Question re: Seasonal Camping with Pets

Crowe wrote:
Colliehauler, I would LOVE to see your site! When we used to frequent Peters Pond Park in Sandwich, MA, there were lots of seasonals like yours. As long as the property is kept up I see no issue at all. And as long as you are abiding by the rules, more power to ya!

Thanks, I have put a lot of money into making it a nice site and I do follow the rules. The number one question I'm asked is (can I pet the Collies).

Colliehauler, I would LOVE to see your site! When we used to frequent Peters Pond Park in Sandwich, MA, there were lots of seasonals like yours. As long as the property is kept up I see no issue at all. And as long as you are abiding by the rules, more power to ya!

spadoctor wrote:
I seasonal with 2 Goldens and can leave them in the camper....but transients can not per the rules, as many of them don't care if their pets bark because they do home in a few days.

COLLIEHAULER....A FENCE???? I would NEVER seasonal there if they allow fences....parks like that look like******in time....its a campground NOT a mobile home park....JMHO

No worries there are 15 people on a list waiting for a seasonal site. I poured a 10' x 20' concrete patio as well. Next year I will put in a hydro-lift and a 27' tritoon boat. I have access to 3 large lakes. And by the horrors I drive a UTV around the campground. I do not care if you NEVER come there, your loss. I bet your Goldens would like the hiking trails. Almost forgot I have a 6'x8' shed as well.

I seasonal with 2 Goldens and can leave them in the camper....but transients can not per the rules, as many of them don't care if their pets bark because they do home in a few days.

COLLIEHAULER....A FENCE???? I would NEVER seasonal there if they allow fences....parks like that look like******in time....its a campground NOT a mobile home park....JMHO

I leave my dogs all the time in my camper. I just turn on the A/C and close the blinds. I make sure they have been exercised prior and they will sleep the entire time we are gone.

Seems to be the norm around here, even with the "never leave your dog unattended" rule. Although I have never stayed at a seasonal site.

If the dogs don't bark, who is going to know? And frankly, if your dog is quiet, I don't see why anyone would even care? Personally, I think those annoying little yapper dogs are more obnoxious WITH their owners, than the quiet ones that are closed in the camper.

I don't see what the big deal is but I agree with the above poster that getting clarification might be helpful so you aren't worried every time you step out for dinner.

You need to call the campground and ask, and make sure the person you speak with has some authority.

We've encountered only a handful of campgrounds with that rule, and in each case we were considering staying just a short time -- anywhere from one to five nights. Each time I've always called and asked, and have always been told that it's fine to leave the dogs alone as long as they're well-behaved.

I can only guess that the campgrounds I spoke with had the rule in place so that it could enforced "just in case."

In your shoes, if I didn't get a satisfactory answer (and didn't feel like it was being given ungrudgingly), I'd find another place. Life's too short to worry about leaving your dogs every time you need to run out for groceries or want to get a bite to eat, and it's usually fairly easy to find a place that truly is pet friendly.

DutchmenSport wrote:
You just never know if your dogs are truly being quiet or not when you're not there.

Sure you can, it's easy. Use a voice activated recorder or Bark Sentry.

If the rules are published, and you sign the rules, as required by many parks at registration, you risk being asked to leave when the rules are broken.
The RV park is a private business, and makes rules appropriate for the clientele.

It's difficult when you have pets. We have learned (even at home), we don't go anywhere unless the dogs can come too. Otherwise (like running into grocery stores and such), one of us stays in the truck (especially when it's hot outside) while the other does the shopping.

In the camper, we never leave the pets alone. I'm pretty certain they would bark the entire time we are gone. When we leave them at home, they bark non-stop until we return. Our closest neighbor has told us this. (we live in the country).

You just never know if your dogs are truly being quiet or not when you're not there.

This week-end we were camped beside someone who had 2 little doggies. They left them in the camper while they took off and rose their motorcycles. The little poochies (and they were little), barked and yalped the entire time they were gone (inside the camper...with the air-conditioner on and all the windows closed ... we could still hear them). Felt bad for the doggies.

There's no easy answer. Except .... if you are a seasonal camper, perhaps you can make friends with another camper, and when you need to leave, they can watch your dogs for you. That's the only think I can think of.

At home, we're fortunate to have my mother who is our "doggie day car" center, and she's always ready and willing to watch the dogs. (we have a good arrangement).

One of the reasons I choose my seasonal site is because the campground is very accommodating. I just finished putting up a vinyl fence around my site. Do you want a campground that is so ridged They do not want a dog left in the RV? Just make sure you will be happy or it will be a long season.

Our dog is a small mixed breed that is not a barker. We leave her alone in the trailer quite often, but not for hours and hours. We close all of the shades so she cannot look out, turn up the radio and leave A/C on with fan in on position (not auto) to drown out all noises from the outside. She simply lays on the couch and sleeps most of the time.

A lot depends on the individual dog and its behavior.