By now, most of you know, and if you look at our avatar, it's clear that we are Beagle lovers. While we aren't on the road yet we have taken her on a couple of camping trips and she does well in a tent and in the campground and travels well. At the S&B she's amazingly tolerant of children and their sometimes rough handling(relatively speaking). We are always cautious.

I, personally had never owned a dog prior to Josie. I read much on the subject of dog ownership, care and feeding, control and training, and how to be it's "alpha" before we finally obtained her at the young age of 11 months and we enrolled Josie, ... err me, in puppy training. Her previous owner, made great strides, thankfully, in Josie's training and socializing but simply had too much on her plate... 2 very young children with another due soon at the time and a husband deployed in Iraq. She was smart to know her limitations. She interviewed us to ensure we could provide the things a beagle needs... secure yard, that and ability to provide the attention & exercise needs that an active breed like a beagle needs and so forth. Josie adapted quickly to her new home and family. As a breed, I'm biased. I think all breeds, properly cared, for will adapt well RV life though I think the larger they are the more issues can come into play. Ultimately your dog "type" will very much depend on your activity style and the amount of energy and time you can devote to it's needs. Knowing those things will make it a sucessful and rewarding experience. 

Gene is right about socializing from top to bottom, along with training for the owner to be  responsible "alpha". These things are the makings of a good dog... still, one must always be on guard for potential harm.

Brian

Pits are powerful. They will break most leases. If you put a chain on them its animal cruelty. On a more positive note we have a Havanese and it is a loving good natured dog. Ours weight about 18#. My wife and I get into some heated discussions some times and she has a loud voice. He will get between us and stare my wife in the face until she quiets. Then he will climb in her lap and hug up to her. His most favorite past time is pleasing us. They don't shed. We also have a Bichon Frise and she is a live wire. She weighs 8#. Loves to do tricks. We get a lot of enjoyment from them.

Glenn West wrote:

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Pits are powerful. They will break most leases. If you put a chain on them its animal cruelty. On a more positive note we have a Havanese and it is a loving good natured dog. Ours weight about 18#. My wife and I get into some heated discussions some times and she has a loud voice. He will get between us and stare my wife in the face until she quiets. Then he will climb in her lap and hug up to her. His most favorite past time is pleasing us. They don't shed. We also have a Bichon Frise and she is a live wire. She weighs 8#. Loves to do tricks. We get a lot of enjoyment from them.

-- Edited by Glenn West on Sunday 21st of September 2014 03:15:58 PM

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 We met someone with a Havanese a couple of years ago in the RV park in town and it was the most well-behaved dog that I had seen in awhile.  I talked with the man that was walking it and he said it took some work to get the dog that way.  I had read excellent things about the breed and if I had to choose a smaller dog, it would be a breed I would definitely consider.  I haven't had any contact with a Bichon Frise but again, I had read good things about them and they are beautiful although I don't see myself being able to keep up with the grooming.  

Just a suggestion but anyone that wants to learn about the pit bull and get something other than personal opinions can simply "google" for the info.  Better that we just officially agree to disagree and let it go.  I have been reading articles and following blogs on the subject since 2006 when we moved to the county that did not allow bully breeds and went further after the two attacked my leased dogs after some how "escaping" both their pen and privacy fenced backyard.  I also spoke with Animal Control concerning the pit bull population here.  I am trying to keep the threads on topic BUT I have a very strong opinion and articles to back it up that I am trying to suppress myself from posting.  The pit bull is too controversial to discuss in a humane way.

Bill and I have always had large dogs in our separate lives. From labs to wolf-hybrids, and mostly shepherds. None of them were aggressive with people or other dogs. Still, they were high energy and could be destructive if not kept exercised and working. I was never a fan of little "yipe-yipe" dogs, but have learned to love many of them in recent years. Like others, I recognize it is the owner that is lacking, with the dog being a product of its training (or lack there of). The only dogs I've ever had a problem with on the trail or sidewalk are small breeds with an attitude

When our last dog passed at 15 years old we already knew we were going on the road, knew we wanted another dog. We both decided that low-shedding (there are no non-shedding breeds), and small(er) were important for us. After a lot of research, I started looking for a Labradoodle or a Soft-Coated Wheaton Terrier. Both would require grooming, but other than that, they were likely what we wanted.

I found Tessa on Craigslist. She is without a doubt the perfect dog to live with us on the road. She is a 25# Wheaton - now three years old. Sweet, loving, gentle, silly, active, smart, loyal, we really scored with this one! When required, we have her on a leash and she does well. However, she is great off-leash and her preferred place to be is by our side (it's a challenge to get her to go run around). She's still a dog, and will not be allowed to run around, off-leash in a campground or RV park.

I'm not a professional dog trainer. I have owned dogs that did things so unexpected I thought they'd been possessed. I've handled issues with other people's dogs very well, and I've made an ass of myself. If a harmless dog startles me I can overreact and regret it later. I've "let it go" on many occasions, and some of those I regretted too.

For me, Tessa is the perfect choice for our life style. For everyone else, I have nothing more than opinions based on what I've experienced, and on what I've chosen to read. Hopefully, when we get out there I will be a responsible dog owner and neighbor - and I will find myself near others with the same goals

Jodee

Alie and Jims Carrilite wrote:

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Getting back to the subject line, I think a smaller breed is more appropriate for the RV lifestyle, smaller space requirements, less food requirement, smaller pick up the poop requirement. lol

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 Agreed! 

Glenn West wrote:

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Never seem any dog hair in our coach with our dogs.

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 Are they both non-shedders?  I know a lot of people prefer dogs like that.  The Bichon has such "fancy" fur I was thinking that it might be time consuming to care for.  I have seen them at dog shows and they are whiter than white.  

Bill and Jodee wrote:

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Oh SnowGypsy your furbabies are so adorable in your avatar! I change my mind, I want another big puppy )))))))

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 Thanks!  We got the red one from an Animal Control facility in Dothan, AL when she was 12 weeks old.  The yellow one we have had for 2 years  came from a shelter in MO and she is a senior.  If you are a big dog person, it is really hard to move to a smaller dog.  You know you go to look at the smaller dog and they have lots and lots of bigger dogs available...........  An outside shower is a must for a big dog.  Both dogs on leash will let someone pet them and neither jump up so they are always popular when we are camping.  Sometimes, too popular!

SnowGypsy wrote:

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Glenn West wrote:

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Never seem any dog hair in our coach with our dogs.

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 Are they both non-shedders?  I know a lot of people prefer dogs like that.  The Bichon has such "fancy" fur I was thinking that it might be time consuming to care for.  I have seen them at dog shows and they are whiter than white.  

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 Yes the Bichon needs grooming on a regular basics. Wife has gotten rather good at it. Early on we paid high grooming bills. The Havanesse some. His coat grows slower.

We have a Shih Tzu....She is a bit yappy, but we are working on that. We live in the country and the only time she meets other dogs is when we go camping. Gets a bit wound up with all the extra action around.