Camping with Dogs: RV Having Fun Yet?

Post on
Camping with Dogs: RV Having Fun Yet?

Dogs and camping go together like hot cocoa and marshmallows. We asked Ray Burr, a full-time RVer and dog owner, why so many RV campers enjoy traveling with their four-legged friends.

"People who own dogs naturally gravitate toward RV travel," he said. "We love our pets and want to bring them along. When my wife and I decided to take a year long sabbatical six years ago and travel, we picked RVing as our mode of choice. A big reason for this was our two Beagles, Oscar and Angie."

With Ray's help, we've put together a few rules of the road for camping with dogs. Most of these benefit everyone: your dog, your campground neighbors and yourself.

1. Clean up after your dog promptly.

Ray put this one at the top of the list for camping with dogs. "I feel that not cleaning up is a big reason dogs get prohibited from places," he said.

2. Keep your dog on a leash.

Allowing a puppy to roam into other campsites is a big no-no, even if the dog is friendly. It also opens the door for dognapping.

3. Build in time for exercise.

When RVing, a tired dog is a good dog. A few good walks each day will tire him out but will also stimulate his senses.

4. Establish routines.

Dogs are calmer and happier when they can count on a schedule for eating, exercise and play. Keep to morning and evening rituals as closely as you can.

Checklist

1. Pack your dog's regular kibble with you rather than feeding whatever's available.

2. Travel with your veterinary records, the Link My Pet app has a place to store all your vet records.

3. Plan to bring enough of the dog's medications for the entire trip.

4. Invest in a Link smart pet wearable with GPS tracking so you can always know your dog's whereabouts.

5. Never leave your dog in a hot RV unattended.

6. Use the Adventures feature in the Link My Pet app to save cool camping memories of your pup.

We hope you'll share your RVing and camping adventures with us on Instagram. And for more camping ideas, visit Ray's website.

Blog home

The Wanderer Newsletter

Sign up to receive news and updates