Dogs in a Pop-Up

[camperjohn]

We are considering getting a dog and would like to know how this will impact our camping life.  I know many people take their dogs camping but what happens if you want to go out and leave the dog?  Can you leave the dog in a pop up?  I know it depends on the dog.  I know many people with travel trailers sometimes leave their dogs but that is much like a house.  

We are considering a smaller breed(shih tzu) and have a pop up camper.  We also plan on crate training so I don't know if this helps if you leave the dog back at the site.  

Please send me your views and experiences with this.  We may be getting the dog on sunday.

[AustinBoston]

We have occasionally brought our German Canardley camping, and neighbors have told us they don't even know she's in the PUP.  

But most of the time, we either leave her with a house-sitter or at a local kennel.  Too often when we camp, we're gone by 9 am and don't return until after dark. Leaving a dog for that long without a chance to take care of business is downright cruel.

Austin

[tlhdoc]

We have 2 dogs, but I only take 1 camping and only if we are going to be staying in the campground.  If it is more of a sigh seeing trip, then I don't take her with us.  If you have the dog crate trained and it isn't a barker, you could leave it in the PU, but most campgrounds have a rule staying you can't leave your dog alone at the campsite.  Do you have anyone that could dog sit if you don't want to take the dog on a trip?  If you are taking the dog sight seeing with you, there are some places where you can't take dogs, ie: Chincoteague Wild Life Refuge in VA.

[Cheryl]

As a HUGE dog lover and former dog owner, I have to second what Tracey says. We have friends that we camp with that just got a dog (a gorgeous Golden Lab) a year ago. He is our group camping mascot BUT he has definitely cramped their camping style. There are outings that they can't go on with the rest of us because of care and concern for the dog. It is particularly uncomfortable when it rains and they have to deal with walking the dog and then dealing with a wet dog in their camper. In the somewhat closer confines of a PopUp it might be even more problematic. To be fair to your family AND the dog please think long and hard about the commitment. Please also know that this is just my $.02 worth. Good Luck.
Cheryl

[Fred420]

Lynn and I are going to take a 10 day camping trip in May with our 2 fur-babies.  We are going to go Detroit, Mich. for a 2 day R.C. Combat event, on to Niagara Falls, Canada for 3 days, then to Buckeye Lake in Ohio.  

We have camped with our dogs before and they are quite socialable.  While we are in Canada, we have found a "dog sitting kennel" that has day rates for only $12.00 USD each.  They ride well in our truck, it has a topper and I have installed a camper boot so we can open the 2 pass-thru windows and turn the AC on for them.  Our PUP has the dining slide-out so there is enough room in it for Lynn and I, and Justin and Mindi.  Our 2 Great Danes .......... total wieght for them is 295#'s. Winter weight.  :yikes:

We do leave them in our PUP when we go to the on-site hot tub or pool.  We have had no problems.  We leave the radio or television  :eyecrazy:  on for them and they sleep or look outside.  We keep the curtins closed over the bunks because they would make theselves at home in our beds :p

[Azusateach]

Having an animal that isn't welcome in many places will definitely change your style.  Having only camped with my dog since owning my own PUP (and now HTT), I'm not sure I can comment on what it's like otherwise.  But I know that I've had to turn down dinner invitations off-site because of her (and now him), and have chosen to stay behind on hikes/tours so she (he) wouldn't be left alone for too long.

It's a huge commitment when you're camping, because you simply can't depend on them to behave and not bark while you're gone.  No matter how quiet a dog might be at home, there's absolutely no guarantee that they'll act the same in a strange situation -- I've seen it happen.

All of this aside, there's nothing like seeing a dog's unbounding energy and absolute delight in investigating new sights and smells when you're camping.  So, I guess there's lots to weigh when considering bringing a four-legged friend with you.  

Personally, I wouldn't travel without my friend (as you can see by my avatar & signature).

[SheBantam]

If our dog had been younger when westartedcamping as a family, it might have been harder, but Cookie lived to over 18 and that is good for a larger ( not huge) dog.  Whenwe started camping she was about 11 or 12 so she was quite settled and we were able to leave her in the popup for several hours at a time as we looked around, but NEVER all day.

The fact that we travel more now than we used to, and my husband says he wants to go with me more camping (he used to stay home with the dog and the teen ager who did not think camping with mom was a cool thing to do), and the kid is going to be 18 in April, we are not getting another dog.