advice on taking German Shepherd camping in TT with kids?

[tlemon]

Hello,

We recently purchased a TT parked on a seasonal spot and are getting settled in with our 6 kids in camper. We would love to take our German Shepherd as we see lots of dogs at our campground but he is a 1 year old somewhat rambunctious puppy and are concerned on how to manage him there. He is an excellent dog but this will be a new environment and close quarters. Any advice would be appreciated.

TIA
Tammy

[rockhillmanor]

1. The german shepherd is included on the breed restriction list.
2. Many CG's also have a 'weight limit' CG rule. Which would exclude your dog.

Check FIRST with your seasonal site what their breed restrictions and weight limits are. :C

[tragusa3]

Thanks. I'd say ours is a 1.5 to almost 2. She came from the breeder that's been supplying our PD. I suppose they knew she was a 1 or 2 and they want the higher levels for working dogs. Good for us. Good for them.

[Happy_Prospecto]

tlemon wrote:
Hello,

We recently purchased a TT parked on a seasonal spot and are getting settled in with our 6 kids in camper. We would love to take our German Shepherd as we see lots of dogs at our campground

6 kids, German Shepard Dog, lots of other dogs in campground, sure go ahead what could possible go wrong.

[tlemon]

I would say our GSD is a level one

[braindead0]

tragusa3 wrote:
RBPerry, can you explain the "levels". I'm not familiar with them.

GSD Levels from rescue organization. I suspect this is what he meant by Level, however I could be wrong.

[braindead0]

RBPerry wrote:
We are German Shepherd owners and trainers. Shepherds are very smart and adapt easily to new environments, but they must be trained, and trained well or they can drive you nuts. They need a purpose and if you don't give them one, they will create one, and you may not like what they create. Your Shepherd is still too young to have developed his protective instincts. Do you know what level Shepherd you have? If he is a level one, you shouldn't have many problems, if he is a three or four I wouldn't take him camping until well trained and at least two years old.

+1000.

Training is key, and quite frankly it's mostly training for YOU the pet owner.. it will make your dog and family much happier in the long run... as well as everyone that interacts with your dog.

[tragusa3]

RBPerry, can you explain the "levels". I'm not familiar with them.

[RBPerry]

We are German Shepherd owners and trainers. Shepherds are very smart and adapt easily to new environments, but they must be trained, and trained well or they can drive you nuts. They need a purpose and if you don't give them one, they will create one, and you may not like what they create. Your Shepherd is still too young to have developed his protective instincts. Do you know what level Shepherd you have? If he is a level one, you shouldn't have many problems, if he is a three or four I wouldn't take him camping until well trained and at least two years old.

[Uppercrust]

I agree start them at an early age so they get used to it. Our dogs know when we go camping and can't wait to get into the truck. Lots of walks a tired dog is a happy dog. Good luck!

[tragusa3]

We have a GSD girl that will not let us leave the house without first verifying that we aren't going camping. She's too funny. She knows when I grab the "other" set of keys. Or, when we go in and out of the house too many times in a row...she starts getting suspicious. Once she does, she lays right at the door to the camper and you have to step over her to get in. Her way of assuring that she isn't left behind.

You've gotten some great advice above. Our philosophy is that Dharma (GSD) doesn't have any option other than to behave. I'm not the dog police, but something you typed sounded like a clue to me that maybe you aren't in control? You said something about her choosing not to listen at times? Not sure what you meant by that, and I may have misinterpreted, but we believe you have to be ABSOLUTE in your consistency and expectations of a GSD. We have been, and I can promise you that even with her highest temptations, I can snap a finger from hundreds of feet away and she WILL stop dead in her tracks and come back. Dogs, especially GSD's, need these unwavering expectations. You can't ask them not to get on the sofa and then cheat from time to time. A rule is a rule is a rule.

Hope I don't sound soap box like? Don't mean to. I see so many camping dogs that haven't had these expectations set. Usually, this leads to profiling in the GSD. It happens all the time, comments will be made if she barks even once (usually to get your attention to play). The little toy dogs can be yapping all weekend and no-one says a word. Be prepared for unfair attention in this regard.

Your GSD must be raised in the conditions you want it to behave in. If that is camping, then take him all of the time. Practice makes perfect. 🙂

So, what are some of our routines? She travels in the truck with us. She's a great traveller. She curls up on the floor and we don't hear from her again until the truck stops. She spends most of her time on a tether on our campsite. As she is older now, she lays down in a nice spot and hardly ever moves. She used to be irate towards other dogs, but doesn't give them attention anymore. If we leave the campsite, we put her in the camper and close the bathroom and bedroom doors. We've never returned to anything disturbed. At night, she sleeps on her pad right at the door. We do bring a wire kennel with us. There have been times that she is in that, which she doesn't mind, but it is rare anymore. I think it was more helpful when she was young and had more energy.

Anyway, bring him! Be a good parent!

Here's one of my favorite pictures of Dharma on a beach trip with us. You can see the "happy" all over her face!

[DustyR]

toedtoes wrote:

Strabo wrote:

Johno02 wrote:
Don't. Sounds like a disaster waiting to happen. Better to wait a bit till he settles out of puppy stage, and some serious training on how to behave around others, dogs and people, and how to mind well when you tell him to.

X2 less stress

Actually, this system never reduces the stress because if you aren't willing to deal with a rambunctious 1 year old dog, you won't be willing to deal with that same dog in a year or two or three when it still has never experienced being around a campground - now it's a full grown ill-behaved dog.

As a long-time rescuer, I can say the number one reason people get rid of their dogs is because they didn't take the time to socialize and train them when the dogs were young and then it became MORE STRESSFUL (not less) to deal with the unsocialized/untrained adult dog.

X-3

[DustyR]

Flapper wrote:
You seem like pretty responsible owners, just by posting the question. I'll assume that you are already working on, and doing well, at basic obedience training. If not, well.....

But otherwise, the dog needs as much socialization to other people and dogs as you can get. The more he experiences it at a young age, the less problems you will have later. Worst would be to ban him completely until older, when behaviors/personality become more fixed.

That said - do it slowly, for limited times, in a controlled manner. Take him up for just a day or weekend. Make sure he is always on leash. Time outs work for dogs too - misbehavior, and isolate him in the trailer briefly. Talk to your obedience instructor about specifics, since they have experience with your dog. And remember the most critical - "A tired dog is a good dog". So lots of walks and running, and then introduce him to the new environment.

I have to agree, socialization at an early age to different situations along with good training. This will result in a companion for you and your family for years to come.

[toedtoes]

Strabo wrote:

Johno02 wrote:
Don't. Sounds like a disaster waiting to happen. Better to wait a bit till he settles out of puppy stage, and some serious training on how to behave around others, dogs and people, and how to mind well when you tell him to.

X2 less stress

Actually, this system never reduces the stress because if you aren't willing to deal with a rambunctious 1 year old dog, you won't be willing to deal with that same dog in a year or two or three when it still has never experienced being around a campground - now it's a full grown ill-behaved dog.

As a long-time rescuer, I can say the number one reason people get rid of their dogs is because they didn't take the time to socialize and train them when the dogs were young and then it became MORE STRESSFUL (not less) to deal with the unsocialized/untrained adult dog.

[Strabo]

Johno02 wrote:
Don't. Sounds like a disaster waiting to happen. Better to wait a bit till he settles out of puppy stage, and some serious training on how to behave around others, dogs and people, and how to mind well when you tell him to.

X2 less stress