RV Doggies…Joys, Tips & Reality

One of the big reasons we started this whole RV adventure, besides wanting to see some of the country and being together, was wanting to bring our furry family with us. We had spent a lot of time away from them for the first several months of 2018 doing farm shows, which was not appreciated by either us or our pups. So we wanted to find a way to travel with them. Thus, the RV idea was born. And we ran with it!

First, an introduction to our ‘children’: there is our American Cocker Spaniel, Moose. He is a very affectionate teddy bear who loves to lick Eric’s face every morning. He likes to fetch his ‘red mushroom’ and will sometimes bring it back, if he feels especially generous. But he has a bit of a stubborn attitude as well, (his nickname is ‘Jackass’ for good reason) which can be problematic when you need him to listen or come the first time you call. It’s a training in progress……;)

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Then there is our sweet princess, Jojo, a pound puppy terrier and chihuahua mix, but we call her our miniature great dane. She has the biggest eyes that will melt your heart and a very sweet disposition, unless you happen to be a stuff animal or bone. Then it’s all over for you. She also has this strange behavior where every time she sees another dog, she has a ‘mohawk’ all along her back. It’s funny really, because what can she really do, especially if the other dog is a big one. But apparently, she doesn’t know she is smaller.

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Ok, so enough with the doggie intros…on to the subject at hand…traveling with dogs, and specifically right now, in an RV. Thankfully, our pups love being with us, which is the characteristic of most dogs and owners, and that fact helps immensely when you are in tighter quarters like the RV. During long drives, of which we have taken many, both of them lay quietly and sleep much of the time. Moose also enjoys climbing on my lap in the passenger seat. I think he believes it’s actually ‘his’ seat and I’m just part of the seat….;)

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A recommendation: this probably goes without saying but have designated spots for your pups, whether a blanket or dog bed. Otherwise they will find any comfortable spot in the RV, and probably your bed. Moose has to be as close as he can to Eric, so his blanket is between our car seats. Jojo likes to be up high where she can see, so we put her bed on our dinette bench. The princess has her comfy, elevated throne.

The next consideration: the potty breaks and dreaded clean-up…. Although dogs can usually go hours without have a potty break (they go 8 hours every night!) we choose to let them out every time we stop for gas or other stop. It’s insurance against accidents. Always leash them first before letting them out of the RV. There are too many cars and people that can distract and attract them and possibly cause them to run or chase. We definitely do not want that!

Also, always, always have the ‘poop’ bags ready. We tie some directly onto the leases for quick access, but there are many gadgets designed to hold rolls of bags if you want to be more doggie fashionable. They also attach to the the leases.

Cleaning and keeping the RV clean: Let’s be real right off the bat….dogs do not wipe their feet so your floors and possibly furniture will get dirty…and fairly quickly too.

Because of that fact, we opted to tear out the old carpet that was in the RV when we bought it and replaced it with vinyl wood flooring. I would definitely recommend that to anyone thinking of RVing with dogs. The vinyl flooring is so much easier to clean and it is more “hypoallergenic’ than carpet and won’t trap the smells either. For the furniture and bed, we have throw blankets covering them so they are much easier to launder than the bedspread or seat covers.

What about leaving them in the RV? There are times when you cannot bring your pups with you. Not all places and sites allow dogs. And for us, we go to our farm conferences for business, and dogs are not allowed. In our experience, the pups are perfectly ok staying alone in the RV. Over time, it becomes their home and they feel very comfortable in it. (A bit too comfortable maybe ;). The moment we leave they snuggle up on our bed and enjoy the luxury. Sometimes I think they want us to leave, just so they can enjoy the high life of the big bed.

We try not to leave them alone for more than 3 hours, but there have been a few times (usually when we are at a conference) that they have been alone for 5-6 hours; that long time is not recommended, especially if you don’t want any pee accidents, but if it happens occasionally, you are not a ‘bad parent’. The takeaway is to do your best to come back sooner than later, at least to reassure them you are coming back and to give them that needed potty break.

Fleas and ticks…..Not much to say here…it’s the same as when you are in your home. But do keep in mind when you are traveling, that different places have different insects and concentrations of fleas and ticks. For example, in our home in Western Colorado, we do not have fleas. We are too high in elevation. But we’ve been traveling in the South and there are fleas here…as we’ve come to find out. So keep them up-to-date on their preventives and bathe them when you can. When we couldn’t find a local doggie bath, our shower worked well and they enjoy the warm water. When we were in Grove City, PA, we found a dog wash kiosk that was great. It was a small building, maybe 6×8, complete with a large basin, water sprayer, a machine to select shampoo etc. Think car wash…. It was a brilliant idea.

Routine: Try to continue with the same routine they had at home, especially their feeding schedule. The more routine you can be, the more comfortable and content they will be. Very important: Always have water available. Just like us, traveling can be dehydrating, so keep fresh water available for them. We keep their bowl in our shower when we are driving so if it sloshes, it’s contained in the shower pan. Using our limited space in the RV for multiple uses is key in such a small home.

Exercise: Dogs need to move…put it in your own routine and schedule to walk them everyday. It’s good for them and you too. Sometimes you have to be creative where you can go, but as long as they are leased, you should be able to take them most places. In addition, be sure to have a few of their toys available to play with or chew on. Even though there isn’t much room in the RV for playing fetch, Moose still likes to chase his red mushroom down the short hall. Again, the more of a normal routine they have, the better they will feel…and behave.

Taking them on outings: Just as sometimes you have to leave them in the RV, there have been many times we take them with us to explore new cities and places. Overall, it’s great, but keep in mind they’ve never been to these new places and dogs have to smell….everything. But they also get to enjoy their time with you and share the fun experience.

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Lodging and RV parks: So far, every RV park we’ve been in allows pets, as long as you are responsible, keep them on a lease and clean up after your dogs. No one wants to step in a mess left by an irresponsible owner. 🙁 Even when we stayed overnight in a Walmart parking lot, we always found some small grassy areas to take them. The most convenient when it comes to the pups is when we are staying at friends houses. Then the dogs get to go out whenever they want or need without leases and explore a bit. They love that!

Having your dogs with you when you travel is wonderful, especially when you prepare for it. It’s also important to stay flexible and have some grace for your furry children. It’s a big change for them as well as you. It can take more patience with them than being at your house.

New places, new people and a whole lot of new smells. Boy! do they need to mark their spot a lot! Every 10-15 seconds it seems they need to stop and leave a few drops. So stay patient.

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We love having our dogs with us on this RV adventure, visiting new places and experiences. Even with having some extra work, we would not have it any other way. They are family and having those big eyes look at you and the wiggling butt when you come back to the RV is worth it all. We would definitely recommend bringing your dogs with you. (Or cats…we have seen RVers with cats too) It multiplies the joy and love on your travels!

Thanks for reading and remember…Someday…is today!