Dogs, Pets, and RVs - 7 Principles of Successful Pet Ownership on the Road

Taking your pooch on the road can deepen your enjoyment of life on the road. Many people feel the lack of a pet while traveling in their RV, Motorhome, Trailer, or Fifth-Wheel. This is especially true if you grew up with a dog at home.

However, having a dog on the road isn’t always as easy as it is at home. Sometimes it can be just downright taxing. Knowing the principles of successful pet ownership on the road can save you time, money, and frustration.

Without further ado, I’ll introduce you to:

The 7 Principles of Successful Pet Ownership on the Road:

1. Be sure your dog is trained in basic obedience first.

This is key. You need to be on the same page as your pooch. If you have a dog that barks, bites, or snarls, you need to get this worked out before you hit the road.

Finding a dog trainer is easy in most cities, and even a few months of training will improve your dog’s obedience by leaps and bounds. See the resource section below for links to dog behavior resources.

2. Install a doggie microchip and get a picture of your pet beforehand.

In case the worst should happen and your dog should get loose from your motor home while you are on the road, there are much better chances of finding your lost pooch if you have a microchip installed. Modern pounds and vets are equipped to scan imbedded microchips and return your dog immediately.

Having a photo is common sense. While waiting to hear back from a Vet or the local pound, you can post Lost Dog photos around your campsite.

3. Find pet-friendly campgrounds.

You’ll want to plan ahead for dog-friendly campgrounds and campsites for your trip. They are not too hard to find, but you can’t stay at any old campground anymore

Warning: Some breeds of dogs aren’t welcome at any campground. Insurance companies are starting to refuse liability insurance on some breeds of dog, so if you have a pit-bull (for instance) it is going to be more difficult to find a campground.

4. Bring health and immunization records.

Bring these along and make sure your dog has all the proper tags on a collar at all times. Stay legal, and stay out of trouble.

5. Put together a doggie bag. (Pun intended)

In this bag, make sure to put:

Leashes

Toys

Grooming and health Products for the Pup

Turd Bags

These are going to be absolutely crucial when you are out on the road.

6. Be respectful of neighbors.

As hard as it is for you and I to imagine, not everyone loves pets. So, keep your dog’s barking to a minimum and keep your pooch off of your neighbors’ campsite. Make sure to have your dog on a leash when appropriate and to clean up after every doo doo.

7. Be careful and have fun.

Use common sense and never leave a dog in a hot RV. Be careful and realize that being on the road can be stressful to your pup at first so be stern and have fun.

To learn the specifics of inspecting a used RV, Motorhome, 5th Wheel, Camper, or Class A B or C, check out our extensive resources including ebooks on the subject at Don't Get Screwed: The Ultimate Used RV Buyer's Guide.

Frank Fairview watched his parents become RV Fulltimers and decided to write what he found about this hidden lifestyle. His blog, The RV Fulltimer Blog: The ultimate resource for Campers, RV's, Trailers, and More, has tons of useful information for people about to become fulltimers, or people who have been fulltiming for years.

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