Do most CGs allow large breed dogs? German Shepherd

State/National/COE.......YES

SOME Public CGs...German Shepherd would be on the 'banned breed' list that Insurance Underwriters use.

Plus some public CGs could also have a 'weight' limit/restriction


BUT one COMMON theme.........MUST BE ON A LEASH (6' length max)
Can NOT be tied up and UNATTENDED when outside the RV

So start LEASH training the dog.

And CALL the CGs you plan on visiting and check their 'Pet Policy/Rules'
(which should also be listed on their website)

A three year old dog with no training? And therefore I'm assuming nothing in the way of socialization--the dog isn't used to being out among numerous people in different places? You're going to need to do a LOT of training before taking a dog like that RV'ing. A LOT.

Pawz4me wrote:
A three year old dog with no training? And therefore I'm assuming nothing in the way of socialization--the dog isn't used to being out among numerous people in different places? You're going to need to do a LOT of training before taking a dog like that RV'ing. A LOT.

I don't see that dog being in ANY campground at ANYTIME. We are also in that boat but a different set of circumstances.

We live on a farm (170 acres), the house and yard is 10 and we have a large (100 pound Lab/chow mix who looks nasty but is a big baby. He's very obedient, house broken, leash trained, sits, heels, gives you his paw, lays down on command (took a lot of training when he was a puppy), the OP is out of luck with an adult dog, has to be initiated and done when they are young (ours is 9 now).

We are still concerned because of his size and appearance, so I'm sure it will be interesting, First year for us taking an extended trip. Usually do overnight stuff to our own property in the woods.

My only comment to the OP is... Better find a dog sitter or open your wallet and pay for boarding and it ain't cheap. Especially for an untrained (and probably unruly dog) Good thing is, most boarding facilities also do training so board your pup and have it trained, something you should have done yourself.

SidecarFlip wrote:
the OP is out of luck with an adult dog, has to be initiated and done when they are young (ours is 9 now).

No, not at all.

As someone who has been actively involved in rescue for over three decades and has worked with innumerable adult dogs-- they're all trainable. It can be a little harder to get an adult dog out of an ingrained bad habit than it is to prevent a bad habit from ever developing in a puppy. But I've yet to meet the adult dog who wasn't trainable.

And BTW--I had a lab/chow mix many years ago. She came to me an adult, pregnant, starved and abused (with both fresh wounds and old scars to prove it), and extremely fearful of men. It took a long time, but with the help of my now husband and a kind male neighbor she got completely over her fear of men and we were able to turn her into a confident, outgoing, "bomb proof" dog. She was a really fabulous dog, one of my favorites.

Old-Biscuit wrote:
State/National/COE.......YES

SOME Public CGs...German Shepherd would be on the 'banned breed' list that Insurance Underwriters use.

Plus some public CGs could also have a 'weight' limit/restriction


BUT one COMMON theme.........MUST BE ON A LEASH (6' length max)
Can NOT be tied up and UNATTENDED when outside the RV

So start LEASH training the dog.

And CALL the CGs you plan on visiting and check their 'Pet Policy/Rules'
(which should also be listed on their website)

All of this is correct except substitute the word "private" when he posts "public campgrounds".

SidecarFlip wrote:

Pawz4me wrote:
A three year old dog with no training? And therefore I'm assuming nothing in the way of socialization--the dog isn't used to being out among numerous people in different places? You're going to need to do a LOT of training before taking a dog like that RV'ing. A LOT.

I don't see that dog being in ANY campground at ANYTIME. We are also in that boat but a different set of circumstances.

We live on a farm (170 acres), the house and yard is 10 and we have a large (100 pound Lab/chow mix who looks nasty but is a big baby. He's very obedient, house broken, leash trained, sits, heels, gives you his paw, lays down on command (took a lot of training when he was a puppy), the OP is out of luck with an adult dog, has to be initiated and done when they are young (ours is 9 now).

We are still concerned because of his size and appearance, so I'm sure it will be interesting, First year for us taking an extended trip. Usually do overnight stuff to our own property in the woods.

WOW! JUST WOW! All of this is so far off base, filled with assumptions and obvious lack of knowledge of dogs as a species and individuals that the only thing I can say is ignore every bit of it.

I have a Doberman. 95% of the parks allow him . Only a couple have restrictions.
Any dog can be trained to camp. Just because the dog is accustomed to running free does not mean he cannot be taught to walk on a leash.
My dog camps on friends property where he is off leash the entire time and interacts with everyone there.
He can also go to a tight site KOA type environment and stay on leash the entire time. A well trained dog can adapt to the situation and follow commands.

Pawz4me wrote:

SidecarFlip wrote:
the OP is out of luck with an adult dog, has to be initiated and done when they are young (ours is 9 now).

No, not at all.

As someone who has been actively involved in rescue for over three decades and has worked with innumerable adult dogs-- they're all trainable. It can be a little harder to get an adult dog out of an ingrained bad habit than it is to prevent a bad habit from ever developing in a puppy. But I've yet to meet the adult dog who wasn't trainable.

And BTW--I had a lab/chow mix many years ago. She came to me an adult, pregnant, starved and abused (with both fresh wounds and old scars to prove it), and extremely fearful of men. It took a long time, but with the help of my now husband and a kind male neighbor she got completely over her fear of men and we were able to turn her into a confident, outgoing, "bomb proof" dog. She was a really fabulous dog, one of my favorites.

Every word of this. I work with rescued bully breeds, they are all trainable. Bizmark was 8 when I adopted him - he's calm, fully trained, and goes everywhere I do.

OP, my dogs are on the restricted breed list, and I camp with them regularly. State parks and forest service sites are no problem. If I'm going to stop at a private campground, I call ahead to make sure my dogs are allowed.

DownTheAvenue wrote:

Old-Biscuit wrote:
State/National/COE.......YES

SOME Public CGs...German Shepherd would be on the 'banned breed' list that Insurance Underwriters use.

Plus some public CGs could also have a 'weight' limit/restriction


BUT one COMMON theme.........MUST BE ON A LEASH (6' length max)
Can NOT be tied up and UNATTENDED when outside the RV

So start LEASH training the dog.

And CALL the CGs you plan on visiting and check their 'Pet Policy/Rules'
(which should also be listed on their website)

All of this is correct except substitute the word "private" when he posts "public campgrounds".

Not correct on national parks ie: Yellowstone

Pets are not allowed on trails or boardwalks, in the backcountry, or in thermal areas.

Therefor the dog would have to be in the car or at camp