Our family is planning a six month trip down the West Coast this Fall/Winter. It'll be our first RV trip and we're planning on bringing our yellow lab.The plan is to make many stops along the way, maybe a week here and there and then continue on our journey. We're are a little concerned about bringing a pet as we've heard most campgrounds don't allow you to leave your dog unattended in an RV (due to barking). We assume they'll be days where we don't go far from the campsite, those days will be easy but what about the days you go to locations where Dogs can't accompany you or its a hassle. What do you guys do? I'm thinking getting groceries, seeing an attraction, etc. Are most campground this way or are the majority ok with leaving pets in the RV. Any info on campgrounds that are more pet friendly or other suggestions needed. Thanks so much.

CGs' have that rule for a reason......Unattended pets cause problems for neighbors (barking etc.) and due to safety concerns/liabilities (RV catches fire, floods, loss of power/hot etc.)We traveled with a large dog for 7 yrs. We did leave her 'unattended' at times but we were always mindful of the 'clock'..........5 hrs. maxShe just slept while we were gone (YES I have checked by sneeking back, asking neighbors etc. just like she did in the S&B)A/C Unit was set for 78* and the Fantastic Fans were set for 85* so there would always be air movement.YEP...CGs have rules about unattended pets. Such is life.

Most of those rules are aimed at leaving your pet outside unattended and for pets that bark all the time while left in RV.

Thanks for the reply Old-Biscuit.Are there chains like KOA that allow you to leave pets unattended in an RV. That would make planning easy as we could just stay at a single chain of campgrounds. I agree, if it were summer and days were hot we would not leave our pet in the RV. I would worry power might cut out there would be an issue. But being as we'll be traveling in the fall winter days should be cooler. I'm sure we'll hit some warmer days in Southern California that may require AC or bringing him along.Old-Biscuit. What do you do with your dog when you go somewhere dogs can't accompany you? When you left your pet in the RV was it against pet policy or was it just a CG that allowed that.I agree with your statement that pet policies are needed for the reasons you stated above. All pets are different, and a blanket policy is sometimes required to maintain the peace.Josh

jaydub74 wrote:Thanks for the reply Old-Biscuit.Are there chains like KOA that allow you to leave pets unattended in an RV. That would make planning easy as we could just stay at a single chain of campgrounds. I agree, if it were summer and days were hot we would not leave our pet in the RV. I would worry power might cut out there would be an issue. But being as we'll be traveling in the fall winter days should be cooler. I'm sure we'll hit some warmer days in Southern California that may require AC or bringing him along.Old-Biscuit. What do you do with your dog when you go somewhere dogs can't accompany you? When you left your pet in the RV was it against pet policy or was it just a CG that allowed that.I agree with your statement that pet policies are needed for the reasons you stated above. All pets are different, and a blanket policy is sometimes required to maintain the peace.JoshWe went to CGs based on our need of having a site every night.Only thing we were concerned with....allow pets.Yep.....broke the rule/unattended pet.Depending on where we were going whether she stayed in RV or not.Most of the time she went with us as we rarely went were she couldn't go.But when we did go to places like that she stayed in RV at CG.We did keep her on a leash and picked up after her when she pooped.We didn't understand the 'must be on leash at all times rule' but we kept her leashed even when unattended........one rule breaking was enough.(hopefully the 'sarcasm' was noticed)In other words......what went on/goes on inside my RV is my business. And as long as no complaints of 'dog barking' it will continue to be our business. The only time she is going to be barking is if someone is trying to get in...and then she can bite them!ON EDIT:You KNOW how your dog behaves.......act/plan accordingly

As a former campground owner and an active RV'erx2 with Old-Biscuit

Restrictions on Leaving Dogs in RV's | Good Sam Community

Campinghoss
Explorer II
Jul 31, 2014
We do as most posters here have said. If necessary we leave them in the fiver with tv on. If we are staying at the same cg for a few days we always let our neighbors know if we are leaving them so they can let us know if they bark. Never in the many years we have left them have we had a negative report from our neighbors. We also leave our cell numbers in case there is a power outage so we can come directly back in hot weather.

As one poster stated as long as they behave no one knows they are in the fiver anyway.
wcjeep
Explorer
Jul 31, 2014
Every pet is different. If your pet can be quiet should be no problem. Some dogs bark, bay and wine for no reason. Be sure to have vet visits current and paperwork with you. In case of longer stay the pet could be boarded for the day. We would leave AC on, park in shade and leave classical music on. Classical music is similar to the human voice.
DiskDoctr
Explorer
Jul 31, 2014
Nanny cam with two way voice? With the availability of wifi and even cell data these days...You could talk to them and calm them down.

Heck, could probably rig up some sort of noise alert to your phone, for barking.
michigansandzil
Explorer
Jul 31, 2014
Bottom line........nobody knows or cares if the dog is left unattended as long as he is quiet.
TexasShadow
Explorer II
Jul 31, 2014
we stay at state and national parks and national forest campgrounds most of the time, so we rarely have to deal with private rv park rules.
we leave our Lhasa up to 6 or 7 hours on occasion, 4 to 5 hours frequently if we're visiting friends or relatives etc. he perches in the front window and keeps guard and enjoys people watching. he will bark if someone comes close to the MH, but it has to be close enough to touch. We've never had a complaint from anyone about his barking.
that being said, there are parks with rules and the rules must be obeyed...or don't stay there.
colliehauler
Explorer III
Jul 31, 2014
I have traveled with up to 4 Collies. When I need to leave them alone I run the A/C and a fan. I leave the tv on as well. A long walk before I leave and they sleep while I'm gone. I bought the RV so I could travel with my Collies.
mooky_stinks
Explorer
Jul 31, 2014
gcloss wrote:
We have camped for 30+ years with 3 different dogs. Our dogs have never missed a camping trip and we have left them unattended from time to time.

Our current dog will only bark if she hears someone right outside the TT. So, when we leave we leave the A/C on with the fan constantly running and leave the TV on a little on the loud side. The noise from the TV and A/C drowns out noises from outside our TT.

When we are gone she just goes up in the queen bed, sprawls out and goes to sleep.

X2 She does the same thing in the TT that she does when we're at work everyday. Lays on the couch or bed and sleeps. I used to ask the neighbor if she barked but I don't even bother anymore.
kcmoedoe
Explorer
Jul 31, 2014
No park is going to issue a blank acceptance of your dog being left unattended in the rig, regardless of it's behavior. If your dog barks and carries on while you are gone, it is going to be a problem everywhere you attempt to stay.
gcloss
Explorer
Jul 31, 2014
We have camped for 30+ years with 3 different dogs. Our dogs have never missed a camping trip and we have left them unattended from time to time.

Our current dog will only bark if she hears someone right outside the TT. So, when we leave we leave the A/C on with the fan constantly running and leave the TV on a little on the loud side. The noise from the TV and A/C drowns out noises from outside our TT.

When we are gone she just goes up in the queen bed, sprawls out and goes to sleep.
Pawz4me
Explorer
Jul 31, 2014
We almost always leave our dogs in the RV when we're out and about.

If a campground's rules say no pets left unattended I always ask for clarification before making a reservation. In all these years only one time have I been told that it absolutely meant that even well behaved (non barky) dogs couldn't be left alone inside their RV. That was some campground on Cape Cod that I've long forgotten the name of. And in that instance I simply thanked the campground person and told her we'd find another campground in the area to give our money to (which we did).