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Did you know Sheila & I used to be full-time RVers? It’s true! I Rved full-time for about 4.5 years. A couple of years after starting I got Sheila as a puppy and she spent about the first 2 years of her life as an RVing adventure dog! I still love the RV life but thought it would be good to have some stability for a bit. But I wanted to share with you 4 tips for RVing with dogs while I dream about the day we get back on the road.
It’s not always easy to RV with a dog but it is definitely doable and worth it! I can’t wait to be a nomad again and get back out there. And I think Sheila will enjoy it too. She doesn’t have the freedom she used to and she is a dog that’s meant for adventure!
RVing with Dogs
Be Prepared
This seems pretty obvious but it is the most important thing.
- Have your dog up to date on vaccines that apply to your area. You don’t want your dog to pick up rabies or lepto while camping.
- Know contact info for your local emergency vet. One thing I always did before travel days is look up emergency vets in my destination and put them in my phone. Luckily, I never needed to use one but if you are in a crisis the last thing you want is to be frantically googling to find a vet. It also helps to have your vet records accessible.
- Be well stocked on food. Sheila is raw fed and once a week I meal prep for her. Yes, even while RVing. But there were occasions where I was unable to get to a grocery store or was unable to prep. So I always kept emergency food. I like The Honest Kitchen because it is minimally processed, easy to store, and the 10lb box makes 40lbs of food.
- Make sure your dog has identification. If your dog is microchipped make sure the information is up to date. Your dog should always have an ID tag on their collar or harness as well. Dogs escape RVs, get lost during car accidents, or even just get lost while hiking. Do everything you can to make sure your best friend finds their way back to you.
Train For Emergencies
Something really important to me is making sure Sheila is prepared for an emergency. This is why she is both crate and muzzle trained.
Anything can happen when you’re RVing with dogs. There are so many situations where your dog might need to be muzzled or confined to a crate. Having them already comfortable with that will make a stressful situation a little less scary for them.
We use this Birdwell basket muzzle but there are so many styles to choose from. Find the right style for your dog’s snoot shape and train them to be comfortable in it.
I know a lot of people assume muzzles are for aggressive dogs or that they are in some way bad. They are incredibly useful and there are many reasons a dog may be muzzled that have nothing to do with aggression. If you’d like to know more I highly recommend checking out this Facebook group. It is a wealth of information!
Know the Rules
Dogs are not allowed everywhere. Many National Parks don’t allow dogs or only allow them in certain areas. Campgrounds will usually require 6ft leashes. And almost no established campground will let you leave your dog tied up outside unattended (but why would you want to?)
Please be respectful of whatever rules you encounter, even if they seem dumb to you. This makes the job easier for camp hosts and ensures fewer places change from dog-friendly to no dogs allowed.
In addition, be aware of the local fauna. There may be predators or venomous snakes you need to be on the look out for. Your dog should also not be harassing wildlife. It’s dangerous for them and your dog.
Sheila and I spent 2 months boondocking last summer in a forest where cattle are grazed. The ranchers wouldn’t be pleased to find out if I let my dog chase and harass their livelihood. Scared cows running through a forest are likely to trip and break legs or become separated from the herd. Be sure to tether your dog if it can’t be trusted off-leash.
Keep Them Cool
In an ideal world we’d all follow the weather and it would be perfect temps all the time. But that’s not usually the case. There will most certainly be times that you need to leave your dog in the RV without you. For their safety, you need to be sure the inside temperature never gets too hot. Amazon has tons of temperature monitors that you can check on your phone.
I also recommend having covers over your windows (like Reflectix) to block heat and keep lookiloos from peeping inside your rig.
You’ll also need to be sure wherever you are camping you can keep your dog from overheating. They will need plenty of water and shade. Cooling mats and vests are also great options!
Too many dogs suffer from heat exhaustion every year. Don’t let your adventure buddy be one of them!
This is really just the tip of the iceberg. There is so much that goes into RVing with dogs. But I hope this gives you a good foundation for when you get out there.
