Camping with a high-energy dog

[Doug33]

It has been over a year since we lost our previous dog. We've been debating a long time to get a new dog, but finally went ahead and brought a puppy home this past week. It is a Jack Russell terrier, and while it is the cutest puppy in the world, it is also a handful because of its high energy level. We are in the process of potty training him, which is going fairly well. We also crate him when we leave the house, but only for a couple hours at a time at this point. He is vocal that he does not like the crate in any way shape or form, even though we try to make this not appear as a punishment.

The puppy is about 9 pounds and 11 weeks old. I estimate that by the time we camp again in April, he will be about 18 pounds and 7 months old.

Does anyone here camp with a Jack Russell or other high-energy dog? We only got this dog because we have a backyard he can run around in and use up his energy. We also try to walk him whenever the weather and time permits. With our previous dog we tried a pen when camping, but she hated it and just barked the whole time. So we just kept her on a leash on site. I suspect this guy would react the same way to a pen.

Also, when you leave the CG, do you crate your dog or let them have free reign in the TT? We will likely have to crate our dog because I'd be afraid of what he could get into. I'm thinking the crate would go under the dinette so as to provide the least amount of distraction to the dog. And obviously we'd keep either the heater or A/C on when applicable.

So far he has only barked two times, and only in response to hearing other dogs barking. When we previously camped in a PU, I was always concerned about our dog barking when we were away from the site. But with a TT, the sound of barking is controlled significantly better.

There is obviously a lot of trial and error upcoming, but I was curious what other's experience has been on this topic.

[Santa_Fe]

DutchmenSport wrote:
Every dog we have owned has been a high energy - highly sensitive - highly crazy nutso dog! They've all made GREAT camping dogs and this is how we did it! First all of our dogs barked at everything when we first got them. Camping was awful initially, they'd bark at every thing, even if the wind blew the grass!

Solution: And this works: Over stimulation! We kept all our dogs right in the middle of everything! We never sheltered them from anything. People, other dogs, noise, traffic, traveling, kids on bicycles, noises, everything! We would not let the dogs sleep. They stayed awake. We stayed right with them. If we were sitting outside, they were in a chair right beside us. They were exposed to absolutely everything.

Especially in a busy campground, the dogs (all of them) because so over stimulated at everything, they eventually exhausted themselves completely out. (usually by the end of the first day). Yes, it challenging to mommy and daddy, but necessary. Every day get a little better, until one day, they are so accustom to all the activity, they simply just lay around like good old Duke on the Beverly Hillbillies. It's worked for every dog we've ever owned.

Another thing, we have never left the dogs behind. Our camping and sight seeing activities all revolve around the dog. If the dog can't go inside, we go elsewhere, or else only one of us go inside while the other stays with the dog. It becomes a lifestyle, and after a while, it's never a problem.

If we go camping where we absolutely cannot take the dog, we leave the dog with relatives and don't take him then.

Bottom line is, if you're going to take a dog camping with you, you really need to accommodate the dog too. It's not fun for the dog to be left behind, caged, crated, tucked away, out-of-site, out-of-mind, going hysterical, and scare their mommy and daddy will never come back.

The solution for high energy dogs is simple: lots of exercise, lots of stimulation, and lots of personal attention. These will wear them down.

Great tips! My little man is a Yorkshire Terrier and has been camping since he was 5 months old. I do the same thing with him; he's always in the midst of everything when we're out camping and is involved as much as he can be. He loves walking around and being social with other people and dogs...he loves his attention! The overstimulation really does poop the little guy out...if we're sitting around the fire at night, he doesn't have any issues crawling off of anybody's lap and going right to the steps at the camper as if to say, "hey, I'd like to go to bed!". If I do have to leave him alone in the camper, he's in his crate with the furnace or A/C on and with the radio on for background noise. He does tend to bark some when he's first left alone, but he gets himself calmed down after a little while. I've never had any complaints.

He's the first dog I've ever had and I'd take him anywhere. He's my best friend.

[Samsonsworld]

I'm a big believer in crating until a dog is completely house....errrr trailer broken.

Also, leaving a TV or radio on will help mitigate barking.

[Bonefish]

We have 4 terriers and 1 is a Jack Russell that is our grand dog. He is high energy, but my son & D-I-L trained him themselves and is well behaved as is the other 3. Go to a trainer that does not work for a large company.

Sharon

[captnjack]

silverfz wrote:

hohenwald48 wrote:

silverfz wrote:
Also a dog seat belt, incase of an accident EMT will not enter your car if a free running dog is in the car.

I don't know where you got that information and it may be the case in your area but it's definitely not true in most areas.

Here they will wait till animal control first grabs the dog. again its a more of a legal thing. I think you need to have a dog injured or in extreme stress for this case.

Unless the dog is showing signs of aggression, I can't imagine EMT's sitting idly by and waiting for animal control.

We need some confirmation from a professional in that geographical area.

[silverfz]

One more thing is dogs will eventually get into a routine. Outs goes fo bed at 8.00 . He is tired and that is it. He also will wait for the little ones to climb into the bunks before slipping into his crate. He also sleeps in the rear floor in the truck on his blanket while travelling. He loves walks and hanging but once he is in bed around 8 he is done. We just accommodate it. When we go camping with no kids me and wife will go out after 9pm. As I said we know his preference and work with it. Funny he will never get into the kids or our bed and only his crate . Every dog is different . I just tell people he does not like to be pet. He just wants us go pet .no one else.

[camperforlife]

Doug33 I hope this dog is better with the TT. Just always try to make it fun place to be, not someplace to be caged for hours on end. Our Corgi gets excited when she sees the TT in the driveway. She absolutely loves to camp. She knows it means walks in the woods, lots of kids, lots of dogs and many other new experiences. Most of all she likes to be around her peeps and being in the TT we are in close quarters together and nothing could make her happier.

[rbpru]

If the EMTs come to my aid I want my dog rescued first.

We have our priorities.

[silverfz]

hohenwald48 wrote:

silverfz wrote:
Also a dog seat belt, incase of an accident EMT will not enter your car if a free running dog is in the car.

I don't know where you got that information and it may be the case in your area but it's definitely not true in most areas.

Here they will wait till animal control first grabs the dog. again its a more of a legal thing. I think you need to have a dog injured or in extreme stress for this case.

[Doug33]

Thank you for all your experiences. We made it through the first week and a half and only had one short period when we weren't sure what to do with the dog. It was like the dog took crack and was off the hook bouncing off the walls for a few hours. It hasn't helped that it has rained every single day since we got the dog, and my back yard is so wet and muddy.

We bring him outside to let him run around several times a day. It's balancing act, because he loves to pick up objects and chew them, including roots, sticks, rocks, etc. Once he gets a hold of them, he is very stubborn about letting go. I just don't want him to choke on anything or ingest something harmful.

Potty training is a work in progress. We have been encouraged at times.

We also take him for a walk around the block, and when it isn't pouring rain, at a local park. Since he is so young, he is very close to the ground and sniffs EVERYTHING along the way. So we are trying to teach him to walk along with us and how to heel. It's a work in progress. He's actually a better walker than our previous dog, which was a Westie.

Over the winter I'm going to start bringing the dog into the TT to get him acclimated to it. Our previous dog wanted no part of the TT and would try to leave immediately after she went in there.

[danimal53]

time and patience.

we have 2 huskies, and they are both pretty young (2 and 3), very high energy, high prey drive etc. The younger one had some separation anxiety at first and would tear up everything he could reach when left alone. we tried crating him (at home), which was okay at first but he eventually broke the crate in any way he could to get out. so it took a little extra effort to get him to calm down.

before we started camping, we first acclimated them to the TT. We started small, like eating dinner in the TT ("driveway camping") with the dogs just hanging out. We slowly built up the length of time we would spend in there, getting them to feel like it was an extension of our home. Then we'd leave them alone for a short period, and come back and praise them if all was well. We gradually built up the time they were left alone, and it went much better than we expected. Our fear was the younger one would tear up everything he could (cushions, mattress, anything). He never did, and they got used to it pretty quickly. When camping, we have them on a tie out (most huskies can never be off leash, prey drive too high) and they bark at dogs walking by, and the occasional squirrel, but nothing excessive. if we have to leave them in the TT (we go out to dinner or something) they're fine now, with the AC on of course for the snow pups.

we do what we can to tire them out, long walks, long bike rides where they can really let it out and RUN, and this really helps as they just get too tired to cause trouble. our dogs are a big reason we got into RVing, so we can take them when we travel. IT has been great so far, and haven't regretted it one bit!

[Dog_Trainer]

JRT'sd are a smart and wonderful dog and as many have pointed out they can be a handful and very energetic. I have worked with many high energy dogs over the last 51 years as a dog trainer/behaviorist (now retired).
The number 1 question I ask when people want help with high energy is , how much time are you willing to spend. You will get much good advise as well as much bad advise and as a novice it is sometimes difficult to know the good from the bad. The internet is a wealth of information both good and bad, right and wrong. Fort dogs like JRT's and other high prey drive dogs I suggest a couple of sessions with a well respected trainer that has good experience and references. The kind of trainer I am talking about can really put you on the right road in a hurry. It may cost a few hundred $$ but the results can be absolutely amazing and you can have a much better camping experience. Just remember that you must take the information that you get and formulate a plan to execute through practice and patience. It won't happen until the relationship exists between you and your dog thaat you have the wherewithal from a canine prospective to be the foundation of that relationship. I wish you well.

[hohenwald48]

silverfz wrote:
Also a dog seat belt, incase of an accident EMT will not enter your car if a free running dog is in the car.

I don't know where you got that information and it may be the case in your area but it's definitely not true in most areas.

[silverfz]

My dog is a mini dashund. He was hyper , aggressive towards other people and especially kids playing. It is strange as this started in 2nd year of camping not the first. He was a great dog the first year. Come next spring he got to be a terror.
We had to go through a few classes and he is so much better now. I cringe when I see him with kids around but he does not care. Even when they are mean and hurt him recently.
He is part of our family. He is a good crate dog too. We will crate him for a couple of hours when we cannot take him with us. Again. long walks and then some treats and he is content.
towards the end of last season, we were starting to leave him uncrated and he has improved.

He is well crate trained and prefers to be in it when we are not around in the house or camper. Again, he is 4 now and I know a mile or so trip and he is done . He would relax. He hates to see me ride my bike with the kids as he wants to go.

so santa got him a pet carrier for my bike. Also a dog seat belt, incase of an accident EMT will not enter your car if a free running dog is in the car.

[sher9570]

DutchmenSport wrote:
Every dog we have owned has been a high energy - highly sensitive - highly crazy nutso dog! They've all made GREAT camping dogs and this is how we did it! First all of our dogs barked at everything when we first got them. Camping was awful initially, they'd bark at every thing, even if the wind blew the grass!

Solution: And this works: Over stimulation! We kept all our dogs right in the middle of everything! We never sheltered them from anything. People, other dogs, noise, traffic, traveling, kids on bicycles, noises, everything! We would not let the dogs sleep. They stayed awake. We stayed right with them. If we were sitting outside, they were in a chair right beside us. They were exposed to absolutely everything.

Especially in a busy campground, the dogs (all of them) because so over stimulated at everything, they eventually exhausted themselves completely out. (usually by the end of the first day). Yes, it challenging to mommy and daddy, but necessary. Every day get a little better, until one day, they are so accustom to all the activity, they simply just lay around like good old Duke on the Beverly Hillbillies. It's worked for every dog we've ever owned.

Another thing, we have never left the dogs behind. Our camping and sight seeing activities all revolve around the dog. If the dog can't go inside, we go elsewhere, or else only one of us go inside while the other stays with the dog. It becomes a lifestyle, and after a while, it's never a problem.

If we go camping where we absolutely cannot take the dog, we leave the dog with relatives and don't take him then.

Bottom line is, if you're going to take a dog camping with you, you really need to accommodate the dog too. It's not fun for the dog to be left behind, caged, crated, tucked away, out-of-site, out-of-mind, going hysterical, and scare their mommy and daddy will never come back.

The solution for high energy dogs is simple: lots of exercise, lots of stimulation, and lots of personal attention. These will wear them down.

This is absolutely correct...we have a Lab that has been high energy but I don't think she's ever been quite like a JRT.
Our dogs are always included and this is part of what makes them people/dog friendly.
Ours are loved by most and since they have always been exposed to everything from day one, nothing really gets to them and they don't bark endlessly because they have been left alone and maybe they are frightened.
Make sure they are a good part of your life and they will return the appreciation ten fold.

Sher