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Tips to Make Rv Life with Dogs Easier

When we were preparing for full-time RV life, we only had one dog.  We had Sabrina, a rescued Plott Hound from Alabama.  Sabrina is medium-sized, about 50 lbs.  We had no plans to get another dog at that time; I mean, living in an RV with a dog might be challenging, right? A dog and his/her supplies take up space, and some dogs don’t travel well. We were lucky that Sabrina loves to ride in the truck, and is friendly and doesn’t bark much.  

Then… I got the email from Petfinder.  Poor Willa Mae couldn’t find a permanent home. She’s a yellow lab that was in foster care for 2 years already, after having been in a bad situation at a puppy mill for the first 2 years of her life.  What else could I do? I just had to adopt her! So now we also have a 65 lb lab. Lucky for us, she also loves to ride in the truck, and as long as Sabrina is around, she feels very comfortable in the RV. 

Now, how to make both dogs comfortable and ensure that we all have enough space in the camper? That does take some planning, and a few products that help maximize the space we have. These are tips from some full-time RVers on how to make camping with your dogs easier.

Helping your Dogs to be Happy Campers

Camping can be a big change for your dogs, especially if you have sold your house and are RVing full-time. Make sure they feel safe and secure in their new environment by considering the following:

• Ensure that your dogs have a designated space or spaces in the RV / camper / tent.
Put their favorite pillows or blankets in a designated area. Also have a dedicated space for dog food and water bowls. With two dogs, we have to put one set of bowls at one end of the kitchen space and one set at the other end of the RV near the entryway. Both dogs know which one is theirs (although Willa Mae sometimes pretends that both are hers). We do move the pillows do from the living area during the day, where Sabrina likes to soak up the incoming sunshine, to the bedroom area at night. They like to sleep at the foot of the bed.

• Establish routines
Dogs do respond to having a routine. Whenever possible, stick to a routine at certain times of the day. For instance, every morning after our early outside walk, the dogs know to go to the treat cupboard for a delicious Scooby snack. Afterwards, we serve them their breakfast. Once coffee is made, they know they will get a small taste of whipped cream (meant for the coffee, but – can’t resist their little faces). Next, they will help me with my morning yoga. Both of them like to stretch and get belly rubs in the morning (they also do like to steal my yoga mat – see photo!). We also have evening routines, and “packing up” routines that allow them to stay comfortably in the RV while we are prepping for the next road trip.

• Keep them on leashes in the campground
This is almost always a rule within a campground, and we should all follow the rules. This keeps your dog and others safe. Dogs may not understand the boundaries if you are moving around from campground to campground so they could run into a road and get injured. Dogs that aren’t used to being around other people or new dogs could feel threatened and become aggressive.
ALWAYS follow this rule!

• Keep extra toys, blankets, and water in your truck when traveling
Security items like toys help your dog to feel comfortable. Willa Mae likes to chew on nylabone toys when she is excited or nervous, so we keep an extra in the truck. We also have a dog mat for her to lay on, since she seems to prefer the floor. Sabrina makes herself comfortable across the back seat. Dogs get thirsty during the drive, especially after a rest area stop, so ensure that you have fresh water to fill up a dish for them.

• During a road trip, stop every hour to take them out
This is good for you humans, as well. Get out and walk around about every hour at a rest area or truck stop. Love’s Travel Stops even have dog parks at some locations.

• Take them to a nearby dog park
At every campground we stay at, one task is to find a park where the dogs can run free. A site we use often is www.bringfido.com, which also helps find dog-friendly beaches, hotels, restaurants and more. Or a simple Google map search sometimes does the trick. I can tell if Willa Mae is getting restless; she will start pulling harder on her leash while we’re out on a walk. That means it’s time to get to her to a park!

Tips for Happy Campers – with Dogs!

• Stay organized
Keep dog treats, toys, medications, etc., all in one area of the camper. You will always know where to find dog-related items. We have some great products that help keep you organized in your RV – see below under “Gear…”.

• Brush up on training
Dogs that bark constantly will get you kicked out of a campground. Choose a dog training method to help them curb this behavior. We use a device that makes a high-pitched sound when the dogs are barking for no reason (see below under “Gear…”). However, we rarely need to use it since our dogs don’t really bark unnecessarily. When going on walks, commands like “leave it” are important for your dog to know, so they don’t pick up anything they shouldn’t from the campground or walking trails. Sabrina and Willa Mae are still learning to behave on the leashes; we will take any and all suggestions on this !

• Keep them clean!
Small spaces can get smelly pretty quickly. Let’s face it, dogs don’t smell like roses. Or anything else good. Bathing your camping dogs can be difficult. We have found that some places are adding self-service pet washes. Pet Supplies Plus, Petco and even some Tractor Supply stores now have pet washes. It is also a good idea to keep a couple of dog towels in your vehicle, in case of muddy paws. We know that some pets don’t do well with baths, so an alternative is to get some pet wipes. These are quick and easy, and the dogs certainly don’t mind this nearly as much as a full-on bath. See below, under “Gear…”.

This was our self-serve pet wash experience in Kaskaskia, IL

• Establish spaces that are “off limits”
In small spaces like RVs or tents, it is important to establish your own space that the dogs aren’t allowed in / on. We don’t allow the dogs on the bed or the couch. Willa Mae will sometimes sneak onto the couch, so I do use a couch cover that can be machine washed. We do not allow our dogs to beg or get too near the dinner table. Enforcing these rules will make your camping life so much easier – trust me!

Gear for Camping Dogs

I have put in some hours trying to find products that help us stay organized and clean – and happy! – in our RV with our two traveling companions. This list should help you save some time researching all of these products. They work really well for us, and hopefully they will for you also!

Don’t forget toys and treats, too! Treats are a great training tool. Our dogs get one every time they come back in from a walk – Willa Mae even sits on the “treat step” – the step up to the bedroom, which is near the pantry where we keep the treats. Toys and dog bones keep them from getting bored. You CAN full-time RV and have dogs too!

Give us your ideas about camping with dogs, or other pets, below! Thanks for reading!