Dogs in TT's

[dvitale300]

I know this is kind of an odd question, but we're dog show people new to RV's and will be leaving in a few days for our first dog show with our Travel Trailer. Are there folks out there who travel, leaving their pets back in the trailer when you drive? If so, any tips on how you make things safe for them? Any bad consequences besides the obvious?
thanks

[Atlee]

No way would I put our dog in the trailer while underway. He rides up front, in a crate, with us. That's one reason we have the Supercab.

[rockhillmanor]

The thread is not spiraling anywhere.:R

The OP asked a question and forum members are giving their opinions and experiences which is what the OP asked for.

[ScottG]

tbred wrote:

stpauligirlmn wrote:
Seriously unfair WyoTraveler. She asked because she clearly loves her dogs and is a newbie to the travel trailer world. Wouldnt the world be grand if we were all born knowing everything.

Exactly what I was thinking, new tt owner trying to do what's best.

I agree. It seems like a lot of ugly assumptions were made and this thread just spiraled downward.

[rockhillmanor]

RinconVTR wrote:

dvitale300 wrote:
I know this is kind of an odd question, but we're dog show people new to RV's and will be leaving in a few days for our first dog show with our Travel Trailer. Are there folks out there who travel, leaving their pets back in the trailer when you drive? If so, any tips on how you make things safe for them? Any bad consequences besides the obvious?
thanks

Absolutely, positively, NO.

NEVER travel with any living thing in the TT, except fishing bait!

X10 NO on dogs in TT. And NO on dogs in the back of a pickup truck with cap.
What breed do you have?

I show dogs also. I tried it with a TT and it sucked.

When you get there you have to unload the dogs from the TV and put them in the TT. Unhook your TV because the dog show RV parking does have room to leave your TV connected. And then reverse the whole process.

AND the greedy kennels clubs will charge you for "2" spaces. And as you already have seen when you reserved your RV site it is NOT cheap by any means.

Probably not what you wanted to hear but I did 2 dog shows with a TT and sold it and bought a MH.

[RinconVTR]

dvitale300 wrote:
I know this is kind of an odd question, but we're dog show people new to RV's and will be leaving in a few days for our first dog show with our Travel Trailer. Are there folks out there who travel, leaving their pets back in the trailer when you drive? If so, any tips on how you make things safe for them? Any bad consequences besides the obvious?
thanks

Absolutely, positively, NO.

NEVER travel with any living thing in the TT, except fishing bait!

[hawkeye-08]

dvitale300 wrote:
Actually, I took a look a few minutes ago. The tanks are behind the electric hitch - which is what is actually in the way - so that's a entirely different issue. Doesn't, to me, look fixable. Oh well, we'll work around it.

Sometimes you can rotate the electric tongue jack so things clear it. Sometimes you can replace it with one that is taller, putting the big part up out of the way.... or you can get a shank that moves the ball back enough to allow things to open...

[Terryallan]

WyoTraveler wrote:
Guess some how I just don't get it. If your pet is a burden just get rid of it. Many of us assume people get pets and treat them as part of the family. If my pet was such a burden I would find another good home for him. Jake, my ACD, is a family member. I wouldn't ask the dog to do anything I wouldn't. One exception, Jake doesn't eat people food. Our MH is a mess. Hair all over, and I stumble over dog toys. But I wouldn't have it any other way. If you have to ask how to treat your pet you shouldn't have one. Nuff said.

you live in the nasty, and you want to put down someone who asks a honest question?

I like my dog. But I ain't wearing his hair, and I am not cooking with his hair in the pot.

[tbred]

stpauligirlmn wrote:
Seriously unfair WyoTraveler. She asked because she clearly loves her dogs and is a newbie to the travel trailer world. Wouldnt the world be grand if we were all born knowing everything.

Exactly what I was thinking, new tt owner trying to do what's best.

[stpauligirlmn]

Seriously unfair WyoTraveler. She asked because she clearly loves her dogs and is a newbie to the travel trailer world. Wouldnt the world be grand if we were all born knowing everything.

[WyoTraveler]

Guess some how I just don't get it. If your pet is a burden just get rid of it. Many of us assume people get pets and treat them as part of the family. If my pet was such a burden I would find another good home for him. Jake, my ACD, is a family member. I wouldn't ask the dog to do anything I wouldn't. One exception, Jake doesn't eat people food. Our MH is a mess. Hair all over, and I stumble over dog toys. But I wouldn't have it any other way. If you have to ask how to treat your pet you shouldn't have one. Nuff said.

[Terryallan]

westernrvparkowner wrote:

3oaks wrote:

Hornnumb2 wrote:
If you are Dog people they should be in the cab with you.

Right. And I suppose if you are transporting riding horses they should be in the cab too? Our dog does ride in the cab with us, but many of my hunting friends transport their dogs in the pickup box or specially designed trailers.

The suspension setup of a horse trailer or the back of a pickup is much different than the suspension setup of a trailer. The axles of a horse trailer are set to the rear. in a travel trailer they are close to centered. Ride is radically different. There is a reason those hunting dog's trailers are specially designed. It is to get the dog to the field in one piece.

I guess the horse trailer around here are different. the axles are pretty much in the center of a 2 horse trailer, and they have very little tongue weight. Unhook it, and the tongue does not even touch the ground. Have seen boat trailers like that as well. But I do bet the suspension is different.

[stpauligirlmn]

St. Bernard and Malamute - such beautiful dogs! We have a shep/husky mix and a strange mutt that even the vet cant identify! Both adopted from the humane society and blue ribbon winners in my eyes, 😉

let us know how the inaugural run goes in your new trailer - and how your pooches due at the show. You are going to have a blast travelling around to shows. Life is good!

[dvitale300]

westend wrote:

dvitale300 wrote:
Yea - having the same thoughts. My problem is that I have a shell on my truck, but the hatch won't go all the way down when hooked to the trailer (hit's the propane units). Un-hitching the thing every couple hundred miles so they can pee is not an appealing idea.

Have you tried moving the tank bracket backwards on the tongue? Of course, you could secure the tanks inside the trailer or a storage area until you arrive at your destination. Leave a window or vent open in the trailer if you go that route.

Actually, I took a look a few minutes ago. The tanks are behind the electric hitch - which is what is actually in the way - so that's a entirely different issue. Doesn't, to me, look fixable. Oh well, we'll work around it.

[westend]

dvitale300 wrote:
Yea - having the same thoughts. My problem is that I have a shell on my truck, but the hatch won't go all the way down when hooked to the trailer (hit's the propane units). Un-hitching the thing every couple hundred miles so they can pee is not an appealing idea.

Have you tried moving the tank bracket backwards on the tongue? Of course, you could secure the tanks inside the trailer or a storage area until you arrive at your destination. Leave a window or vent open in the trailer if you go that route.

[dvitale300]

stpauligirlmn wrote:
Hah! I enjoyed reading this thread. I think you got more than you bargained for Divitale when you opened this can of worms!

My two cents: do whatever modification you need to (or can do) to your topper now, so that the dogs can get out without unhooking the trailer. Perhaps you need to invest in a different topper? I'm guessing you are going to take the dogs and trailer to more shows in the future. You might as well solve the problem now.

good luck at the show! I hope blue ribbons await you!

Thanks St. PauliGirl,

We've got a Starcraft 28BHS that has a great area in the back under the retractable bunks (about 4x5) where we're going to set up a dog gate with floor blankets so they have an area to hang out. We're going to put the gang in the back seat (have a crew cab Ram Laramie so there's enough room)- as we're stopping every 150mi for gas and pee stuff. Only about a 6 1/2 hour drive. We're taking our 1 1/2 year old St. Bernard who is about 2/3rd of the way to her championship and our 6 year old Malamute boy who is about 1/3 of the way to his grand championship. They should be fine. This is what we bought the thing for - so it should be fun.