Even though it will be 5 yrs before I retire and FT, just wanted to hear from FTers that have dogs. I dont even know if our dogs will be around in 5 yrs. But if I decide to get another dog I wanted to see if it's a lot of trouble, if parks have restrictions on size(I like bigger breeds best).
DaveSam said
06:13 PM Nov 19, 2010
We have a black Lab and a long hair Chihuahua. Can't imagine traveling without them. There are plenty of RVers with pets. Right now, the RV beside us has 3 dogs as does the RV across the lane from us. Some parks do restrict breeds such as Pit Bulls, Rotteweilers, Shepherds and Dobermans.
Racerguy said
06:32 PM Nov 19, 2010
As stated above a few parks have various restrictions on size and breed but there are not many. There have been occasions where the dog walking restrictions have been ridiculous but that is the exception and not the rule.Most parks are very pet friendly as long as your dog is well behaved.Naturally, barking dogs can be a problem.The only disadvantage Linda and I have encountered is sometimes not being able to go somewhere we want because we don't want to leave Buddy alone more than 3 to 4 hours at a time( he's very spoiled).We have used an occasional doggy day care but they are sometimes hard to find.That being said we wouldn't have it any other way as he loves travel as much as we do.
Mallo said
08:50 PM Nov 19, 2010
Cats are better....
Just saying.
Mallo
azrving said
11:17 AM Nov 20, 2010
I can't imagine traveling without my fur babies! The dogs have always been a big part of our camping experience; they enjoy getting away from the S&B as much as we do. It really depends on the dog (or in our case dogs) too, we have Shih Tzus and they demand human interaction, they are true lap dogs. We feel guilty leaving them in the camper while we go out to eat, explore, etc so one of us usually stays behind to hang out with the dogs and it's usually me! Keep in mind, if you FT with a canine companion you need to be ready for:
1. Stop frequently for potty breaks. Be sure to clean up after your dog. 2. Exercise (you and the dog..lol) 3. May have to restrict time away from the RV. 4. Make sure to have the local vet/emergency clinic # just in case. 5. There are some travel restrictions if you have a dog. (ie:Mexico) See Links Below:) 6. Some campgrounds have pet restrictions. 7. If your dog is a talker (barks a lot), you may be asked to leave:( 8. If you have an emergency and need to catch a flight....what will you do with the dog? 9. Boarding your pet can be expensive too. 10. Avoid car sickness by letting your dog travel on an empty stomach. However, make sure he has plenty of water at all times. 11. You must keep the temp at a comfortable setting for your pet...even when you are away from the rv. 12. Some parks will charge extra for the furry ones. 13. Make sure you have the dog on a leash when outside! This year we went to the Balloon Fiesta in NM and the guy camped next to us had two dogs that ran all over the campground (no leash) upsetting campers and other dogs. I told the guy he was breaking the rules and he needed to leash the dogs. He promptly installed a leash on both dogs and for the next two days the dogs ran all over the campground dragging their leashes behind them:( 14. etc.
Sure, it would be a easier to travel without the dogs but it just wouldn't be the same without them. IMO
Shellby
Twiggles (before her haircut..let me see your grill.LOL)
Not that it's a down side, but just a reminder that dogs track in dirt, grass, rain, etc. into the RV. Of course, so do people!
We wanted a smaller breed that was not a rampant shedder.
Maggie is part Lhasa Apso and has hair/fur but does not shed much.
She wears a raincoat in the rain. Any bit of her that we can keep dry is a bonus! Of course, she also looks cute in her yellow slicker.
Maggs loves the RV life and it would be difficult to image life on the road without her!
Waggin Tails said
08:34 PM Nov 20, 2010
We are also pet lovers and cannot even imagine traveling without our fur babies. We will be traveling with Qianna, our standard poodle. My Cody (Golden Retriever) will be adopted by my daughter and grandson. We may have one or two cats also. So once we get on the road, if we are near by and you need a pet sitter, we will be available.
ourZbiz said
12:10 AM Nov 21, 2010
Currently we have 2 chi chi's and when they're gone we're not getting anymore. No I don't full-time but we have camped over the years (not to mention had dogs our entire marriage) so we've had our fill for now. Would we get another someday in the future? Maybe! But when it's time we'll be ready for a break. Just saying....
RickandJanice said
03:26 PM Nov 21, 2010
ourZbiz wrote:
Currently we have 2 chi chi's and when they're gone we're not getting anymore. No I don't full-time but we have camped over the years (not to mention had dogs our entire marriage) so we've had our fill for now. Would we get another someday in the future? Maybe! But when it's time we'll be ready for a break. Just saying....
W are not full-timing yet, but plan to in about 2 -2 1/2 years. We have had 2 large dogs that camped with us allot. They are both gone now and it is really a feel of freedom when we go out now as there is no longer the worry of getting back to take care of them or what happens in hot weather if the power goes out. It's also quite amazing how much cleaner the rig stays now too.
Do we miss having the dogs? Yes, we love dogs and the company they offer. But we also love other peoples dogs (OPD's). So we still get our "fix" meeting OPD's. OPD's can always tell dog lovers when they meet one, so it is really quite allot of fun meeting both the dogs and their owners without the responsibility of having one. We do not plan on taking a dog on the road with us for these reasons. However, there is probably a dog in our exit plan.
We are now in the process of getting our cat accustomed to travel as she is a real "home body" and has never traveled with us much. Even though she is getting up there in years, looks like she may still be around when we go full-time and we just cannot bear leave her with anyone else. Our niece, who has cared for her allot, has offered to keep her but we are too attached and do not think it would be fair to our cat to do that after all these years. In our limited travels with our cat, they seem easier to care for in this type of traveling life style than dogs. Still will not have another cat after this one is gone as long as we full-time.
SkyJean said
04:20 PM Nov 21, 2010
This all gives me something to think about. I love labs but they shed and was thinking my next dog would be a doberman. We had these when I was a teenager and although they might scare people, they (ours) were so sweet. But if some campgrounds have restrictions that are against dobermans Ill have to rethink that.
-- Edited by SkyJean on Tuesday 23rd of November 2010 07:55:17 PM
Froggi said
08:15 PM Nov 21, 2010
We've been full-timing for a couple of years and just added a puppy to the mix. She is a small boxer mix and a real smart pup. Her energy level and exercise needs are keeping us exercising. LOL! She loves riding on the back of Stu's trike.
We know we will hit some campgrounds that won't accept her either by size when grown or by breed. So be it...there are plenty of pet friendly campgrounds out there.
Side note, I am ALWAYS looking for new Featured Pets at Toadily Pets. Sadie has her own blog, too, Sadie Speaks.
adeline and ed said
11:27 PM Nov 21, 2010
I'm a Niko owner. we have had dogs in our family for over 40 years. We are traveling full time with our pet.
There no denying dogs/cats etc. add to our lives and I hope we add to theirs.My golden is what a good dog is all about, a faithful well behaved companion and expresses her love as only a dog can. The love between a pet and owner is the PRO in the whole thing..
Now are the cons:1 : dogs need exercise we walk ours 2 miles a days.
2: dogs need to be picked up after, we carry at least 3 bags sometimes one is not enough. Please PICK UP...We have put on 20000 mile since July 16., and it seems on every trail or
campground i've seen evidence to the contrary making it bad for the majority that do. 3: try to control barking, none dog owners do not like the noise, me included
4 : Dogs need to be trained to stay in the trailer alone and not barking . Your pet is smart enough if you let it learn to know
that you will be gone for long time. We take ours for a good walk, and she knows the tone of our voice how long we will be gone.
5: Dogs are not allowed on a lot of trails.I'm sorry i agree with this it scares me when i see a person coming down a narrow
trail with bounding dogs no I don't like being sniffed,pushed aside or barked at. ( sorry a pet peeve)
6: as mentioned earlier there are time when you may need a place to board a pet. We have to go home for christmas and because we waited till the middle of nov its going to cost us 44 dollars a day 25 a day is normal. you also need extra shots.
Only you know if you can handle the extra care your pet needs when you travel. We love our Niko and we hope she will be part of our life. If you train yourself and dog, the PRO can outweigh the CON..
adeline and ed said
11:29 PM Nov 21, 2010
i'm sorry i had it type nicely spaced etc. does anybody know what i did wrong
Racerguy said
08:04 AM Nov 22, 2010
adeline and ed wrote:
i'm sorry i had it type nicely spaced etc. does anybody know what i did wrong
I had the same thing happen when I copied and pasted from another format.Did you copy and paste it? If not I 'm not sure.
Dreamers said
08:37 AM Nov 22, 2010
Yes, dogs can be a problem. But, I wouldn't dream of traveling without ours. Her love for us fully outweighs any cons. She lives with us in our RV now that we have left the S&B and when we hit the road she'll be there with us. She has camped with us thru the years and loves it as well as loves riding in the vehicle. And, she sheds terribly so we are constantly running a vac.
She is a 50# mixed breed short haired mixed breed dog that we adopted from a animal rescue group 8 years ago. She is not friendly but she is well behaved and obeys voice commands very well. The hardest part we face with her is when there are small children around (which happens in a campground). They want to just run up to her and she will growl if they do (growl not bite). It's her warning to stay away; she's not ready for them. We have to try to explain to the children to just back off and be patient and when she is ready she will come to them.
So she cannot be left outside unattended but that's not a problem. She's never outside in a campground with us. My feeling is that if you love your dog you will make the sacrifices necessary for them to FT with you. Afterall my children were problems sometimes and they, too, made messes.
Hope this helps.
Judy
Froggi said
10:02 AM Nov 22, 2010
If you copy and paste from a word processing program, that often messes up the line spacing. I always use a text editor like Notepad to copy from. That seems to help. Yes, you will lose your fancy bold, italics, etc but that can be added once pasted here...just use the editing functions of the forum.
Good post though!
Elaine NB said
11:28 AM Nov 22, 2010
No down side that I know of...we take our ****er spaniel and cavalier king charles with us Rving all the time....
ersanta said
11:36 AM Nov 22, 2010
We have been traveling with our Dog for years. He is truly the traveling dog.... never a problem with getting car (truck) sick or barking. When he sees or hears the clicking of the 5th Wheel, he gets excited at the prospects of meeting new friends and visiting other campgounds, at the next destination.
We love our buddy and companion, BUT there are situations that require additional expenses and concerns when traveling. As stated before, when you wish to take side trips away from your home, you must arrange for the dogs care or take him along, which doesn't always work for you. We have been in parks that give notice of potential rolling black outs during extreme heat conditions, which would not allow you to leave your pets in this dangerous situation.
I hope our buddy lives forever, but I probably would not have another dog while full-timing, so if I planned on leaving the 5ver parked and left for extended periods of time, I would not have to make special arrangements or being concerned about my pets safety, during my absence.
Would I miss having a pet? Probably
Would I be ever be able to enjoy a dog again? There are plenty of other peoples dogs in the campground to enjoy.... much like with grandchildren, where they generally go home with Mom and Dad.
I have known dog lovers who have offered to watch your dog during your absence, but that requires making those arrangements ahead of time.
Postalpair said
03:18 PM Nov 24, 2010
We have been fulltiming for 5 years now and travel with our dog. Yes, there is a downside that nobody wants to talk about. Our dog is 15 years old. One of the first things I do when we get to a campground is to ask for a reliable Vet. At her age, anything can go wrong, and I don't want to be somewhere and not know where to take her. I also ask for an emergency Vet. But at our dog's age we want to be prepared. She gave us quite the scare when we were in New Hampshire this summer. Thankfully I had my information and the Vet was AWESOME. She took her time and explained everything....was in touch with our usual Vet and got things all figured out. We love our "Foxy" and the travels we have had with her. But when she is gone, we will not get another pet. We are avid motorcyclist's also, and would love to do overnight trips by bike. I guess we will live vicariously thru OPD's..... Safe Travels
PINELLAS said
07:05 PM Nov 29, 2010
We have been living full time in our RV for just over a year. It would seem that most Rv’ers have at least one dog or more. We of course, have two. Our Boxers, Maggie and Rico bring us great joy and entertainment. However, they are also a major expense and burden. Living with two large dogs in a RV has proven to be very doable yet less than ideal. They restrict our movements and our ability to be spontaneous. Thankfully they are not barkers and are very well behaved
peg513 said
07:33 PM Dec 2, 2010
Our guys have been traveling since we got them at 10 weeks old and are marvelous on the road. hey are now 7 and 8 years old. We have not had any issues with leaving them in the trailer during the day as long as it isn't too hot. When we had a house and real jobs they stayed at home alone for many hours so it hasn't been too much of an adjustment.
They do bring in dirt and leaves, but we have a dedicated towel just for wiping their feet. We hang it either on the outside handrail to on the door to the coat closet just inside. They do need walking rain, snow, cold or shine so you need to be prepared mentally to go out. The big upside of having a dog is the companionship and as mentioned, their exercise needs require you to get out as well.
Other breeds that I've seen excluded is Staffordshire Terrier and Chows.
Hdrider said
07:40 AM Dec 26, 2010
We are not full time yet but soon we hope. We have a 6 year old golden that will travel with us. When we lived in the MH for a year while building this house we had a cat,,, a old cat. That wasn't to bad except when it started having issues wth it's bowls, A bit stressfull,,, more for it I'm sure. We know we will have those moments with our dog (Jack) but we can't imagine not having him. Knowing a vet as mentioned is a concern,,,, we are going to travel with a motorcycle as a toad at times and that will create it's own set of concerns having a dog,,, bathing is also a concern,,, are the parks going to be ok with bathing a dog or will we need to find someplace to do it for us. Day trips will be limited to maybe 6 hour jonts. Even though when full timing we would hope to stay in the nice weather but we all know that just can't happen all of the time. Hair will of course be another challenge,,, I'm a bit of a neat freak but we will overcome that also. But while working I have challenges every day that I can't control,,, at least these cahllenges I will have SOME control over I guess.
Delaine and Lindy said
05:17 PM Dec 26, 2010
Before we got our Furr Kid Montana, we would see RVer's come out with large Furr Kids and would say why would anyone do this???????????????
Well I now know the answer, a Furr Kid is a gift from God, and will always give you unconditional LOVE.
The hardest thing I have ever had to do is let my best buddy cross the Rainbow Bridge. We only had our Montana for 3 years & 8 months. Montana traveled ever place we could possible take him. There is nothing I wouldn't do to get my Montana back. And believe me went took him to many Vets but the answer was always the same they didn't know of a cure for him and could only give him meds and the side effects were awful. Montana had very sever seizures, and it took a lot out of Delaine and I to watch him go thru them. Even thought Delaine a Retired Rn and I retired Army, it was heart breaking to watch him. We Love and Miss our Montana.
This is our first trip without Montana in 3 years & 8 month. Tears are still very present. Ever place we look Montana is there.
Its my opinion there is no down side to traveling with a Furr Kidd. Always treat your furr kid as a family member. I Love and Miss my Montana. Thanks for your time this helps me also.....
Racerguy said
06:06 PM Dec 26, 2010
So sorry for your loss.The decision to free them from their pain is always difficult. I know I keep saying I hope I go before Buddy because I don't know if I could take loosing him.
The Crumps said
12:58 PM Dec 28, 2010
We've decided we don't want the restrictions that caring for an animal requires. Our fix is that we dog sit for other people. We'll stay in someone's home for 2 to 3 weeks caring for their animals. When we're done we are reminded how selfish we are that we don't want to spend our time and money caring for a pet. I know it sounds heartless and we both love animals and have had many over the years, but if we take off on a day trip in the car and want to spend a day or two at our destination we don't have to worry about our pet. We've raised our kids, put in our time, and don't want anything to tie us down anymore!
Melstar said
02:29 PM Dec 28, 2010
I would love to take our 13 year old boxer and 15 year old yorkie with us......however, I don't think they could jump up in the truck or into the 5er. I don't want to have to carry them up...each time. They are also very set in their ways and taking them in the truck might just rock their world. Besides, I don't think there would be room for a large dog in my trailer...although I see where people bring 2 and 3 large animals with them. So, our fulltiming days will have to wait for their demise....I guess. We depend on my neighbor to take care of them when we leave for trips....want to take an extended trip in March/April.....and don't want to impose on someone for that long of a time......delimmas!!!
-- Edited by Melstar on Tuesday 28th of December 2010 03:28:36 PM
Kathy Doin It said
09:09 PM Dec 28, 2010
We've been FT just shy of 6 years, sharing the road with our now 15 yo Basset, Rocket. He's been a good old boy, enjoying new smells every place we go. Lately, it's been hard for him to get up into the 5th wheel. My husband made a ramp to ease his way into the house. We have to lift him up to get into the truck.
When the time comes, we will not adopt another dog. Like others, we have a motorcycle and would enjoy overnight trips. We will miss him, that's for sure, but, even now, whatever town we go into, we find the local shelter to visit and "scratch the heads" of the residents there. We'll get our "fix" by doing that.
Kathy
-- Edited by Kathy Doin It on Tuesday 28th of December 2010 09:13:33 PM
-- Edited by Kathy Doin It on Tuesday 28th of December 2010 10:00:20 PM
I can't imagine traveling without my fur babies!
The dogs have always been a big part of our camping experience; they enjoy getting away from the S&B as much as we do. It really depends on the dog (or in our case dogs) too, we have Shih Tzus and they demand human interaction, they are true lap dogs. We feel guilty leaving them in the camper while we go out to eat, explore, etc so one of us usually stays behind to hang out with the dogs and it's usually me! 
Keep in mind, if you FT with a canine companion you need to be ready for:
1. Stop frequently for potty breaks. Be sure to clean up after your dog.
2. Exercise (you and the dog..lol)
3. May have to restrict time away from the RV.
4. Make sure to have the local vet/emergency clinic # just in case.
5. There are some travel restrictions if you have a dog. (ie:Mexico) See Links Below:)
6. Some campgrounds have pet restrictions.
7. If your dog is a talker (barks a lot), you may be asked to leave:(
8. If you have an emergency and need to catch a flight....what will you do with the dog?
9. Boarding your pet can be expensive too.
10. Avoid car sickness by letting your dog travel on an empty stomach. However, make sure he has plenty of water at all times.
11. You must keep the temp at a comfortable setting for your pet...even when you are away from the rv.
12. Some parks will charge extra for the furry ones.
13. Make sure you have the dog on a leash when outside! This year we went to the Balloon Fiesta in NM and the guy camped next to us had two dogs that ran all over the campground (no leash) upsetting campers and other dogs. I told the guy he was breaking the rules and he needed to leash the dogs. He promptly installed a leash on both dogs and for the next two days the dogs ran all over the campground dragging their leashes behind them:(
14. etc.
Sure, it would be a easier to travel without the dogs but it just wouldn't be the same without them. IMO
Shellby
Twiggles (before her haircut..let me see your grill.LOL)
Max
http://www.solutionsabroad.com/en/relocating/relocating-category/pets-in-mexico.html
http://www.ehow.com/how_4479492_travel-through-canada-pets.html
http://rvknowhow.blogspot.com/2010/07/best-dogs-for-rving.html
We wanted a smaller breed that was not a rampant shedder.
Maggie is part Lhasa Apso and has hair/fur but does not shed much.
She wears a raincoat in the rain. Any bit of her that we can keep dry is a bonus! Of course, she also looks cute in her yellow slicker.
Maggs loves the RV life and it would be difficult to image life on the road without her!
Do we miss having the dogs? Yes, we love dogs and the company they offer. But we also love other peoples dogs (OPD's). So we still get our "fix" meeting OPD's. OPD's can always tell dog lovers when they meet one, so it is really quite allot of fun meeting both the dogs and their owners without the responsibility of having one. We do not plan on taking a dog on the road with us for these reasons. However, there is probably a dog in our exit plan.
We are now in the process of getting our cat accustomed to travel as she is a real "home body" and has never traveled with us much. Even though she is getting up there in years, looks like she may still be around when we go full-time and we just cannot bear leave her with anyone else. Our niece, who has cared for her allot, has offered to keep her but we are too attached and do not think it would be fair to our cat to do that after all these years. In our limited travels with our cat, they seem easier to care for in this type of traveling life style than dogs. Still will not have another cat after this one is gone as long as we full-time.
-- Edited by SkyJean on Tuesday 23rd of November 2010 07:55:17 PM
We know we will hit some campgrounds that won't accept her either by size when grown or by breed. So be it...there are plenty of pet friendly campgrounds out there.
Side note, I am ALWAYS looking for new Featured Pets at Toadily Pets. Sadie has her own blog, too, Sadie Speaks.
I had the same thing happen when I copied and pasted from another format.Did you copy and paste it? If not I 'm not sure.
She is a 50# mixed breed short haired mixed breed dog that we adopted from a animal rescue group 8 years ago. She is not friendly but she is well behaved and obeys voice commands very well. The hardest part we face with her is when there are small children around (which happens in a campground). They want to just run up to her and she will growl if they do (growl not bite). It's her warning to stay away; she's not ready for them. We have to try to explain to the children to just back off and be patient and when she is ready she will come to them.
So she cannot be left outside unattended but that's not a problem. She's never outside in a campground with us. My feeling is that if you love your dog you will make the sacrifices necessary for them to FT with you. Afterall my children were problems sometimes and they, too, made messes.
Hope this helps.
Judy
Good post though!
We love our "Foxy" and the travels we have had with her. But when she is gone, we will not get another pet. We are avid motorcyclist's also, and would love to do overnight trips by bike. I guess we will live vicariously thru OPD's.....
Safe Travels
We know we will have those moments with our dog (Jack) but we can't imagine not having him.
Knowing a vet as mentioned is a concern,,,, we are going to travel with a motorcycle as a toad at times and that will create it's own set of concerns having a dog,,, bathing is also a concern,,, are the parks going to be ok with bathing a dog or will we need to find someplace to do it for us. Day trips will be limited to maybe 6 hour jonts.
Even though when full timing we would hope to stay in the nice weather but we all know that just can't happen all of the time. Hair will of course be another challenge,,, I'm a bit of a neat freak but we will overcome that also.
But while working I have challenges every day that I can't control,,, at least these cahllenges I will have SOME control over I guess.
-- Edited by Melstar on Tuesday 28th of December 2010 03:28:36 PM
When the time comes, we will not adopt another dog. Like others, we have a motorcycle and would enjoy overnight trips. We will miss him, that's for sure, but, even now, whatever town we go into, we find the local shelter to visit and "scratch the heads" of the residents there. We'll get our "fix" by doing that.
Kathy
-- Edited by Kathy Doin It on Tuesday 28th of December 2010 09:13:33 PM
-- Edited by Kathy Doin It on Tuesday 28th of December 2010 10:00:20 PM