We have typically always camped with our dogs of which were of the lab size. Well we have recently become the proud parents I guess you could say of a Yorkie. The past I have seen several other campers using the portable playpen type setup on their campsites. Is there one brand/style that works better than the other? I would figure plastic would be beneficial from a rust free view. Just looking to see if there is anything favored outthere

Why don't leashes work for small dogs? I've seen lots of small dogs in pens, just wondering.

I bought one at Camping World on sale for ~$30 or so. It's wire has 8 panels X 30" tall and works well for my dachshunds. The advantage to the pen over the leash or lead is that the dogs tend to get the lead wrapped around chair legs, trees etc. as they wander around. I also have 25' leads for my dogs but it doesn't take long before they end up with about a foot left. And the pens work well for small dogs but a pen that a larger dog can't jump out of would start to get a bit cumbersome to carry around.

We’ve used both plastic and metal fences but prefer this one. Much easier to put up and take down and takes very little space to store. Pet pen

We have used the 30" tall X-pens for the last 30+ year's for our Collies at first then to our smaller breed's later. We recently adopted a jumper(wire hair dachshund) so the 30" tall aren't working any longer...getting a couple of 40" ones soon. Also, we always wrap our pens with a solid fabric so that our "kids" can't see every single other doggie walk by....keeps the barking down!

We bought 2 of the metal pens, and hook them together for or 4 camping buddies (Chihuahuas) They love the pens and as stated prior to that they would get the leads tangled up on everything. A large dog would probably have to be trained to stay inside the pen. There are now above ground containment systems available which are portable and seem to work really great the dogs wears a collar, my neighbor has two Labs that stay inside his front yard with no problem. I am not sure where they are available but a little research will probably yield results here is wally world answer https://www.walmart.com/ip/iMeshbean-Wireless-1-Dog-Fence-No-Wire-Waterproof-Pet-Containment-System-Rechargeable-US/698279292Good Luck and happy camping

Portable outdoor containment. | Good Sam Community

sgfrye
Explorer
Feb 07, 2018
DutchmenSport wrote:
bobcouch wrote:
...our miniature dachshunds...

You post made me laugh. We have 2 doxies now. We acquired my daughter's 10 year old female just a few months ago. She's really adapted to our lifestyle. Our's original is a male, 6 years old and lovable as can be ... but wow! do they get into mischief!!!! Turn your head and .... wham! They're into something! Adding the second one, and they became a lean, mean, running machine duo, plotting and conniving together just to see how fast they can get one over on us. No pens for this duo now. The two together will figure out how to knock it over and then come running to us.

Still, you've got to really love those little guys, don't you!

x2 on the mini doxie thing. they are a wonderful unique breed for sure. we have a female mini doxie and 3 chihuahua mixes that travel with us. we use 3 wire type pens hooked together for a small yard in front of camper. we wrap it around so that its against the camper to the steps on both sides, then a wide board underneath the steps so they cant escape. we don't leave them unattended outside the camper. they travel well and so far have had no problems or complaints. if the wife and i leave the campground we leave the ac fan running to make background noise so they don't bark.

the advantage for small dogs is it would be a pain in the rear end to walk 4 dogs. they do their business in the fence yard, easy cleanup.

the number one reason we bought a TT was the fact that we can take them traveling with us. plus neither of us care to stay in a hotel. we like our own home on wheels, bathroom, shower and bed especially.

if we had large dogs we would walk them on leash.
LJAZ
Explorer
Feb 01, 2018
toedtoes wrote:
There are two main issues with those eletronic fences:

1. Some dogs are willing to suffer a moment of pain in order to get through the fence line (and some are so headstrong that they don't notice the shock when they race through it); and
2. The fence does not keep other creatures from reaching your pet. Any loose dog can run at your dog while you believe your dog is safely secured.

My SIL had one of those and her dog figured out that by laying close enough to set off the tone, but not close enough to get the shock, all she had to do was wait until the tone stopped. With a dead battery in the collar she was free.
toedtoes
Explorer III
Jan 31, 2018
BCSnob wrote:
Are small dogs more prone to tracheal damage than big dogs because big dogs are able to pull the one on the other end of the leash off their feet before getting hurt where small dogs can’t or is it because small dogs have weaker trachea?

Hmmm. I've known a few small terriers who could pull you off your feet... Maybe it's just the wussy small dogs.
BCSnob
Explorer
Jan 31, 2018
Are small dogs more prone to tracheal damage than big dogs because big dogs are able to pull the one on the other end of the leash off their feet before getting hurt where small dogs can’t or is it because small dogs have weaker trachea?
ReneeG
Explorer
Jan 31, 2018
GordonThree wrote:
Why don't leashes work for small dogs? I've seen lots of small dogs in pens, just wondering.

Having had a Maltese, I can answer. Small dogs of this size, are susceptible to trachea damage from a collar and leash. Using a harness and leash prevents this, but they then can wriggle free of the harness.
toedtoes
Explorer III
Jan 31, 2018
The pens can work for small dogs but one must remember that other loose dogs (especially large dogs) can easily knock those pens over. They are no substitution for always keeping your dog in your full control, they are simply a tool to help you keep them in your full control.
toedtoes
Explorer III
Jan 31, 2018
There are two main issues with those eletronic fences:

1. Some dogs are willing to suffer a moment of pain in order to get through the fence line (and some are so headstrong that they don't notice the shock when they race through it); and
2. The fence does not keep other creatures from reaching your pet. Any loose dog can run at your dog while you believe your dog is safely secured.
DutchmenSport
Explorer
Jan 31, 2018
bobcouch wrote:
...our miniature dachshunds...

You post made me laugh. We have 2 doxies now. We acquired my daughter's 10 year old female just a few months ago. She's really adapted to our lifestyle. Our's original is a male, 6 years old and lovable as can be ... but wow! do they get into mischief!!!! Turn your head and .... wham! They're into something! Adding the second one, and they became a lean, mean, running machine duo, plotting and conniving together just to see how fast they can get one over on us. No pens for this duo now. The two together will figure out how to knock it over and then come running to us.

Still, you've got to really love those little guys, don't you!
bobcouch
Explorer
Jan 31, 2018
We bought one of those portable steel pens years ago, but only used it once.
On the first stop of the first trip, I set up the pen - didn't stake it down - dropped our miniature dachshunds inside and went to finish setting up the trailer.
Just a few seconds later, I was cranking up a leveler on the far side of the trailer when Dusty (our smallest doxie) showed up. She had pulled the fence until one corner went from 90 degrees down to about 35, then climbed right up and over!
ppine
Explorer II
Jan 31, 2018
We travel with 3 dogs. Two of them are Corgis and they are part wolverine. One of them gets in trouble with big dogs so we keep her in an X pen made out of steel for her own protection. The other two get staked out on long ropes. They like being outdoors and love walks and running around and swimming. I cannot relate to anyone that boards their dogs for RV and camping trips.