Can a dog

[Bagger97]

get in the way of sight seeing? We want to get a pet but are waiting until after our trip unless it won't matter. I know Denali will be an issue but is there any other time you were sorry you had a dog with you? Any times you were glad you had the dog? And I'm talking terrier size not a pit or Rot.

[Tee_Jay]

Me suspects the larger point is can or will the dog handle your 12 to 16 hour absence while you do the tour?

[PA12DRVR]

Couple of other thoughts:

- Others have adequately identified that there may be times when a sitter is necessary during general day trips in McKinley, etc.
- Really not a big worry, but how will the dog react to wildlife, not just bears, but wildlife in general? This reaction will either enhance or detract from the occasional wildlife sightings during "RV Camping" trips.

Where the rub comes in is in doing some of the non-typical stuff: Want to go flightseeing? One will have to arrange dog sitting and the flightseeing locations aren't necessarily at the same place as the RV camp; Want to go fishing in a boat? Whether or not the dog can handle it, it will be an additional burden and/or more dog sitting required. Want to go on an ATV trip? Want to go to a museum? Eat out?

There's a long list of activities and having a dog certainly doesn't preclude any of them, but will (to varying degrees) make those activities more difficult. If you will be getting a new pet, I'd suggest doing it after the trip.

[toedtoes]

National forests are dog friendly. Most allow dogs on trails unless specifically posted otherwise.

National parks pretty much all limit dogs to paved roads and campgrounds.

State parks likely vary. I know California state parks limit dogs to campgrounds and paved roads - but at some locations, the rangers ignore those limitations.

For me, if I take my dogs with me, I want them to be able to enjoy the outdoors also. But then, I've encouraged my dogs to get outside and play, rather than stay inside playing video games all day...

[Dog_Folks]

mimi55 wrote:
DO not take a dog to national parks. They are only allowed in the campgrounds. In Yellowstone they are not allowed on any boardwalks, old Faithful, anywhere. It can be. A minimum of a $100.00 fine if you take them where they do not belong. Please out them in a kennel. It is unfair for the animal.

Don't know about all national parks. The Smoky Mountain National Forest has special trails to walk dogs on.

I do however, agree that the dogs would be better in a kennel, or at home with a sitter.

[mimi55]

DO not take a dog to national parks. They are only allowed in the campgrounds. In Yellowstone they are not allowed on any boardwalks, old Faithful, anywhere. It can be. A minimum of a $100.00 fine if you take them where they do not belong. Please out them in a kennel. It is unfair for the animal.

[sue_t]

Dogs can do lots in Alaska. Ours have travelled with us throughout the state. There are few limits on where they are permitted to be, other than in Denali. There are many, many dog owners in Alaska so dogs are accommodated and tolerated in many places and you'll not find any breed restrictions.

You can take your dog into Denali Park in your vehicle and you can walk your dog on the road in the park but you cannot walk your dog on the trails or anywhere other than the roads. Your dog MUST always be leashed in Denali. Your safety is one reason - dogs tend to bring bears back to you. As well, they don't want your dog harassing the wildlife in the park, and don't want the wolves to be affected by presence of a foreign canine in the area. We did the day bus tours into the park, each of us going a different day so the other could stay at the RV with the dogs.

We're not big into commercial tours, so had no worries there. We tend to spend a lot of time outdoors, hiking remote areas, exploring back roads, etc. so our dogs get a lot of exercise and fun time. Our dogs know bears so we aren't concerned about their behavior there. They keep the bears away, not bring them back.

A bonus is the dogs alert us when there is wildlife hanging around the RV or around us when we're hiking.

We did head off on an extended trip with a six-month old puppy who we had adopted a few weeks beforehand. She did exceptionally well, learned from the older dog what worked and didn't, and we kept a fairly steady canine routine on the road. After that trip, she was a well-seasoned traveller and exceptionally well-behaved while camping. It was her normal.

[Francesca_Knowl]

Bagger97 wrote:
Thanks for the replies to my ? but we are not thinking of picking up a dog on our way to Alaska nor will this be our first dog. I'm just curious if a pet affected what you could and couldn't do in Alaska.
Thanks

Sorry if my response was off the intended topic. By way of explanation...
Even after you edited it, the opener indicates some concern about whether to get the dog before or after, see below quote. But never mind!

Bagger97 wrote:
We want to get a pet but are waiting until after our trip unless it won't matter.

[toedtoes]

Bagger97 wrote:
Thanks for the replies to my ? but we are not thinking of picking up a dog on our way to Alaska nor will this be our first dog. I'm just curious if a pet affected what you could and couldn't do in Alaska.
Thanks

I wasn't implying that. Just that the dog would be a new resident in your household and, as such, will have unknown factors that you would not be aware of when you leave for your trip. Those unknown factors CAN make for a rough trip (even if the trip is a "dog friendly" trip). How the dog handles different situations? What fears the dog might have? These can add a lot of stress to you during your trip.

Since the trip is planned and you don't have a dog at the moment (and planned the trip without consideration for a dog), I think you're better off waiting to get the dog until you get home. Then start incorporating the dog into your travels as you learn its needs and issues, etc. It will allow you more time to find the right dog, get to know the dog, adjust the dog to RV life, etc., rather than rushing things.

[mamestra]

We have been to Alaska twice, both times with the dog in my signature, both times we have used the three campgrounds inside Denali and never had a problem.

[Bagger97]

Thanks for the replies to my ? but we are not thinking of picking up a dog on our way to Alaska nor will this be our first dog. I'm just curious if a pet affected what you could and couldn't do in Alaska.
Thanks

[toedtoes]

For those speaking of can't imagine not taking a trip without your dog, what about taking a trip with a new dog that you don't know that well? Which is the situation with the OP - they're thinking of getting a new dog right before their trip. Not an old friend who has been with them.

I take my dogs all the time - that's a lot of the reason I got my RV - but I started them slowly with the RV, getting them used to it, used to rules that are different from home, etc. In addition, I already knew them very well and knew potential issues with personality, fears, etc. I can't imagine taking a dog I've only had a short time and heading off on a big trip with them.

[RangerJay]

Can't imagine taking a trip without our dog - she is part of the family.

Jay

[Dog_Folks]

Francesca Knowles wrote:

Bagger97 wrote:
We want to get a pet but are waiting until after our trip unless it won't matter.

It matters.
A LOT.
"First learned, best learned", as the saying goes. The time to train a new dog is NOT on an RV adventure away from the routines you hope to establish at home.

Wait until after the trip, get the new dog, and train it well. Give it a reliable schedule and portable habits. It will be a boon companion on the next (and all future) trip(s)!

Well said and 1000% correct.

[americanrascal]

We recently did a trip from Georgia to Anchorage and back. The road portion of the trip (9500 miles)was fine with our 2 dogs (redbone and a yorkie- both mature). The dogs always have been great travelers and seem comfortable when we were away from the rig site seeing at various stops. We enjoy their company and- except for seeing furry type animals along the roadway -they were very quiet and seemed happy. The weather was cool all the way so we were able to safely leave them inside the TC when we were away from the rig.

We made sure we stopped while riding the roads about every 2 hours for a good walk with both dogs. They enjoyed all the new smells and romped around at each stop.

We did bring them back on the Ferry from Whittier to Bellingham. They had to remain in the rig for extended periods which was very hard on them (and us thinking about what they were going through) over a 4.5 day period. We will not take the dogs on the ferry again as it was too stressful for them.

Other than that we take them everywhere we travel = and all of us have a great time.