Forum Discussion

goufgators's avatar
goufgators
Explorer
Aug 20, 2013

For you dog lovers...

My DW and I are on our 5th RV. We've had a Class C, two class A's, a 5th wheel and a travel trailer. We currently have an '05 Itasca class A. We got into the RV lifestyle, in part, because we have three dogs and were not about to leave them with a 'dog sitter' or board them while on extended road trips...just as we would not have left our 'two-legged' children with someone when traveling. In short, we consider our 'four-legged' furry kids an intregral part of our family. Thankfully, they seem to enjoy traveling as much as I and the DW. The purpose of this is to see if there are others who are primarily RV owners because of a desire to travel with their pets. I suspect there are many. Would also like (well maybe not like ;)) to hear from those who believe we are a bit nuts to feel this way about animals!

If you respond saying you also carry your pets on trips, would like please let us know what type 'furry kids' you have and if they are good traveling companions. Our 'kids' are a Cocker Spaniel, a white Schnauzer and a 6 pound Yorkie who is thoroughly convinced she is as big as a Doberman./ Larry
Class A
  • rgatijnet1's avatar
    rgatijnet1
    Explorer III
    Aug 20, 2013
    Our Great Pyrenees loves to travel with us. She also likes to snuggle in bed on those cold Winter nights. Every year we travel to some location, with plenty of snow, for all of us to play in.
  • smlranger's avatar
    smlranger
    Explorer
    Aug 20, 2013
    We have enjoyed the RV lifestyle since 1984 with a pop-up, 2 TT's, and are now on our third and, hopefully, last motorhome. It all started with the desire to camp and travel and take our dog/s with us. We now have two rescues that love to go with us and we would not have it any other way.

    'Ain't no love like puppy love....'
  • Dog_Folks's avatar
    Dog_Folks
    Explorer
    Aug 20, 2013
    In our full time travels, we have had:

    Two retired Racing Greyhounds, and a Belgium Malinois (Had these when we retired.)

    A Basset Hound

    A Chihuahua Mix (present dog)

    Over the years, through attrition, we have cut down on the size and the numbers of dogs.

    All these dogs loved traveling with us because instead of staying home, alone, while we worked, they are with us virtually 24/7, they get lots of attention, and many walks each day.
  • Devonm2012's avatar
    Devonm2012
    Explorer
    Aug 20, 2013
    We live fulltime in an RV traveling the country. We decided to do so for many reasons ~ wanted our own bed, bathroom, home cooked meals, and our dogs with us. I have no children and won't ever so to me, my dogs are my kids. I showed dogs (Cocker Spaniels) for a living at one time so they used to be my "bread and butter" too. We only have one now (French bulldog), as we had to put our 16.5 year old Maltese to sleep just last week. My dogs are not allowed to bark, are ALWAYS on lead and will sit and lift a paw to greet anyone that cares to meet them. He is also a registered pet therapy dog and many an inpatient hospice patient has taken their last breath while holding on to his neck. Dogs are part of my legacy, and I am very proud of that.
  • RoadLife's avatar
    RoadLife
    Explorer
    Aug 20, 2013
    This is exactly why we got our RV. We were not going to leave our dogs behind. That and having our own bed and bath and kitchen. Our dogs love to travel, Boomer (Brittany) perched on the dash upside down sunning his belly and Shasta (Aussie) laying next to one of us to grab some pets.

    The one issue we have is making sure the Brittany gets enough off-leash running time. We keep an eye out for dog parks.
  • Two_Jayhawks's avatar
    Two_Jayhawks
    Explorer
    Aug 20, 2013
    We travel with a pair of beagles but they are not the only reason why we enjoy the life style. Traveling with our pets is an added bonus.
  • Farley1's avatar
    Farley1
    Explorer
    Aug 20, 2013
    The only reason we first got a 5th wheel was for the dog (GSD). Now we've moved on to a class A and three dogs. Where we go, they go.
  • Impkitti's avatar
    Impkitti
    Explorer
    Aug 20, 2013
    As our 5ers got bigger, our dogs got smaller. :B

    Started with a 17 ft MeeToo and a 65 lb dog, four rigs later we have a 29 ft and two 20 lb dogs.

    The dogs will run from gate to gate whinging when they know we are loading up - just to remind us they are there. They worry that they *might* get forgotten. They each have their own bed in the back seat of the truck and seatbelt.

    Our two siamese are elderly and on meds, so we have started taking them with us. They are less excited about traveling - it would not be far from wrong to say they hate it. They travel in a carrier belted in between the dog beds. Once we settle for the night, and they have their food, bed and laps, they are fine
  • glamisorbust's avatar
    glamisorbust
    Explorer II
    Aug 20, 2013
    We have a 110# 7 year old german shepherd pure bred. She loves traveling with us in our class A. She especially loves going to the mountains and relaxing, playing ball with us and breathing cool, clean air. We switched from a 5th to a class A partly because she is more at ease in the class A than in the back seat of the truck.
  • discovery4us's avatar
    discovery4us
    Explorer
    Aug 20, 2013
    The ability to have our dogs was definitly a reason in buying our first FW and now with the MH they are just as comfortable on the road as at home. First travel mate was a Queensland/Chow mix(Nails) that was 14 and now we travel with a 5 year old black lab(London) and a 3 year old chug(Brooklyn),chihuahua and pug mix. We brought home Brooklyn at about 4 weeks old and her older sister has done a good job of raising her. It is funny to watch a little 15 lb. chug acting like an 80 lb. lab. I have family and friends that think I am crazy for always including the dogs in our plans but they haven't seen the look my lab gives me if I try to leave in the MH without her:)

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