Difficulties with Pets and RVing

[Floridastorm]

There are quite a few messages referencing pets and traveling in RV's. However, not many that advise the problems that ensue when taking a dog on a trip. We are considering purchasing a fairly small Class C, not over 26 feet so that we can utilize it as we would a car for getting around and can take our dog with us as I do not like leaving a pet at home with a sitter, for various reasons. We have a 9 month old Lab mix that we adopted from the Humane Society. What I would appreciate knowing is what are the major difficulties traveling with a dog, especially in a medium sized Class C? Is it any better in a good sized Class A. There is just my wife and myself, both senior citizens. Thanks, in advance, for any assistance provided.

[WhitehouseLV]

We have a Schnauzer that apparently barks a lot when we leave. Most RVers don't like being parked next to barking dogs or so we were told. Our Beagle doesn't bark until the Schnauzer gets started. We will likely have to try a bark collar. But that has been our only negative experience camping with dogs.

[nineoaks2004]

We always travel with our dogs I call them the rat pack as all are Chihuahuas, they enjoy camping as much as we do as they get all excited when we start loading the TT. I have also in the past taken a great Great Dane, Shelties, Beagles etc. We even took a bottle baby goat once ad it was the hit of the CG. A lot depends on the dog the first couple of time they can be a little trouble but soon get used to traveling and camping. We have just 2 of us, and the 4 in a 21 ft. Trailer.Ours travel with us in the truck rear seat. We carry 2 dog fences that clip together and set them up first when we get to the camp site. When traveling any distance we stop and walk them once in a while (as well as ourselves). I think that your dog will do just fine. Good Luck and Happy Camping

[doxiemom11]

We have been full-time for 7 years and have only run across a very few campgrounds that did not allow pets. Some do have size restrictions. I have seen 20# and 30# and also certain breeds. Also most allow 2 pets. The rules we dislike are the ones who want you to walk your dog OUTSIDE of the park, or only in the pet run area which mean you are not supposed to walk them there or let the do any business on the way. We avoid those types of campgrounds as they are not true pet friendly parks. Pick up after your dog always!

[farmer_s_daught]

As I got my trailer a few years after I got the dog, she is not used to traveling. I tried to take her a couple of times, but she is more comfortable at home. Dogs like consistency and routines--at least my lab does. I'd reserved a space at a campground for a month and took her for a 4-day stay. She is not used to being on a leash or tied up (CG rules), and was well-behaved, but I couldn't leave her to even walk a few feet to the camp store--she became very anxious. And rightly so-she was in a completely new environment and felt insecure. it wasn't fair to her. She loved being able to swim and loved that part. However, she wasn't used to being walked on a leash to 'do her business' and didn't poop for 3 days! She was used to roaming a huge backyard. So now I leave her at home (I have an adult son who stays at my house while I go camping). The dog is happy and I am, too.

[Deb_and_Ed_M]

We bought the RVs for the dogs. They were/are a pleasure to have along, and overall they posed no difficulties. They brought a benefit: if anyone was thinking about entering our RV without invitation, they would have changed their minds quickly with a growling or barking dog. Another benefit: it's hard to be a hermit when your dog needs to be walked...lol!!

Just make sure your pup is well-socialized with adults, kids, and other animals; and of course doesn't bark excessively.

[Old-Biscuit]

CGs have pet restrictions


ALL ........pet on leash whenever outside
ALL ........clean up after pet poops---bag it/dispose of it
All ........do NOT leave pet unattended


Some have breed restrictions ....Required by their Insurance Underwriters
Labs not on list
Lab/Pitbull mix...on the list (mix with chow, rottie, shepherd, mastif ---no the list)

Some have weight restrictions -- 25# or 45# seem to be the most common (45# limit got us a few times. Oh well....went to another CG)

Some have pet limits ....... 2 common and sometimes 3 max (pets....dogs/cats/birds etc ------many CGs turn head if pet is an indoor type) So it is mainly about DOGS

Dog shows aggression....OUT
Dog a constant barker.....OUT
Owner doesn't keep control......OUT

(these last 3 are MY top rules that CGs SHOULD ENFORCE.....wishful thinking :S )

[2gypsies1]

I think a lot depends on your way of travel. If you plan to do a lot of siteseeing, museums, city stuff, special attractions then you might have to leave the dog behind. Since you won't be pulling a car that would mean letting the dog sit in a parking lot while you do your thing for perhaps a few hours. That would be very difficult to do in many places and in the heat. If you towed a car you could at least let it stay in the RV with AC while you take the car to do things. That is... IF the RV park allows it and the dog isn't a barker. Good luck!

[JAC1982]

TBH it depends on the dog. We did a weekend trip with our 3 dogs, and my mom's senior dog that we were watching. Her dog hates the car, so even just the hour drive was really stressful.

Two of our other dogs are basset hounds. 1, a senior, is a great camper. He's just happy as long as he's with us, and he's low energy so he doesn't need to be let out on a long trip. His biggest issue right now is he can't get up and down the steps to our 5er. We still have to keep him leashed or contained, as he is a hound that will follow his nose. Our younger basset hound isn't as great of a camper, but she does OK. She just doesn't like new places or people or dogs, so it takes her a couple days to get settled in when we get to our spot. She's fine in the car for long rides though.

Our newest dog is a Boxer, not yet 2 years old. She is pretty good on road trips although likes to get out about every 4 hours for a bit of a walk. Speaking of running, she LOVES to free run. We have an acre at home and she just loves to run around. Can't do that when camping, so it's a bit of a challenge but it forces us to take her on walks, which is good for us and her. She's also very friendly so she loves meeting new people and other dogs. She also has sensitive hearing so depending on where we camp, the new noises sometimes bother her. But overall we think she'll be a pretty good camping dog once she's older and better trained.

We have a toyhauler with a back patio with "walls" so we just open that up and let the dogs wander around up there a lot of the time... that way they're contained but still feel part of the group. The boxer managed to knock over the yard pen we use for the other dogs, and they all went running 🙂

[Crowe]

When we go anywhere. We board our dog. I find having a dog along a PITA.

When we had an RV most of the time our feeling was the same. There were a few campgrounds we'd take our Springers to but those were short-haul trips. It's not that we don't love our dogs (and we do have a fantastic boarding facility) it's our style of travel is unfair for them. Our usual day starts by 8 or 9 and sometimes doesn't stop until 8 or 9 p.m. It's unfair to leave a dog for that long. On most trips we needed to "beat feet" due to time constraints (unavoidable) and having the dogs along made it more difficult. Again, I love my dogs but my life does not revolve around them 7x24.

To the OP: I'm not sure the size of the rig matters that much unless you are trying to stuff a 200 lb pooch into a teardrop trailer. As long as Fido has a place to lie down, eat, etc., then that should be adequate. As stated above we used the cg as a base, not a destination, so having dogs along doesn't meld with our style. You should make sure you have a doggie medical kit on board as well as knowing where the closest emergency vet is, be prepared for encounter with unfamiliar wildlife, etc. We did enjoy having our dogs with us when we took them-it just takes patience and compromise.

[navegator]

We travelled with two big dogs and two cats all in a 24 foot C one short hair German Pointer at 85 pounds and a mix of German Shepard and Samoyed 112 pounds, the important thing to do is to train the dogs to be obedient when you take them out for a walk, we used to stop at cross roads of the highways and let the dogs run for some distance and call them when they got to a certain distance, they obeyed the commands not to go any further and would come back sniffing and marking, when we were ready to resume the trip we called them and they bound in the RV, the cats where different those we had to keep on a leash, they tend to be more scary with strange sounds, so wife took one cat and I took the other one for a walk along the fence, we always kept an eye out for snakes and tried to stay away from dwellings, some times there would be cows in the pasture and they would all come see this creatures but the dogs and cats were introduced to then since little so there was no problem, sometimes the Pointer would play chase with the cows along the fence.

The other item to consider is barking at everything and every one in a campground, that is sometimes a problem with owners that do not take in consideration other guests specially when they leave them alone for hours.

navegator

[ksg5000]

Never met a dog that didn't love to go camping. Heck when I start up the RV even the neighbors dogs come running through the hedge and jump in. Only issue we ever had is when the dogs get older they might have a difficult time climbing up into the rig.

[DownTheAvenue]

I have always traveled with my dogs. Over the years a lab, and then goldens. I went to Alaska with y golden in a Class B van. The only problem is leaving the dog to go site seeing. Heat is a serious problem, but in a motorhome, just run the generator.

[downtheroad]

Over 30 years of camping with 1 or 2 dogs...tents, a popup, and 4 travel trailers.

[discovery4us]

All depends on the dog. I have two currently that love to travel. Last one got to stay home by her choice. She found no reason to leave the SB house and let us know. If you have one that likes to go it is easy.

One of out current puppies is a 90 lb. lab and she will adjust to any situation and just loves to go and see and smell new areas.

[starcraft69]

We never travel without our Dog. I dont know of any RV park that does not allow pets. I do leave my little guy in the 5th wheel some days as we are out and about. It is home to him no different then a dog left at home inside. We hike and travel a lot and never found it to be a problem to have him with us. As for National parks you can leave them in a RV but not a car. Just remember to leave AC set when in the heat.