Camping with a high-energy dog
It has been over a year since we lost our previous dog. We've been debating a long time to get a new dog, but finally went ahead and brought a puppy home this past week. It is a Jack Russell terrier...
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I agree with everything Dutchmen said above.
We're on our third JRT. They are very smart and quick to learn. For that reason they get bored easily. This makes for a difficult travelling dog. We got our present one while full timing. She is now 12 years old. Which, by the way, is the oldest one we've had.
She does not bark while we're gone (I've left a recorder running to find out) but we don't leave her very often. Since she has been an RV dog all her life we simply take her in the car when we go somewhere (temperature permitting of course) and leave her in the back seat. She's happy with that arrangement simply sleeps in the truck.
About the smartest thing I've done with her is to teach her to not get out of a vehicle on her own. Not the TT or the TV. She will stand at the door and wait to be lifted to the ground. By teaching her this I don't have to worry about her bolting at a rest area, gas station or anywhere else. She will only get out of a vehicle if you lift her up and place her on the ground. I also have taught her to come immediately when called and to drop whatever she has in her mouth immediately when told to do so. All of these are valuable dog camping skills in my book.
Housebreaking does take some time and about a year and a half before you can reliably leave them alone for extended periods. They're good dogs but are high maintenance and need a lot of interaction with their human family. When this one is gone we likely will not be getting another. I would have to say that a JRT is probably one of the worst breeds for RV travel.
And a barking dog in your TT will eventually PO a neighbor enough for them to make a complaint. Bet on it.
We're on our third JRT. They are very smart and quick to learn. For that reason they get bored easily. This makes for a difficult travelling dog. We got our present one while full timing. She is now 12 years old. Which, by the way, is the oldest one we've had.
She does not bark while we're gone (I've left a recorder running to find out) but we don't leave her very often. Since she has been an RV dog all her life we simply take her in the car when we go somewhere (temperature permitting of course) and leave her in the back seat. She's happy with that arrangement simply sleeps in the truck.
About the smartest thing I've done with her is to teach her to not get out of a vehicle on her own. Not the TT or the TV. She will stand at the door and wait to be lifted to the ground. By teaching her this I don't have to worry about her bolting at a rest area, gas station or anywhere else. She will only get out of a vehicle if you lift her up and place her on the ground. I also have taught her to come immediately when called and to drop whatever she has in her mouth immediately when told to do so. All of these are valuable dog camping skills in my book.
Housebreaking does take some time and about a year and a half before you can reliably leave them alone for extended periods. They're good dogs but are high maintenance and need a lot of interaction with their human family. When this one is gone we likely will not be getting another. I would have to say that a JRT is probably one of the worst breeds for RV travel.
And a barking dog in your TT will eventually PO a neighbor enough for them to make a complaint. Bet on it.
