this for the last 14 years. No problems yet.I have a 4x6 card with my name and cell phone number I put on the dashboard on the drivers side just in case.

What does the RV rental company say about the nine month old puppy, especially as relates to leaving her alone in the unit?

It takes an RV a lot longer to heat up than a car, particularly if you have all curtain/blinds/shades closed and a sunshade on the windshield to keep sunlight (and therefore heat) out. Whether you leave her in her crate depends on the dog. Some are used to being left crated and are fine. Ours, particularly the very old one, would go crazy.I suggest you devise some way to block off the cab if she is likely to get in the front seat and watch for you. Even if she is perfectly fine, some well-meaning #$%^& may break the window to "rescue" her.Obviously all this should be tempered with "if"s. It's OK as long as temperatures are moderate, preferably there is a little shade, it's cloudy, etc. Don't do it at high noon in Death Valley. You can also try a little test ... before you leave the dog in there, set it up as you would for the dog, and lock it up for an hour. Then get in it and see if you would be uncomfortable. If so, she will, too.

My opinion. If the temperature were much above 80 degrees and the sun shining, no way am I going to leave our dog in the RV without A/C running. I don't know what the temp rise of an RV vs a car would be but I don't plan on our dog being the test subject.Another consideration. How will the dog act when left alone in a strange environment. Some are very quiet. Some bark the whole time they are alone. And some will tear up things.

Experienced RVing Dog Owner Question.. PLEASE | Good Sam Community

DougE
Explorer
Jul 26, 2014
It may be a once in a lifetime event, but I have had the transformer serving our power pedestal blow up and the pets inside with the a/c running got quite hot. There are other failures that could shut down the a/c. So, bottom line, if you can't check on them every 30 minutes, it's best to have open windows if the weather is moderate. Otherwise a pet roomy cage in a shady spot, locked and chained to something is a better alternative.
ed6713
Explorer
Jul 26, 2014
We routinely leave our three dogs in the camper for up to about 4 hours. Open all the roof vents, crack open the cab windows, leave lots of drinking water and take off.
Our camper has a small bathroom window that you can't reach from outside without a ladder. I leave that open as well.
Been doing this for the last 14 years. No problems yet.

I have a 4x6 card with my name and cell phone number I put on the dashboard on the drivers side just in case.
Francesca_Knowl
Explorer
Jul 26, 2014
What does the RV rental company say about the nine month old puppy, especially as relates to leaving her alone in the unit?
pompomgirl
Explorer
Jul 26, 2014
It takes an RV a lot longer to heat up than a car, particularly if you have all curtain/blinds/shades closed and a sunshade on the windshield to keep sunlight (and therefore heat) out.

Whether you leave her in her crate depends on the dog. Some are used to being left crated and are fine. Ours, particularly the very old one, would go crazy.

I suggest you devise some way to block off the cab if she is likely to get in the front seat and watch for you. Even if she is perfectly fine, some well-meaning #$%^& may break the window to "rescue" her.

Obviously all this should be tempered with "if"s. It's OK as long as temperatures are moderate, preferably there is a little shade, it's cloudy, etc. Don't do it at high noon in Death Valley. You can also try a little test ... before you leave the dog in there, set it up as you would for the dog, and lock it up for an hour. Then get in it and see if you would be uncomfortable. If so, she will, too.
BB_TX
Nomad
Jul 26, 2014
My opinion. If the temperature were much above 80 degrees and the sun shining, no way am I going to leave our dog in the RV without A/C running. I don't know what the temp rise of an RV vs a car would be but I don't plan on our dog being the test subject.

Another consideration. How will the dog act when left alone in a strange environment. Some are very quiet. Some bark the whole time they are alone. And some will tear up things.
downtheroad
Explorer
Jul 26, 2014
Hot weather..80 or more.
If we are going to be gone for the day or even most of the day, we find a kennel or vet or dog day care outfit for her. We just don't trust that the power might go out and our A/C will quit.

We always check out the facility carefully before we leave here.
Bill___Kate
Explorer
Jul 26, 2014
In warm weather, doggie day care is the only way to go. If you want to travel with your doggie and treat him right when it is hot out, you need to plan around some unsuitable activities.
chinrv
Explorer
Jul 26, 2014
First, we never, EVER, trust our dog(s) to a day care or kennel. Period. Second your dog must be trained and be comfortable being left alone in the crate. This is especially true in an unfamiliar environment, like a new experience in a MH. We travel a lot with our dogs, and often leave the generator and AC running, both with us in the MH or just the dogs alone. Again, the dogs must be OK with being crated and left alone before you take them on a trip. Obviously, having them potty before you leave them alone, and having a water bowl in the crate is important. But before the trip, take a mini trip and try out the scenario and see how it works.
javelindesign
Explorer
Jul 26, 2014
Wow, Thank you all so much for your input and quick reply. To add some more information... our dog Harper is well trained, and very used to being in her crate which we are bringing on the trip. I have no intentions of leaving her "free" in the rented RV this trip when we are not around to supervise.

I think we can certainly make any of our non-dog outings less than 2-3 hours.

She's a very good dog, used to a few hours alone in here crate, and we'll obviously let her potty before we leave.

My question was really:

1) How much of an issue is heat?

2) Is it ok for the RV/safety to run the generator to power the AC for a few hours when we're not at a hookup, or better to crank non-accessible windows?

THANKS AGAIN EVERYONE - we're really looking forward to this exploratory trip!
MARKW8
Explorer
Jul 26, 2014
We have traveled 7yrs in a truck camper with our Mountain dog. We first try to park in the shade. If she's in the cab during a lunch stop and there's no shade, we try to park with the back to the sun. The overhead shades the cab. If she's in the camper we turn on the high speed vent fan with the lowest windows open. Block as much sun as you can. If they have water and the air is moving without direct sun, 85 inside won't hurt them. Just don't let it be that high to start.

Mark