Large dog

[Frank55]

Please list any positive or negative issues traveling with large dogs. My wife wants a German Sheperd and I do not see anything but problems. From scratching the floor to tbe issue of what to do with one while we are away for the day. I do not think it is right to leave a large dog locked inside a trailer all day.

[JoeH]

Lantley wrote:
I have a 85# dog, that is on the so called banned list. (More lunacy)
Anyway he is no harder to deal with than a small dog. As long as you train the dog it is not an issue. Large or small they both require care, exercise and training.

Unfortunately, the banned list is being mandated by liability insurance carriers. We had a rental complex and over the years, the insurance carriers started to require that certain sizes/breeds not be allowed. In today's litigious society you need to have insurance, and in order to have the insurance you have to restrictions, that's the way it works.

[Community Alumni]

Frank55 wrote:
Please list any positive or negative issues traveling with large dogs. My wife wants a German Sheperd and I do not see anything but problems. From scratching the floor to tbe issue of what to do with one while we are away for the day. I do not think it is right to leave a large dog locked inside a trailer all day.

All parties involved need to be on board with getting a pet or it will not work out!

JimR

[toedtoes]

Dodgeguy qnd Cferguson - my dad had akitas and showed them. The males are really big goofballs. The females could be very territorial and their prey instinct was much stronger than with the males.

[harryjr]

"Please list any positive or negative issues traveling with large dogs."

Under 45lbs is not a dog. It's just an over-sized cat.

"You may encounter some campgrounds that restrict certain breeds or have a size/weight limit for dogs."

Over the years the definition of "bad-ass" dogs has changed. When I was a kid, it was German Shepherds, then dobermans, rottweilers for a while, now pit-bulls. The ones that annoy me in the campgrounds are the ankle nippers (always 3 or 4 with one person) yipping constantly at anything from another dog to a blowing leaf.

Personally, I never liked pit bulls, but my daughter has had two. Both big babies and very friendly. Never any aggression. Would I get one? No. Don't like airedales either. Love Huskies, even though they are tough to train. The best dog I ever had was a shepherd/husky.

We don't have a dog now because we travel too much. But when we are more home bodies, it's on the list.

[dodge_guy]

CFerguson wrote:
I am between dogs right now, but I have traveled with Akitas who ranged from 115 to 136#. Akitas are included on some cg ban lists.
I ignored the ban list and planned on claiming mine was a mutt- a cross of a husky and who knows. Most people don't have a clue about Akitas and I was never questioned.
That said, I am someone who demands that my animals are well trained/behaved and obey me at all times. All my Akitas have also been the most loving of all humans. They all believed that people existed only to love on them. That's a long way of saying my dogs are always more welcomed than someone else's yappy ankle biter. (Akitas rarely bark- some don't at all).

So yes, its possible. BUT, you are restricting yourself with any dog, regardless of size. DO NOT leave your animals unattended in a rv. They will make noise no matter how much you think that they wont. And if youre camped next to me, I WILL report your failings as a pet owner. That usually means shape up or get out of the cg.

The biggest drawback for us was not being able to do things together like see a movie, spend the day somewhere that dogs aren't allowed, and don't ask about summers when they have to be in AC. That means staying with them either in the truck or in the rv.

I would suggest that you travel without a dog for a while but act like you have one. See if the inconvenience is worth it to you. Because that's what it comes down to- your personal preferences. And if you don't both want a dog, DONT get one.

My cousin raised Akita's. They are some of the best well behaved and relaxed dogs there are. They are very laid back.
We traveled with a Chow/Golden retriever mix, 120lbs! He was very well behaved and didn't bark. Traveling with him was easy. He would just lay in the back seat or watch out the window, he really loved traveling! When we stoped for gas he knew it was time to get out and go. I love traveling with animals, but it has to be the right animal.

[winniman]

Quote "I would suggest that you travel without a dog for a while but act like you have one. See if the inconvenience is worth it to you. Because that's what it comes down to- your personal preferences. And if you don't both want a dog, DONT get one." Quote
This is good advice. Its better than getting one, and finding out you would rather not.

[Veebyes]

As travellers we would not consider travelling WITH a dog. Too restrictive. You want to be out all day doing museums, doing events that don't permit dogs etc., what do you do with the dog? We want to go somewhere, do something, we simply do it. No worries about papers for Canada if heading to Alaska. No worries about the little yapper becoming eagle lunch. No worries about a dog frightening wildlife away. No CG access concerns.

[CFerguson]

I am between dogs right now, but I have traveled with Akitas who ranged from 115 to 136#. Akitas are included on some cg ban lists.
I ignored the ban list and planned on claiming mine was a mutt- a cross of a husky and who knows. Most people don't have a clue about Akitas and I was never questioned.
That said, I am someone who demands that my animals are well trained/behaved and obey me at all times. All my Akitas have also been the most loving of all humans. They all believed that people existed only to love on them. That's a long way of saying my dogs are always more welcomed than someone else's yappy ankle biter. (Akitas rarely bark- some don't at all).

So yes, its possible. BUT, you are restricting yourself with any dog, regardless of size. DO NOT leave your animals unattended in a rv. They will make noise no matter how much you think that they wont. And if youre camped next to me, I WILL report your failings as a pet owner. That usually means shape up or get out of the cg.

The biggest drawback for us was not being able to do things together like see a movie, spend the day somewhere that dogs aren't allowed, and don't ask about summers when they have to be in AC. That means staying with them either in the truck or in the rv.

I would suggest that you travel without a dog for a while but act like you have one. See if the inconvenience is worth it to you. Because that's what it comes down to- your personal preferences. And if you don't both want a dog, DONT get one.

[BB_TX]

Our various 80-85 lb Golden Retrievers have traveled with us since we bought our 5er in 2007. They love their walks. But they also love their naps. Take them for a long walk before we go out, they go into a dark corner of the bedroom and lay down, and that is where they are when we return. Pretty much typical for Goldens. But never gone more that about 3 hours, same as home.

But we have camped beside people whose dogs have barked from the time they left to sightsee until they returned hours later. That’s not good for the dogs or the neighbors.

[Grit_dog]

Love our 2 German Shepherds guarding the house and property .....outside, at home.
Would be a non starter for me to pack along 90lbs of puppy brains full time in a 8x30 box that I also had to live in.

[ppine]

We get down the road with a 55 pound Border Collie and two smaller dogs. We give them excercise and take them on hikes. You have a responsibility not to leave your dog unattended for long periods. We take them in the truck with us.

In warm weather there are some challenges. We get take out food or dine outside and bring the dogs with us. we are always looking for shade. I love dogs and always travel with them.

[toedtoes]

There are ways to mitigate certain things that folks think are requirements with dog ownership.

First, walking the dog so it can go potty. Teach your dog to go potty at home not during a 10-20 minute walk. I have never owned a dog, large or small, who required walking. Walking is a fun activity not a prelude to bathroom functions. When it's raining, my dogs can do their business in just a couple minutes in their own yard/campsite and come back inside where it's dry. They do not need to go to another yard or campsite to do so regardless of the weather. This makes it easier to deal with doggie business in the rain AND reduces friction with other campers (my dogs don't poop in or alongside their campsites). Walks are reserved for entertainment. An ocassional poop happens during a walk, but it's not a regular event that other campers are subject to.

Second, most dogs just want to be with you. They can usually handle less activity than people think. There are three types of large dogs: physically hyperactive (labs, aussies, etc.), mentally hyperactive (huskies, jack russells, etc.), and the rest.

Physically hyperactive need a ton of exercise to get to settle down. As they age this will decrease, but when young it can require a lot of effort. Only dog I ever had to crate was a 6 month old black lab who could not settle down at night because every single sound had her bouncing. Every other dog (any age) learned quickly to sleep at night and relax when inside. These dogs are hyperactive long into their adulthood. Their hyperactiveness tends to override their desire to please you. It is different than just being a puppy because it doesn't ease up with a 20 minute walk - they need to physically exhaust themselves to be able to relax for even a few minutes.

Mentally hyperactive are the most difficult. With these dogs, no amount of physical exercise will be enough. They need mental stimulation constantly. They need to use their brains - if you don't give them something mental to do, they will think up something on their own and I can pretty much guarantee you won't like it. They enjoy out-thinking you more than anything else.

For the "normal" ones, they love to play and take long walks, etc., but they will adjust nicely to a less active lifestyle. Their main desire is to be with you regardless of what you are doing and they will adjust in order to please you. They may be playful and enjoy a game of catch, etc., but they can relax even if they don't get it.

[Bobbo]

We had two German Shepherd Dogs when we got our first RV in 2007, and have had two dogs every since. Having big dogs in an RV is no different than having big dogs in apartments. You have a responsibility to get them out and exercise them far more than if you have big dogs in a huge house with a massive yard. It is not big dogs that are a problem. It is irresponsible owners who don't properly care for big dogs who are a problem. Here is a photo taken on our first RV trip. If you want, I can post a photo of them in the RV cab with me.

In 12 years of RV'ing, we have come across exactly ONE campground that banned German Shepherd Dogs. Since ours were not black and tan, they didn't realize they were German Shepherd Dogs.

DW told me to come back and add that having a German Shepherd Dog in your RV means never having to deadbolt the door.

[toedtoes]

wa8yxm wrote:

Ed_Gee wrote:
German Shepards are usually on the list of dog breeds banned from many RV parks. Food for thought.

I do not recall ever seeing a ban on Shepard. they tend to be nice friendly dogs.. now Terriers. pit bulls. Rot's Malamutes (part wolf) and so on..... Most of them are nice dogs too.

One Malamute I met you'd have thought he was a kitty cat, in fact when I stopped petting him he reached out with a paw bigger than my hand and pulled my hand back so I could keep petting him EXACTLY like my cat (I have cats).

Chihuahua Now those little hairless rats are VICIOUS.

Shepherds are often included in bans because 1) they can be one person dogs and protective, and 2) they are often used as guard dogs. Dobies, Rotties, Cows, etc., are there also.

Malamutes are not part wolf - they are bred to be independent and self-sufficient. Same with huskies. They are bred to be able to find their own food and survive by their own wits in the cold (because traditionally, sled drives did not carry dog food).

[ReneeG]

Dog lover here. We have had dogs of all sizes and types and RV's of all sizes and types since we've been married. We've had a Maltese, Chihuahua, two Draathars, a Lab, and currently two Rat Terriers. From 8 lbs to 90 lbs. Aside from the walking required while on trips several times a day to clean up of dirty paws, storing of food, consideration of boarding when travel destinations when excursions don't allow pets, the only true negative for us is when a large dog ages. For our big dogs, as they got old, we've had to help them in the truck which required two of us because use of a ramp was difficult. Use of a ramp worked for the RV, but not truck. For that reason we heartily believe the size of your dog changes as you age! Now in our 50's and 60's, we have two dogs under 20 lbs that we can pickup easily. The love and a companionship outweighs even the temporary inconvenience of aging for them. We would never be without a canine companion. So many out there that need good homes. We may occasionally board them like when we toured Mesa Verde or hiked Zion and Bryce, otherwise we adjust our trips and excursions and never leave them in the RV. They are always with us.