Can we talk about dogs?

[leslie]

I have owned dogs all of my life. My 2 dogs are enjoying the camping experience. There was no hesitation in entering the camper for the first time. I placed their beds from the living room on the lower bunk and they went there immediately. They enjoy looking out their own window, particularly when there is a dog in the next campsite.

Who else travels with a dog or dogs and what sort of accommodations have you made for them?

[walt3]

We camp with our Mini Schnauzer. Not to much real special for her as she is spoiled and sleeps in the bed with us. We take a crate incase we need to leave her by herself for a bit.( To easy to get out of the pop up) We do bring a bag of toys and treats!

[charliem]

[font size="3"]Leslie,

Looks like you are adapting well to the camping protocol. I've observed that one has to have at least one, preferably two, dogs to be accepted in CGs. The morning must begin with the "dog walking the owner" routine. Apparently I didn't get that memo, although I love and have owned many dogs. Enjoy your camper and your dogs  .
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[david]

We camp with our 20# Sheltie. The only accommodation is to bring along a low REI folding camp chair for her. She can easily get into it herself and gives her a bit of elevation off of the ground and a better view of the campfire ;-).

When the adjacent campsites are occupied we always keep her on a retractable leash, usually attached to the chair. It was amusing to see her charge after a squirrel for about ten feet and then the chair went along after her for a few feet more before she was stopped.

David

[shovelhead]

step out the door onto the camper step.  Unless she see's a cat or squirrel. Then the race is on..........

[pinstriper]

We bought a screen kit for our ez-up shade canopy. Our two dogs get to be in it when we're outside.

We also have two of those 30" high portable pen sets. We can set it up inside the canopy (sans screens) and they enjoy being off leash inside their pen. They just want to be with/nearby and they're happy.

[tinkeringtechie]

We bring our "practice baby" beagle with us on most trips. He sleeps on a bolster bed between the dinette and our bed (covered by a blanket because he's a princess). During the day he's on a retractable cable at the site or out hiking with us. Retractable is required for him as he hasn't learned how to untie himself without the tension guiding him. We started with a regular cable and he just made a spider web out of the picnic table... repeatedly. If the site has the proper arrangement of trees we'll string a line between two and put the "reel" on a pulley to give him some more range and the height makes it even easier for him to avoid getting tangled in things.

[daplumbr]

This thread really needs more photos! We take both our border collies everywhere with us. On our 16TBS, I bolted a piece of 1/4 plywood (yes, wood), to the step and then covered that with a Camco step carpet. That, plus the floor carpet in the trailer at the door opening, gives them enough traction to safely get in and out in all lighting and weather. One sleeps in her bed on the floor next to the sofa and the other sleeps in his twin beds with us. The twin beds are definitely his, but he let's us use them. Here's photo of the pack playing on a Lake Superior beach.


 [attachment id="468" thumbnail="1"]

[pinstriper]

Ours are somewhat more prone to sleeping on the floor now we've got the foam tiles in place, but they'd really rather be up on their bed with us.

We prefer that as well. Dog heats best.

I put a stick-down rubber step-thingie on the...ehm...uh, step. Mainly to close up the holes that could catch a toenail. But also to prevent slips by me.

We also put a 7" tall step platform in front of the step for Mrs. Pin to use getting in and out, and for the dogs to jump over.

The biggest problem we've had is teaching them that the screen door is not a doggie door to be jumped through getting in or out.

[jeeps]

We've had our dog Riley (dachshund/beagle) for 2 months and our trailer one month, so we're new to both worlds.  Riley accompanied us on our maiden trip (several thousand miles) to pick up our trailer and we are happy to report that he is a champion traveler.  No "accidents" in the car or trailer (confined spaces are good) and lots of naps.

The only frustration was trying to get him to hurry up and poop at some remote rest stop in the middle of nowhere, late at night, in the cold.  No matter the conditions, he always takes his own sweet time.   And since I've been a dog-walker, I see LOTS of poop left from other dogs.  Therefore, if you see any, please KNOW that it did not come from our dog.  I always bag it and throw it away.  Aways.  Without exception.

We brought his kennel where he'd stay if we had to leave him alone in the car or trailer.  He also slept in it at night.  We set it on the sofa in the trailer.  At home, he sleeps in a different room and so I was a bit concerned that the close proximity would be a problem, but when he's asleep at night, he's really out.  Easy peasy.  

So far, we're happy with the dog/trailer combination.    

Since he is driven by his nose, we can't let him off a leash outside.  The retractable leash sounds like a good idea in a campground.  I need all your dog tips.  

[leslie]

Brenda, I have been successful with some of my dogs to get them to relieve themselves on command. Well, actually only 2 - one was my Rottweiler, whom I still miss even though she died 7 years ago. The other was the one we called The Perfect Dog, a Norwegian Elkhound X. All of my dogs I either rescued myself or were adopted from a shelter.

Some dogs just need a certain amount of walking around before they are ready. Each dog I have had has been different.

I use 6-foot woven polyester/acrylic leashes with fairly wide straps for handles, because I have found these are the most comfortable to hold or have on my wrist while hiking with my dogs.

[solds88]

[p][font size="3"]This is our miniature poodle Smokey, aka our ten pound door bell. He loves to travel and loves rest stops and the brief canine encounters that sometimes occur at these stops. He's very quiet and reserved until some unknown person comes to the door. [/font][/p][p][font size="3"]
[/font][/p][p][font size="3"]   [attachment id="511" thumbnail="1"] [/font][/p][p][font size="3"]
[/font][/p][p][font size="3"]When he first started traveling with us we got a special dog tag for him. It has his name, our cell phone number and the word "REWARD" on the tag. Our local Petco store has a dog tag making machine. You type in the message and the machine spits out the finished tag.[/font][/p]

[pinstriper]

Great idea on the tag, yep.

[jeeps]

[attachment id="512" thumbnail="1"]

[font size="3"]This is Riley.  Cute, right?  [/font]

[jeeps]

The biggest problem we've had is teaching them that the screen door is not a doggie door to be jumped through getting in or out.

[font size="3"]I worry about the screens on the door and windows.  They seem pretty vulnerable to a dog's claws.  I wonder if the lower portion of the screen door could be replaced with glass or possibly some type of plastic? [/font]