Traveling Companions and the RESTRICTIONS

[FrankNJulie]

We travel with 3 Pomeranians, and they are pretty well behaved. All dogs bark, all dogs poop, and even some will bite, when provoked. Ours do all but the biting thing... We carry a pen like enclosure. It is very neat, matches our rig, and we have done some renovations to make it comfortable for our dogs, and that fits our rv. We have made a short wall that goes along the underside of the basements, and the outside is 2 feet. We have been told at several parks that enclosures or fences are not allowed. We use this to keep from having to run 3 leads (that inevitably tangle upon hook up), but also to protect the ever running, peddling, and vocal children at play. We also clean up after them and our enclosure is not in any way going to destroy any grass or site. We have been told that the reason that some parks do not allow these enclosures is that people will leave the pets outside unattended. This is a no-no in any camp setting. I say that if these "people" do this, then that would be a reason for their immediate dismissal from the park. I personally don't think that is the reason, but if so, let us Good dog owners have our comforts of the road, and kick those non-animal lovers out of the park! I would love to get these parks to change their policies, and just pay more attention to the ones that are breaking the rules.

[toedtoes]

Lantley wrote:
Fewer dogs is certainly relevant. If the OP had fewer dogs they would not get tangled and there would be no issue. Other have mentioned using a double leash when dealing with multiple dogs. Quantity does make a difference

But it doesn't make a difference when you've ALREADY got the dogs. Suggesting that they "take fewer dogs" is not practical advice for their situation now because it's not a viable option. As the OP said, you wouldn't tell someone to take fewer kids when they ask about how to deal with a 6 person maximum campsite and they have 5 kids.

[raindove]

Here's our set up.

[Spleenstomper]

I'd love to see a photo of your set up.

It sounds creative and good to me, assuming all is true about you cleaning up, etc. I think it sounds very innovative; a good deal for everyone and the dogs.

I've never not see a dog pen wherever we have gone (which admittedly isn't nearly as many places as others here have gone). I have seen poodle type dogs jump out of the pen though...

Picture?

[mooky_stinks]

In New York State parks you are no longer allowed to have more than 2 dogs on a site. Although I see this rule broken quite often. Obviously it's been a problem.

[valhalla360]

Basically, it's a whole lot easier to say no pens than to determine if you would use them responsibly.

Since they are a rarity in the first place and when I have seen them, they usually do wind up with a dog outside by themselves often barking at passing people, I can certainly understand the issue and simply saying no is a lot easier than explaining why the person who takes responsiblity for the dogs doesn't get seperate rules.

Sure you can kick people out of the park if they abuse the use of pens but in the modern world of social media, that is likely to result in bad on line reviews, so it's a no win for the owner.

[AZPops]

Nevur mind!

Pops

[raindove]

We use an ex-pen, too, so I totally get OP's point. Have cots inside it to keep the dogs up off the ground. Water bucket clipped to the side, so it doesn't get knocked over. The dogs are quite content with the set up. One of us is always outside with them, if they are in the pen. They are always leash walked for potty calls. We've never been asked to remove it.

I hate to say it, but even one dog can get tangled up on a tie out at a camp site. They get tangled around chairs, table legs, etc, etc....

It's the same old story -- one bad egg makes it bad for everyone else. There obviously was a problem, some place, some time to make this rule come up.
I figure they aren't going to change the rules.

If we go someplace where the pen is prohibited, we just leash walk the dogs and go with the flow.

[fla-gypsy]

The CG's are not likely to change their policy to accommodate you since they made it for their convenience. You have a choice to not frequent those parks, comply with their rules or bring less pets.

[xteacher]

I guess it's mainly private campgrounds with the no x-pen rule? We camp mainly at state and federal parks and have never come across this problem. I do agree that camping with two dogs is much easier than three - been there, done that. However, the poster has 3 dogs, so it's a moot point. Could one dog be left inside while having the other two outside on leashes, then rotate them?

[Scottiemom]

We used an ex pen for our dogs as well. We had two Scottish Terriers. One of our dogs was not very social and the other was handicapped and couldn't walk.

We encountered several camps which did not permit the pen. On those occasions, we kept them leashed. We didn't use a tie out because of my biter. Even though it's inconvenient, I think leashing is what you will have to do in those instances where a pen is not permitted.

My one dog could not walk. We had to keep him leashed if not in the pen. He couldn't go anywhere, he would stay right where I put him, but he still had to have a leash. I thought that was silly, but I supposed not everyone who passed by knew his condition.

Bottom line. . . their park, their rules. Even so, there weren't many parks who didn't allow the pen.

Thank you for rescuing.

Dale

[Lantley]

toedtoes wrote:
I have learned that when rules are made for reasons other than actual safety, that you cannot depend on the reason given for those rules will be one of logic.

In cases like this, I think your best bet is to have a couple different options regarding the dogs. That way you won't have to go in search of another place last minute. That's why I mentioned my leash setup - it would give you an option for when you can't have your preferrence.

And I absolutely agree with you about the number of dogs - it's not the issue at all and "camp with fewer dogs" is just silly.

Fewer dogs is certainly relevant. If the OP had fewer dogs they would not get tangled and there would be no issue. Other have mentioned using a double leash when dealing with multiple dogs. Quantity does make a difference

[toedtoes]

I have learned that when rules are made for reasons other than actual safety, that you cannot depend on the reason given for those rules will be one of logic.

In cases like this, I think your best bet is to have a couple different options regarding the dogs. That way you won't have to go in search of another place last minute. That's why I mentioned my leash setup - it would give you an option for when you can't have your preferrence.

And I absolutely agree with you about the number of dogs - it's not the issue at all and "camp with fewer dogs" is just silly.

[jtaylor1920]

We use our collapsible pens too and just like you sit in them with the dogs. So far no one has asked us to take them down but I do put them away when we're not sitting outside. To me it isn't that much messier looking than a bunch of bikes dumped in someone's site. Unfortunately responsible pet owners are subject to the same rules as the irresponsible ones. As far as having 3 dogs who cares as long as you continue to do what you say you do which is clean up after them and quiet them down when they bark. Sounds like you're great doggy parents.

[SDcampowneroper]

Pens do harm the grass by concentrating the pets in a small space. More often than not, dogs confined in a pen are left alone, i.e. unattended, are more prone to reacting to anyone walking by.
Leash rules cover the letter of the law, but not its intent. That definition is properly left to the camp to define what is right for them.
Sorry, but the old adage of one bad apple in the barrel forces many to restrict breeds, pens, leash length, pet areas.

[Old-Biscuit]

Just be happy they allow all 3 of your dogs....some have rules on number of pets.