outdoor pens or kennels? - RV-Dreams Community Forum

policegirl · RV-Dreams Community Member

outdoor pens or kennels?

Luvglass · RV-Dreams Family Member

You can buy portable fencing at Petsmart and other stores. They come in various sizes and heights. Be aware though that some campgrounds do not allow them and almost all have rules forbidding leaving pets unattended outside your rig.

RVRon · RV-Dreams Family Member

I've seen some folks with small pet enclosures set up at their campsites. It only works if you have a pretty small dog that would be contained by a short fence. As Fred said above, nearly all campsites have rules that the dog not be left unattended so you would have to be right there with the dog. Nothing worse than a campground neighbor who leaves a barking dog outside to annoy everyone!

The Bear II · RV-Dreams Family Member

I've seen some interesting pet enclosures in our travels.

The most common seems to be the fence type Fred mentioned. Second would be the larger pet carriers.

Just the other day, I noticed a wooden dog house in the back of a pickup towing a travel trailer. Attached to the dog house around the doorway the owner had created a 3 foot run out of wire mesh screen. I assume the roof of the dog house opens to allow the dog to be placed in the doghouse and then have access to the run. From the size of the run I would say the dog was small like a dachsund or jack russell.

I had created a box in the back of our pickup at the front of the bed. It was a little bigger than a crossbed tool box. I used a piece of plywood to create a wall across the bed about 18" inche in front of the 5th wheel hitch and then built a lid that attached to the front rail of the pickup bed with a piano hinge. I cut a large window in the plywood wall and covered it from the inside with wire mesh. This provided our two dogs with a view and fresh air.

I put a couple of cedar chip filled dog pads on the floor and mounted a water and food bowl on the side. The dogs had shade, fresh air, a view and food plus water. This is where they slept at night.
They didn't like to stay inside the 5th wheel since they were used to being outside at home.

bjoyce · RV-Dreams Family Member

Not leaving the dog unattended is also for the safety of the dog in many areas. Coyotes and other predators like hawks like easy prey. Plus never underestimate what a stranger will do, like letting your dog loose or taking it away for whatever purpose.

policegirl · RV-Dreams Community Member

Thanks all! We don't plan on leaving them unattended ever just would like to have an area where they don't have to constantly be on a leash, or you could take them to do their business in the middle of the night without having to put their harness and leash on them... Thanks a bunch! :)

Bob and Kathy · RV-Dreams Family Member

Hey policegirl!

The fences mentioned are called ex-pens. A lot of dog show people use them. We are former dog show people (breed and obedience), so we have a large set of ex-pens that we plan to use when we travel with our greyhounds. By "large", I mean 36 inches high. There are about 10-12 panels and it makes a nice roomy enclosure. Our friends travel with four greyhounds (one family) and 3 greyhounds and a chow (another family) in their motor coach (and have for years), and they use ex-pens exclusively. I guess you just have to be very prudent when you pick a place to park and make sure these are allowed. They don't seem to have any problems finding acceptable campgrounds.

Kathy

policegirl · RV-Dreams Community Member

Thank you Bob and Kathy! That is perfect! We have two larger min pins and one medium size lab mix mutt... so 36 " would be perfect! I will check those out!! I just hate to have them on a leash all the time and that would give them some freedom...

Bob and Kathy · RV-Dreams Family Member

No worries, Policegirl!

The nice thing about the ex-pens is that they will fold flat and you can store them very easily. The downside is their weight. Mine are kind of heavy, but maybe the ones they are making nowadays are lighter weight. I have seen them at Petco in a brushed gold color in 2, 3 and 4-foot sizes. Happy traveling!

Kathy

NorCal Dan · RV-Dreams Family Member

Not a great alternative, but some parks have fenced dog walk area's. Size and cleanliness vary greatly. And we found many towns that now have dog parks. If nothing else they provide a place for dogs to stretch their legs and get some exercise. It's getting harder and harder to find off-leash area's where you can let dogs roam.