We are considering downsizing to a small C or B+ and not towing a car. In our current setup, if we are leaving for 2 or 3 hours and do not take our small dog, Havanese, with us, we leave the AC set in the rv in case it gets too hot. When we downsize,we may end up with an rv small enough to do some shopping, sightseeing or eating out and may occasionally need to leave the dog in the rv. In warm weather, my plan would be to leave the generator running, with the AC on. I have searched the forums and some people seem to do this with no AC, and just a window open with the roof vent open and fan running. I know that if the outside temperature goes much over 70 degrees, the inside temp of our current rv is reaching high 70's and it is time to put on the ACs. Some places we park may not allow generator use, so no AC!Is anyone with a pet in a similar situation, and what do you do?

Any time we leave our dog in the rv for any amount of time, we set the a/c to 68 degrees. We leave the tv on low so there is a little background noise.

We also leave Duke at times. If it is going to be hot we leave ac on and TV for distraction noise. If we are parked in the shade we may leave fantastic fan on instead but only if we are in the shade. He is not a barking dog. (Border Colie) Not a barking breed for sure. I do worry about power outage so if I have gotten to know the owners I do mention Duke is home alone in case the power should go out.

We abuse our AC for our dogs, LOL. Even when we are on the road traveling or park somewhere sightseeing. I see the dogs panting a little and you don't know how fast I start the generator and turn on the air. In fact its good for the generator to run. You don't run the generator very much you are asking for problems. If its cold outside and we're wearing jackets or sweatshirts then we leave the fan on and open up some windows. It all depends on the temperature outside.

I have left our dog in the RV while we were gone and she tore up the blinds so bad we had to replace them. some one said to get a travelling cart and put her in there while we are gone. yes we left the A/C on but camping in a CG with other people around, she barked at them to warn them to stay away from her TT. every blind on that side of the TT was torn up.

If there is even a chance for it to possibly get warm in our Class C, I leave the a/c on. If it is early enough in spring, or into fall I just may leave a fan or two on. If I can't plug in, or use the generator, then I won't risk leaving him in re vehicle.

Leaving Dog in Parked RV | Good Sam Community

22 Replies

Dixie_Flyer
Explorer II
Aug 18, 2013
When traveling with the girls and we want to stop somewhere we open the camper and turn on the generator to powers the A/C and put them inside. Then we can stay as long as we want without worry.

During our travels and we stop for a break in a rest area I will turn on the generator if it is hot outside and it doesn't take long to cool down the camper. No need to take chances with the fur babies. We have two that are up in age, 12 & 14 and they need to stay comfortable so they don't get stressed.
Code2High
Explorer
Aug 14, 2013
I can well imagine your terror at walking in there... I'm happy your babies survived.
CA_POPPY
Explorer
Aug 14, 2013
Some people on this board in the past had a temperature alarm in their RV that rang up their cell phone if the temp went over a certain setting. I am not sure of the brand name, but you can probably search and find it.

We have left our dogs in our class B with the generator going on moderate days, so we could attend a luncheon or some such thing. But that's with one of us running out to check every fifteen minutes or so. I would never leave them loose in the RV. Over the years, we've heard of some tragedies when dogs tried to see where their parents had gone and got into a deadly situation. Think of it like leaving a 2 year old child alone in the RV.
minnie_winnie
Explorer
Aug 14, 2013
PLEASE READ..... I just came off a one month trip with my two papillons and one sugar glider. The reason that we got into RVing is so we could bring our pets. I almost lost them while I was in a restaurant visiting a long time friend in GA. Two lady's were looking at the dogs in the RV, I was watching out the window of the restaurant.
They seemed worried so I sent my husband out to talk to the lady's. They were concerned about the dogs being hot. He told them the ac was on and at a very comfortable temp ( it was 98 outside). We were in the place about another hour before we left, when I got close to the rv It was quiet. My heart started to pound, the animals were alive but very hot, I put them under cold water and felt terrible. We do not know why the generator stopped, it is working fine now. The only time it stopped before is when it was new (this was the third
time we have used it) and the shop said it was bad gas. I am so scared now I will not leave them. I sat in the RV myself and in ten minutes its was so hot I thought I would die and I don't have a fur coat. I just don't know what the answer is, I will never leave them again in hot weather and that means anything over 70, I don't want to scare you but I worked for a vet in High School and saw many heat related problems, also they're temp is higher than ours

I hope you read this .
Never_2_late
Explorer
Mar 14, 2013
Code2High wrote:
MarshaNichols wrote:
Never 2 late wrote:
old guy wrote:
I have left our dog in the RV while we were gone and she tore up the blinds so bad we had to replace them. some one said to get a travelling cart and put her in there while we are gone. yes we left the A/C on but camping in a CG with other people around, she barked at them to warn them to stay away from her TT. every blind on that side of the TT was torn up.

Thanks for this info. We just got a new Standard Poodle (14 months) and are taking him on his "maiden camping voyage" this weekend. He also tends to bark if someone gets too close Ie people doing yard work etc. We will try to leave all the blinds up, AC on and TV up. Will stay away for increasing minutes to see if he is barking constantly or not.

How did it go? I go on my maiden camping trip in a couple of weeks with my 5 mo. old.

It went surprisingly well. He was quiet and wasn't a barker. We left him alone about an hour and he was sleep when we returned. One day we went to a museum and that day we put him in a day kennel where he played with other dogs all day. It was a good trip. I agree on not leaving them alone till they know it is home.

A good long walk before you leave is highly recommended. A tired dog is a quiet dog. If your dog is crate trained, bring a crate and use it when you leave. It's worth the extra hassle to fit it in, to get things started on the right foot. DON'T leave your dog alone until your dog recognizes the rig as "home" (at least after you've spent a night or two). A stuffed kong is a good thing, or another favorite chew toy.
Code2High
Explorer
Mar 14, 2013
MarshaNichols wrote:
Never 2 late wrote:
old guy wrote:
I have left our dog in the RV while we were gone and she tore up the blinds so bad we had to replace them. some one said to get a travelling cart and put her in there while we are gone. yes we left the A/C on but camping in a CG with other people around, she barked at them to warn them to stay away from her TT. every blind on that side of the TT was torn up.

Thanks for this info. We just got a new Standard Poodle (14 months) and are taking him on his "maiden camping voyage" this weekend. He also tends to bark if someone gets too close Ie people doing yard work etc. We will try to leave all the blinds up, AC on and TV up. Will stay away for increasing minutes to see if he is barking constantly or not.

How did it go? I go on my maiden camping trip in a couple of weeks with my 5 mo. old.

A good long walk before you leave is highly recommended. A tired dog is a quiet dog. If your dog is crate trained, bring a crate and use it when you leave. It's worth the extra hassle to fit it in, to get things started on the right foot. DON'T leave your dog alone until your dog recognizes the rig as "home" (at least after you've spent a night or two). A stuffed kong is a good thing, or another favorite chew toy.
MarshaNichols
Explorer
Mar 14, 2013
Never 2 late wrote:
old guy wrote:
I have left our dog in the RV while we were gone and she tore up the blinds so bad we had to replace them. some one said to get a travelling cart and put her in there while we are gone. yes we left the A/C on but camping in a CG with other people around, she barked at them to warn them to stay away from her TT. every blind on that side of the TT was torn up.

Thanks for this info. We just got a new Standard Poodle (14 months) and are taking him on his "maiden camping voyage" this weekend. He also tends to bark if someone gets too close Ie people doing yard work etc. We will try to leave all the blinds up, AC on and TV up. Will stay away for increasing minutes to see if he is barking constantly or not.

How did it go? I go on my maiden camping trip in a couple of weeks with my 5 mo. old.
Code2High
Explorer
Mar 09, 2013
Bounder Billy wrote:
Thanks for all the input. If we find parking lots that do not allow running a generator, then we will go somewhere else. Going to restaurants in evening when it is cooler is also a better option. We love our little guy and he is priority number one.

This is the deal. You have to schedule around what is safe for your buddy, and that's just the deal. I've been in heat waves in the RV where I wouldn't leave at all until after sundown and then not for more than an hour. And that was parked in a park with full hookups and the a/c running, but when it's really hot you can't count on a/c for too long when you're away.

You might find that it's worth it to have a toad and be able to park in a park with hookups and go do stuff for a few hours. Maybe not but maybe so. Get out there and figure out what works best in the places where you want to go.

Also, start looking at a map and looking at the weather averages in those places. Be aware that those average highs are often MUCH lower (ten degrees and more) than what you may experience on any given day. But monthly/daily averages can help you plan trips. Some places get hot earlier in the summer, some later. Planning accordingly can make life easier.
michigansandzil
Explorer
Mar 09, 2013
I always have the air on for my guy when we leave. He's a rottweiler and doesn't do well in the heat. I can't imagine leaving him in a stuffy camper while I'm out having fun. He needs at least some air flow.

I also close the blinds b/c he gets really upset if he sees us leave. And yep, I might leave the tv on too.
Oaklevel
Explorer
Mar 07, 2013
YnotTurbo wrote:
Any time we leave our dog in the rv for any amount of time, we set the a/c to 68 degrees. We leave the tv on low so there is a little background noise.

x2 We in the past left them in their crates now leave them in the toyroom. They are boxers so they don't bark much............

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Leaving Dog in Parked RV

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