How to leave your dog alone in the RV??

DwnSth wrote:
We use an app on a third cheap phone called Valarm.

Thanks for that! I have a Tracfone we use just for times we need to share a phone number on a limited basis and we can task it with this as well.

Good topic. Just this past weekend, wife and I went on our maiden voyage. Did have a minor power interruption... guy weed eating knocked my plug loose on the pole. It was loose fitting anyways. Fortunately I was there, and fixed it. Had it happened with pet inside, it might have gotten uncomfortable.

Friend we were camping with had a 12V van that he kept running directly on the kennel where his dog stayed while he was out. He plugged it in the 12v connection right where the TV plugs in. That way, if power went out, the fan would continue, at least as long as the battery lasted. I think Im gonna get one of those as well.

I like the idea of the app that monitors the temp and sends you an email. That would be a good thing to have too. Gonna have to look into that.

Mike

I have 4 dogs and we usually only leave the RV for a few hours at a time. I think the longest we ever left them alone was about 5 hours.

We use a product called Temperature alert. It is a small device that hooks via a USB port to a computer. I have a small inexpensive laptop that I hook the device to. We use one of our cell phones (usually my wife's) for an internet hot spot (or if there is wireless at the park, we will use it). I setup a free gmail email account and I set the software to email me the temperature every 10 minutes. We then take my cell phone with us and can check the email when we want to see the temperature in the RV. We never venture too far away and if we start seeing the temperature rise (hasn't happened yet), we would come back to the RV. It's a pretty cheap solution and really is good for your peace of mind knowing your dogs are comfortable.

Burch

We use an app on a third cheap phone called Valarm. It can have multiple sensors attached but I really only use Temperature and Sound. If they bark, I get text, if temp goes beyond a set value, I get a text. I can have the phone call me back so I can listen in. I can even set to record video. In all the time we've used it, the temp has never caused an alarm. The sound is nice because I can tell if they are just doing a one-off bark. Only once did they bark like crazy, a worker was knocking on doors telling everyone no fires because of wind.

We have a sign right next to the door of the camper, that outlines two dogs inside. Save in case of fire, power loss, or other emergency.

Our cell telephone number is also listed is case of excessive barking. (They are trained not to bark, but you never know.)

We also leave our cell phone number at the gate/office with a request they call in case of power loss.

Nine years full time now, no problems.

WyoTraveler wrote:
You can get an addition to your generator that turns the generator on when you lose power. Very popular with RVers that have residential fridge.

An excellent idea. I would want one that can be set for a time delay though.

But be sure to run the gen. often enough to be sure it will start when needed.

You can get an addition to your generator that turns the generator on when you lose power. Very popular with RVers that have residential fridge.

We leave food and plenty of water. Our little girl only eats when she is hungry and only eats what she needs. We leave the A/C on a comfortable setting. Keep all the shades closed except one for her to look at the window to see us coming. We are usually only gone for a few hours. Also we have never been any where that it is extremely hot in the. Summer months.
We also leave the ceiling fan on to circulate the air. Like previous poster said. Would take a good while with A/C off to get extremely hot in there.

I have a big sign in the window that says "Save my pet in case of emergency" 1 pug on board. Not sure if some one will think a power loss is an emergency and get my dog out, but better than nothing. I too think it would take a good while for the temp to get in a danger zone. Never gone for more than half a day. After all my dog needs to go potty.

Mostly we're choosy about where we stay. We avoid campgrounds that don't seem to be well maintained. Saving a few dollars a night just isn't worth it.

Also, we avoid hot areas during the heat of the summer. So July and August have us heading for the mountains rather than the beach.

We make sure the RV is nice and cool before we leave. With the blinds closed (which they always are when we leave) it takes a long time for it to get dangerously hot.