fulltiming with dogs

Before we ever left our dogs alone in the RV, we made sure they were not afraid of it. With the new RV, the first thing I did was put down their dog beds, a couple of favorite toys, and a few treats. Then I sat down on the couch with them on my lap for a bit, giving them time to absorb all the new sights and smells.

Once we felt they were happy with their new digs, we left them alone while we took walks around the campground, or a quick run into Walmart. So far, RV has always been quiet when got back, if we leave them for any length of time, we always put their bark collars on.

For our dogs, the key is to make sure they are happy with both the RV, and campground.

**we travel with a 10 year-old 30 lb. poodle, and a 12 year-old ten pound poodle.

We traveled FT for 7 yrs. with a 68# female Border Collie/Lab mix.

We would take her outside and have her do her business (she would pee/poop on command----before getting into truck, during travel at rest stops, before we went anywhere, on walks etc.) then leave radio/TV on (depending on what she wanted) and go sight seeing, shopping, taking care of business as necessary. We would be gone for up to 6 hrs.

She would sleep.........at least that is what we figured she did.

During our first year we would ask neighbors when we got back if they heard her, any barking issues etc.
After "NO we didn't hear your dog" we quit asking and never did we have any complaints.

How do your dogs react now to being left alone.......that is basically how they will react in their new home.

I have found that most in GC's are amazingly friendly.

I would close blinds and leave either radio or tv on. first trip out I wouldn't be gone long, 20-30mins come back and ask you neighbor if the dogs were barking.

I've done this and the dogs haven't been a problem. I've also done when we've had a football game on the radio/tv on outside. we can get a little wound up watching our Sooners! I've checked with neighbors to make sure volume isn't too high.

the only other thing I would suggest is purchasing a sign of some sort that alerts people that you have pets inside in case of emergency.

we found ours at camping world. just a little yellow sign with a suction cup that we just stick to the window when we leave with "in case of emergency please rescue ......" we added a '3' and an 's' so if, God forbid, something should happen hopefully someone would try and save 'the girls.'

just remembered that we put 'the girls' in the trailer while parked at home several times and tried to get them somewhat accustomed to being in it without us. i'll admit that they did some barking at first but as I said since then every time I've checked with the neighbors they have said no barking that they heard.

please don't get discouraged with the forum with some of the responses that you've received and will receive. I've found that some are going to have a negative response to any question that you can come up with.

happy travels!

Flanz wrote:
...The fact that your a fulltimer and your home is where you park it still does not give you the right to have your dogs barking and disturbing fellow campers...

I don't think I ever said that I or anyone else has a right to have dogs bark and disturb other campers. At least that is not what I meant to say in any of my posts. I even said specifically

TCW wrote:
...I was not talking about fluffy standing on the dashboard barking at everything that moves. That requires some preventive action, some training and maybe some discipline...

.

The Op asked

joeonthecape wrote:
...my main concert,example we want to leave them alone in the rv for a few hrs while we go shopping or sight seeing,of course the ac will be on,does this sound doable. One dog never barks and dog 2 is a 3 bark and stop type. I guess its like leaving them at home when you go to work.Thank you for your help and advise.Joeonthecape

. I and several others gave suggestions and stated measures that we take to prevent our dogs from disturbing others.

I do take measures to ensure that my dogs don't disturb others including leaving the radio on, closing the blinds, running the air conditioner and teaching them a command that aknowledges an alert bark. Which you seem to think means that they bark constantly. You are wrong. As I said in response to 2gypsies post, I actually do talk to the neighbors and ask if the dogs barked. On several occassions they have responded that they did not even realize we had dogs. I have left a tape recorder running to see what was going on when we have had a young dog. In 11 years and probably over 200 different campgrounds, I have never had a complaint. You and Noplace2 seem to have read a lot into my posts that was not intended and/or ever said.

Flanz wrote:
...If you leave your dog and it barks, then you should go home with it...Now I understand that dogs will bark occasionally, mine did...

And exactly what did you do about your dog barking? Did you leave and not return as you suggested that I should do?

To the Op, I hope that you have gotten enough good suggestions to help you and your dogs enjoy RVing together.

QUOTE
By the way, this is about fulltiming, the RV is my dog's and my home so I will take your advice and leave/take my dogs home.QUOTE

The fact that your a fulltimer and your home is where you park it still does not give you the right to have your dogs barking and disturbing fellow campers. Now I understand that dogs will bark occasionally, mine did, but when they continue for long periods of time, well then something needs to be done. I've sat and watched people ignore their dogs barking for hours, don't blame the dog, just the ignorant owners.

When we go out to do whatever, we close-up the coach shades and all, then turn on either the TV or radio on so that the dog does not hear anything outside. And yes, I've seen Fluffy running and barking on the dash board while the occupants where there or out. Some people think its "Cute" while I think the vast majority of campers think the owners are a$$hole$. But, we still enjoy the life style and will continue.....

-paul

TCW wrote:
By the way, this is about fulltiming, the RV is my dog's and my home so I will take your advice and leave/take my dogs home.

And again, if your dog(s) are bothering us (and seriously, we all know what that means) we will talk to you one time, we will next speak to the CG management and finally we will call local animal control, or if not available, local LE.

We are very tolerant people, but we will not listen to barking dogs hours on end. In now our 15th year of fulltiming we have had only 5 occasions where it was intolerable. 3 of those folks were removed from the CG by LE and the other 2 by CG owners. Sad to say that this was by virtue of the fact that we spend only about 25% of our time in organized CG's.

JimM68 wrote:

Flanz wrote:

noplace2 wrote:

TCW wrote:
I have trained my dogs to stop their alert barking on command. When I talk to neighbors, I make a point of telling them the command.

So, you are relying on your neighbor to wake up from a nap to discipline YOUR dog?

If, even once, you have a complaint about your barking dog, leave it at home or stay there with it.

And BTW, I love dogs, just not yours, barking.

I'll second that. I would NEVER rely on someone else to discipline my dog. If you leave your dog and it barks, then you should go home with it. And I too love dogs!!!!

Of course he's not "relying on the neighbors" to discipline his dog. He's just "leaving them the key in case they have to move it" while he is away....

Thank you Jim! I refrained from answering for a while, because someone who would discipline a dog for alerting them to someone too close outside their RV or trying to get into their RV or vehicle or some other unusual event is in my opinion abusing the dog and sure doesn't understand dogs very well even if they claim to "love them"!

To Flanz and Noplace2, I was not talking about fluffy standing on the dashboard barking at everything that moves. That requires some preventive action, some training and maybe some discipline. By the way, this is about fulltiming, the RV is my dog's and my home so I will take your advice and leave/take my dogs home.

We travel with 3 big dogs, 2 huskies and a Norgwegian Elkhound.
The huskies don'y bark, though they sometimes "talk"

The Elkhound has quite the voice, but only uses it when he feels the need. Bred by the viking to hunt moose and bear, Riley can make his presence known, if he wants to.

All three are great travelors, have camped since they were pups, and love everyone.
The huskies stop traffic... everyone loves a huskie.

Flanz wrote:

noplace2 wrote:

TCW wrote:
I have trained my dogs to stop their alert barking on command. When I talk to neighbors, I make a point of telling them the command.

So, you are relying on your neighbor to wake up from a nap to discipline YOUR dog?

If, even once, you have a complaint about your barking dog, leave it at home or stay there with it.

And BTW, I love dogs, just not yours, barking.

I'll second that. I would NEVER rely on someone else to discipline my dog. If you leave your dog and it barks, then you should go home with it. And I too love dogs!!!!

Of course he's not "relying on the neighbors" to discipline his dog. He's just "leaving them the key in case they have to move it" while he is away....

noplace2 wrote:

TCW wrote:
I have trained my dogs to stop their alert barking on command. When I talk to neighbors, I make a point of telling them the command.

So, you are relying on your neighbor to wake up from a nap to discipline YOUR dog?

If, even once, you have a complaint about your barking dog, leave it at home or stay there with it.

And BTW, I love dogs, just not yours, barking.

I'll second that. I would NEVER rely on someone else to discipline my dog. If you leave your dog and it barks, then you should go home with it. And I too love dogs!!!!