RVing with your dog

For many, travel plans include the family dog, and traveling in an RV is a popular option.

If you are planning a road trip, and Fido is not used to riding in the RV, he could get anxious (or worse, sick) as soon as you pull out of the driveway. Make sure your dog is familiar with the RV, and take a few practice drives so he gets used to any unfamiliar smells or sounds.

Be sure to bring all the comforts of home to keep him healthy and happy during your trip.

Food, drinking water, and food/water bowls: The food your dog regularly eats may not be available at all stores, so make sure you bring enough for the trip, plus a little extra just in case. Because dogs often get used to the taste of water where you live, you may want to bring some bottled water from home. Consider portioning your dogs food into zippered plastic bags before you leave home for convenient meal times.

Leashes: Bring your 6-foot leash and your retractable lead, but make sure you have extra leashes, in case one gets chewed through or lost.

Health Items: Bring whatever medicines and vitamins your dog normally takes, including heartworm and flea/tick medications. Bring insect repellent if you know you’ll be in a tick-prone area. Bring brushes and combs for tangles, and a mild dog-safe soap to wash dirty feet before returning to the RV. Your first aid kit should include tweezers as well as disinfectant and bandages, and ask your vet about anti-nausea medicines and mild sedatives if necessary.

Beds/blankets: Where will Fido sleep? While enjoying the outdoors, consider using a thin plastic tablecloth under your dog’s bedding if the ground is damp.

Toys: Chew toys, bones, extra treats, tug ropes, fabric toys… bring your dog’s favorites. A Frisbee can be enjoyed by both people and pets.

Emergency info and dog tags: Take your vet’s phone number with you, and make sure your dog’s tags have a mobile phone number – the mobile phone you will be taking with you on your trip. Take copies of medical and vaccination records. Locate vets and groomers in your destination city before you leave home

And most importantly, poo bags! Please clean up after your dog, every time!

While driving, make sure you don’t turn the music up too loud, and keep Fido crated while the RV is moving. Secure the crate with bungee-style cords. He will feel more secure in his crate and you can provide lots of great chew toys. A fan can be attached to the crate door, so he can get a cool breeze, and water pails can be stabilized to prevent sloshing water. Stop every few hours so everyone can stretch their legs. If Fido isn’t crate-trained, consider a harness that can be clicked into the seatbelt system of your RV.

Most RV parks require that you keep your dog leashed at all times, so make sure you have leashes and a tie-out with you. While your dog is on a tie- out, make sure he always has access to shelter (a cool, shady area on a hot day) and fresh water, and never leave your dog unsupervised for long periods of time. Many parks do not allow dogs on trails or on beaches, and may have other restrictions, like keeping your dog in the RV at night. Do your research before you go and make sure the campground is dog-friendly, or check out these dog-loving places:

Rutherfordton, NC: Home of Four Paws Kingdom, a campground designed for adults traveling with dogs. If Fido is more like your child than your dog, you have to stay here. 4pawskingdom.com
Portland, OR: Portland residents show their love for dogs with over twenty off-leash dog parks and businesses like the Lucky Lab Brewing Company and the Iron Mutt Coffee Company.
San Francisco, CA: Not too hot and not too cold for many weeks of the year, there are many off leash areas in the city and Fido is welcome on most of the public transportation. Make sure to visit in August when the San Fransisco Giants host their annual Dog Days of Summer where Fido can attend the baseball game with the rest of the family.
New York, NY: New Yorkers love their dogs, and they have the most off-leash areas of any where. Visit in the summer and check out the man-made swimming pond for dogs in Brooklyn’s Prospect Park. Dogs are welcome in many stores and some restaurants have areas where Fido can dine with you. Ride into the city on a dog-friendly Metro train.
Boston, MA: See all the sites with Fido on a leash. Ride the Boston T Subways with your dog during certain hours.